Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-08-10
Nothing I'M
known space or passage.

known space or passage Nothing un-
known was developed. Az length II
short ladder was brought, and the men
assembled to the attic
1t was only IA hollow space beneath
the center OF the roof. quite unlighted.
But enough light penetrated the place
TO show an unkempt figure rising from
its lair of straw and rags in one cor
ner.
whats tbis3 Are you after mey'
he saM, in hollow tones.
The men silently gazed on this OBJ
iect with astonishmenL repulsion and
pity. II was man. but so thick the
mask Of dirt and CRIME SO ragged the
beard and hair, SO grotesqus the cos
tune of tatters from which fell
feathers and straw. it seemed some
unknown creature instead OF human
being.
Great heavens! it is S mon Lelandw
CT led DIR. Leighton.
This only added TO the CONSERVATION
Of the other men. for SIMON Leland
was the half-crazed boy who had muir
dercd his father at Thistle Cottage five
years before. But want and misery
had given him the appearance OF an
old man.
II don't care what you DO with mel"
cried the hollow vo ce- Only give
me something TO eat. y"
Come with us and you shall have
all you want" said DIR. Leighton. not
unk indy.
''Wherep Down there. where the
fire and the light and the girls is?'
asked the wretched being and when
they nodded. he caught up rough
ladder OF rope, quickly adjusted it and
swung himself down before them. But
he was so weak he staggered. and they
were obliged to help him down the
stairs to the kitchen. where Mrs
Hodgdon shaking with excitement
and CONSERVATION. placed food
upon the table from which he snatch
cd it. without any pretence of eating
from n plate. devouring 1t like half
famished animal. When he had filled
himself he would have lain down on
the floor aud gone TO sleep. but that
the unaccustomed plenty sickened him,
and he began TO groan aud roll about
In a short time. the sheriff. who had
been sent for. arrived. and he was
taken away. No one believed
that the poor. underw tied, half
dying creature was a ht subject for
punishment, but the county jail was q
clean and comfortable refuge for him
in his destitutiou. Here he remained
until cons gned To the almshouse. No
reliable account of his career could be
obtained from him. bat it is proba BILE
that lac had sought refuge At Thistle
Cottage IA its desertion, aud existed
mlserably there 3 great while before
discovered He bad prowlea abeot at
night searching for fool of which he
found scanty supply. stealing from
corn bins pigs and pocltr,. and rob
bing hen rOosts- eating the flesh of the
fowls raw. 1t was the cccas onsl dis
covery OF his miserable figure which
lad called into eX stenoe the story of
the place being haunted Icy his ghost.
Blu, So reduced had he become he
would probablr have died in his lair
but toC DIR. Lelghton's discovery of
him
Dc Leighton kindly sav-d Cara from
Witnessing so mach misery. She new
or saW Simon LELAND. Her nerves had
slready borne mnch, and that she had
been willing still TO suller IN secret for
the sake of preserving good home
for her young brothers wa, q fact
which became known and endearcd
her Ia rHauy hearts. Her friends null
tiplie1, and. when she accepted Gs Il
life conpanion Dr. Leighton. the old
est friend OF all hearty kindness sur
rounded her. nnS warm wishers for
her hspp.ness danced merrily at the
weddihg - Yankee Btddc