Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-09-21

three fugitives took refuge In mIsera~
BILE old shanty close alongside Of the
railroad track, where weeds were grow
ing up through the cracks OF the floor,
and plentiful portion of rain came pat
tering through the leaks IN the roo1,
while the old stone chimney, all settling
to one side, looked as if no stroke OF
lightning could harm it very much.
''But it's some SHELTER" said Mary,
cheerfuIly "We'll stay here until the
shower is over, and then make the best
of our way home"
The shower, however, showed no in
dication of abating in its vigor. The
rain still poured down in sheets; the
thunder still beloved through the rocky
gorge where the cabin had been built;
the lightning still lit up everything with
sudden spurts of blue flame, like panto-
mime effects.
'sOh, dear! oh, dear!" said Barbara
wringing her hands; lit must be mid
night"
7It can't be but nine o'clock yet" said
Mary.
stAnd I'm so hungry! Oh, how wish
hadn't eaten the last of those sand
witches! Oh, oh! what is that" fiut-
tered Barbara
An unusually vivid electric flash had
revealed something white and spectral
at the window. All three girls jumped
at once.
"The ghostr" shr1eked Barbara, stop
ping her ears and shutting her eyes as
tight as was practicable.
GA stray white cow" suggested Mary.
GA young man in a flannel tennis
suit, said Dorcas, the closest observer
of ell.
Don't let him come in," said Bar
bara. eve shall be robbed and MUIR
dered :"
Not while we are three to one," said
composed Dorcas.
And az the same moment voice sound
ed hurriedly at the door:
"Please, may 1 come in. [ know it
seems intrusion, but it's raining deluge,
and Pm wet through"
"Come in by all means" said Mary.
And the ghost entered, dripping like
fountain.
H'All in the dark" said he cropping his
way.
"There are no gas jets here" said
Dorcas, ironically.
"But we might have little blaze of
site ks" hazarded the new arrival, shak-
ing h mself like a Newfoundland dog.
81 saw by that last glare of lightning,
I've got my match. box intact"
ooh, thut would be splended." cried
Dorcas, who was wet and shivering.
"And Pve got some fish on a string
outside, and we could have some sup
per-" suggested the ghost, cheerfully.
''Im SOL 90 hungry" walled Barbara.
The stranger was evidently used to
mountain camping. He had fire kin
died in no time, and the fish, cleaned
by aid of his pocket-knife and washed
in one of the pools outside, were pres
emily boiling over the Goals, emitting
most savory smell.
"You must be good genius" cried
Mary.
'i'm only tramp" said the ghost.
"And Pm ever so much obliged to you
young ladies for letting me in"
1--WE couldn't have kept you out if we
had tried" said Dorcas, frankly.
sYou don't think would have thrust
myself in here against your wishes? Even
a tramp wouldn't do that" said the young
man.
The sticks blazed cheerfully up; the
ghost economical them to keep the
flames alive as long as possible. He told
thrilling tales of his experience in these
woods; he made himself most agreea-
BILE companion.
care you from the Valley House?"
asked Dorcas.
mo; I am camping just where it
happens"
''Oh!" said Mary. Then you are poor,
like us2 We are shop girls, on our vaca-
ton"
''For," she said to herself, 81 am de-
termined he shall not take us for other
than we are"
And" observed the ghost, 81 should
think you were having very jolly time
of it! A little more trout, Miss -Miss
Hale? And how did you come out in
these wildernesses2"
So then, of course, little Barbara, who
was generally the spokeswoman of the
assem- blage, related all her efforts to
secure summer board.
you see,' said she, ''AIr. Archer
pays us so small salary that we haven't
much margin for luxury"
''He ought to pay you MORE" said
the ghost '1'm in business myself. 1
know how it is. People can't be ex-
pected to live on nothing"
81 do believe" cried Dorcas, "you are
the tailor's young man from Cut & Fits,
next door to Archer'sl 1 thought l had
seen your face before! But if you ever
get to the head of the firm-and a man
can achieve almost anything he pleases
do pay your employees a decent
sum-"
Ct will - said the vouno man in the