The Irish standard., 1888-06-16

brigand, some that he is an ex-pirate, others
that he is connected with gang OF counter
feiters Or horse-thievcs."
elbow many have they in the family?"
"I don't know. There was white faced
woman once seen at the window, but some
one pulled her back. A few weeks ago
report went about that a pretty girl had
been seen through q crack in the old garden
wall, but the tall man with long black
whiskers came out, and III ayoice OF thunder
drove her to the house, and the young TEL
low who saw her raj, away"
This gossipy old maid furnished him much
news and information. Her poetic effusion
was of no value, but she unconsciously gave
him many items which he, unseen, noted on
his memorandum book.
One evening Allen was working late III
the Office reading proof. ALI hands, save
Toby, who remained to sweep, had gone
home. A tall man with long black whislers
and quay eyes entered the Office. His man
ner was so singular as to strike the new ed
itor with surprise. His bearing Indicated
! that he belonged to a different sphere than
Turkeys Point.
sIwant to subscribe for your paper" he
said, in q deep, mysterious voice. SWhat is
| the subscription price for year?'
~ One OOlltI 1llltl lilly CCul:,. LllC tetLl
foreign-l looking man threw the money on
| the table 'sWhat is che name and adj
d1ess?" Allen asked, opening his subscrip-
ton book.
sSend it tc K. Y T., post-office box 141,"
answered the tall stranger, and then, with
out another word, stalked away from the
Office.
sWho is that man, Toby?" the astounded
editor asked, watching the reccding form
through the window.
"I don't know--nobody Knows" Toby
| answered. "He's the mysterious man who
lives in the big house on the llill.''
CHAPTER III
SOME D1ABoL1CAI. vEHsE--poLlTICAI. An1B1-
TIONS.
Allen sprang to his feet and fastened to
the door. Twilight shades were deepening
into darkness, yet he could distinguish the
outline of the tall man hurrying up the hill
side road. There was something SO fas-
chatting in the mystery surrounding the
stranger that Allen felt a strong inclina-
ton to follow and learn more of him.
s'Toby, were you ever in that stone house
on tho hill2'' he asked.
emo, sir,'' Toby answered.
"What do you know about it?'
''Nuthin' much," was the evasive re-
sponse,
HDoes he often come to the village?'
"No''
"Wen. if you know any thing abouttho
people tell it to ne"
Toby shrugged his shoulders, cast an I'M
easy look about him, and said
"'Taint much know, and faint much I
| want to knows
"Tell me just what you do know, and all
that you've heard Of it,
GIVE been to the house two or three
times,'' said Toby, in an awe-inspiring
whisper. ''But thar's a great high wall
all round it, SO one can't see inside. Tommy
Miles once peeped through the backyard
wall aud says he saw the prettiest girl he
ever set eyes ON in his life. People say they
kill folks up at that big house."
! "When was the house built?" asked
Allen, hoping to bring the boy back from
speculation, to ans wer facts.
81 duno" Toby answered. "Twas long
| afore was born
edo you know who built it?''
emo. I've heerd ma say it was built by
| some rich people who lived there long ago,
| and then left"
! sHow long have these people lived here,
| Toby!'
';It's only been few months since they
come back the last time. They wont hev
nothin' to do with us, an weuns LIT hev
nothin' to do with 'em."
| "Where did they come fron?''
tsNo 'un knows. The house had been
vacant, except two old people stayed there
/! and kinder TUX keer O. it, The man was
cross an wouldn't talk nuthin' but French
an the old woman was deaf and dumb. The
boys used to try to git in the orchard but
the old Teller came out with gun an swore
in furren language at lem, an skeered 'em
so bad they wouldn't go nigh it. Then
| thar's been some awful sights seen thar o.
nights:'' concluded Toby, shuddering.
"What We're they?''
"Well, Tommy Miles said he hoped he
might drop dead if 'twasn't so. He was
COMM home through the woods one night,
an thought he'd risk comm by the rock
house. When he got nigh it, he heard a
awful screamin jst like some one was be-
in killed, an every winderin the house was
great blaze O. light. He said he'd swear
he saw woman standin' at a winder with
wings jist ready to fly when some IN pulled
her back. Then old Dobbs went by there
one night an saw the blinds an curtains
all ablaze like, an people flynn around the
| ceilin'''
sWho is this man Dobbs?"
s: He's an old teller who lives out in the
| country on FARM
Does he drink?'
| Like fish,
L -