The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-20
.;,e night was wearing away ana


we had other calls to make. Mrs. Murphy
lighted us to the door with the fluttering
candle. and even after we had gone 200
feet she stood in the doorway shading tie
dancing flame with her calloused hand.
When the door had closed Tom seized
my shoulder in "A wise like grip, and
again uttered his warning:
Nov, see here. me fine gintlemin; ye
are not givin' me amy ghost story. are
sc? Aither &c arc q reporter or ye are
not, that's shure. Ii ye are staudin' me
up wild fairy tales, Ill'--
The sentence was never finished, but
the wheel spoke filed the ellipsis with
frightful series of cuts through the air
in close proximity 10 my ears. Then we
went down winding alley between two
low fences. stumbling over recumbent
goats in the darkness, until we arrived at
a low doorway. the lower panels Of
which were below the surface Of the
ground. Tom knocked, and without
waiting for an answer he opened the
door and we stepped in. Tho squalid
room was. draped IN shadows When
my eyes became accustomed 10 the dark
ness | discernod two forms in the room
by the feeble rays Of lantern which
stood on the mantel. There was only
one chair, and upon the wood box was
seated the tenant Of the house. and be-
side him upon the floor was seated his
wife Both Of these persons had buried
their faces IN their hands, and they were
moaning in dblOod curdiing fashion. ina
corner OF the room stood stout boy of H..
Mr.. Callahan" said Tom, touching
the man Of the house upon the shoulder
with the wagon spoke, II bring Mr. Fow-
Ter, iy'yer friend OF mino from the city
hall, up here t see could he get ye th
cows back agin"
This speech was followed by snort
from tho boy in the corner, who blurted
out:
Don't believe him, father. It's a
lyin' reporter he's brung here t to put ye
in tn paper!"
With an angry scowl upon his face, Tom
limped across the room. He seized the
boy around the body, carried him 70 the
door, and, with the helpof kick, which
was like that Of mule. landed him if
teen feet from the sbanty. Then shaking
his wagon spoke in the direction Of the
discounted lad, be shouted:
"Ne can thank me good nature fur
not batin' in yer thick head" Then
turning around as il he had done a meri-
torious act in expelling a man from his
own house. he continued:
Now, Mr.. Fowler, go on wild your
story"
By degrees | drew out of Mr.. Callahan
the facts i'm regard TO the cows. it APP
pears that he was one of the oldest resi-
dents in GOatyillo. For many years he
( had held q comparatively lucrative posi-
ton in Central park. but had lost his
Job through political changes. Then lac
had bought two mich cows for $50,
"ravin a mOrgidge of $50 upon thin.
Fax, sor," said he, 81 used 10 peddle tn
milk around 90 my naybOrs, an what
wild tn rheumatic an tn malary
couldn't raise tn morgidge. It's on'y
+ Yesterday, s0r, that tn man as held the
papers KEN around here an took me
cows. An now fwhatll do an me ould
woman an tn by but stharve ShurC
tn hunger is under me vest an gnawin
me an tn COWS gOin' down tn road
Musha, sor, but there's haard times fun
thin as has nayther money nor cOws.'
Tho old man resumed his despOndon
position with his head in his hands. Bui
even in his misfortune he didn't fail &c
regret the fact that he had no bottle
containing "somethin' soothin'" in The
cupboard.
As Tom and parted at the railway
station the last words ! heard as l hur
ried up the stairs 70 catch train were;
AR ye shure ye're a. The res
was lost in the rattle Of approaching
wheels. ERNEST JARROLD.