Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1890-11-28
OLD HUMPHREYS BELL.
The Money That Bought 1t Had
Been Cursed.

Been CurSeu.
Mr.. Giles was seated alone in the tap
room. of ST. Agnes inn, with his feet on
the table, half-filled mug of ale in his
hand, and was looking through the open
doorway at the fading sunlight, and
wishing that some customer might call
and drop few shillings into his till.
He was about finishing the ale, when
the sound of steps without caused him
to remove his feet from the table and to
assume more dignified and business
like attitude, by standing with his
hands behind his back, and with an in
different look on his face, as though in
dependent of the entire world.
GOOD evening, Mr.. Giles" said the
newcomer.
"Good evening, Parker, good even
ing" answered Mr.. Giles. "Come in.
What will you have, and what's the
news?"
sale, Giles, and bit ofcheese. You
ask for the news; then you haven't
heard itP"
"Not bit. What is it?"
'Old Humphrey"
"What of him?" asked Mr.. Giles.
Dead"
"Dead?'
'Yes, dead" repeated Mr.. Parker, as
he brought his hand down on the table
with emphasis, as though driving the
last nail into old Humphreys coffin.
''When did he die?" asked Mr.. Giles.
IAN hour ago."
'Then many a secret dies with him,
and l know some of them," said Mr..
Giles, with a very knowing and mys-
terious shake of the head.
"What do you mean?" asked Mr..
Parker.
Nothing" was the very unsatisfac.
tory answer.
ut must be something"
mo matter What has he done with
his money!" asked Mr.. Giles.
Divided it among some kinfolk in
Wales, all excepting one hundred
pounds"
Sand pray, what's that for9"
"For the good of the parish, answered
Mr.. Parker.
''Then Heaven help the parish"
'Giles, what do you mean?"
Nothing, Parker, nothing. And what
Is the money for?"
For bell to be placed in the vac an
tower of ST. Agnes Church"
Protection protect us! If it eve
rings there it will be the death-knell o
the church." said Mr.. Giles.
"Mr. Giles, will you be kind enough
to explain yourself2 What do 20,
mean?"
THAT the parish mustn't touch thu
money"
"WhyP"
Mr.. Giles looked about the room be
fore answering, and then said: "Becaus
1t is cursed"
Cursed, Giles! cursed did you sayP'
Eyes, cursed; every penny of it.
will bring only mischief"
"Why cursed? How2" asked tn
other.
There is blood on it. Red blood i
on it, tell YOU"
~ don't understand, "said Mr.. Parker
mo doubt you don't understand
There is a great deal that you dom
understand, Parker, vast, great deal
But l tell you that will never ente
the church il bell purchased with oil
Humphreys money is ever hung in it
t0werl'
"You are very wrong, Giles. You ar
too hard on old Humphrey, who ma
have been little wild few year
back, but of late, you know, he ha
been sober and q well-behaved sub
ject.'
II know he has, and know a grea
deal MORE" was the answer
"What is the matter with you, Giles
There is something on your mind, an
say out with it"
"Parkerw
"What, Giles?"
Mr.. Giles again looked about tn
room, under the table, and out of tn
door before asking: do you see tina
road before this imp"
81 do"
at is the same road?"
"What same roadY'
"The same road that has been Their
Is long as we can remember"
Certainly. But what of the road?
"Can YOU remember, Parker? d
you recall the robberies that were com
fnitted on that road twenty years agoP
YES"
"And the murders?"
"Yes."
"Who was the robber2" asked Mi
Giles
81 don't know"
''Who was the murderer?'
81 don't know"
81 do" said Mr.. Giles.
"Who?"
Mr. Giles dropped his voice into
low WI ny. and answered: Hum
phrey.
"BumR reY'" repeated the aston