Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-11-08
OLD HUMPHREYS BELL.
The Money Tha" Bought It Had
 Been Cursed.

MT Giles was seated alone in the tap room of St Agnes inn, with his feet on the table . half-tilled mug of ale in his hand, and was looking through tho open doorway at the fading sunlight, and wishing that som" 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 dignifled 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, Mir. Giles" said the newcomer.
 Good evening, Parker, good even- ing" answered Mir. Giles. Come in. What will you have, and what's the news?"
 "Ale, Giles, and bit ofcheese. You ask for tho news; then you haven't heard it?"
 Not d bit. What is it?''
 "Old Humphrey"
 What of him?" asked Mir. Giles. "Dead."
 "Dead?"
 "Yes, doad," repeated MT. Parker, as he brought his hand down on the table with emphasis, as though driving the last nail into old Humphreys coffin. "When did ho dio?" asked MT. Giles. "An hour ago.
 "Then many secret dies with him, and know some of thcm," said MT. Giles, with very knowing and mys terious sha5o of the head.
 "What do you mean?" asked MT. Parker.
 Nothing" was the very unsatisfac- tory answor.
 ''It must be something"
 No matter. What has he done with his money?" asked Mir. Giles. "Divided it among some kinfolk in Wales, all excepting one hundred pounds"
 And pray, what's that for?"
 "For the good of tho parish, answered Mir. 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 vacant tower of St Agnes Church"
 "Protection protect us! If 1t ever rings there it will be the death-knell of l the church, Salu MT. SIlleS.
 "Mr. Giles, will you be kind enough to explain yourself? What do you mean?"
 That the parish mustn't touch the money"
 "Why?"
 Mr. Giles looked about the room be- fore answering, and then said: Because it is cursed"
 Cursed, Giles! cursed did you say?''
 "Yes, cursed; every penny of it. It will bring only mischief"
 "Why cursed? How?" asked the other.
 There is blood on 1t Red blood is on it, tell you"
 "I don't understand" said MT. Parker.
 "No doubt you don't understand. There is a great deal that you don't understand, Parker, 0 vast, great deal. But l tell you that I will never enter the church if bell purchased with old Humphreys money is ever hung in its tOwerv'
 You are very wrong, Giles. You are too hard on old Humphrey, who may have been little wild few years back, but of late, you know, he has been Q sober and well-behaved sub ject"
 "I know he has, and know a great deal more," was the answer.
 What is the matter with you, Gilesf There is something on your mind, and say out with it."
 "Parkerr' What, Giles?" MT. Giles again looked about the room, under the table, and out of the door before asking: Do you see that road before this inn?" "I do."
 t'It is the same road?'
 What same road?"
 "The same road that has been there as long as we can remember" Certainly. But what of the road?'
 "Can you remember, Parker? Do you recall the robberies that were com mitted on that road twenty years ago2' "Yes."
 And the murders2"
 Yes" 5 "who was the robberP" asked Mir Giles
 "I don't k"OW."
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