Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1890-09-18

dIteI them, ever anu anon pauSlng IN
dark spots, and again following with
pertinacious spirit.
Far down among the lonely lots
moaned about by the wind that in un
impeded course sweeps over from low
lying Long Island, stood an old brick
building.
How this sad remnant Of an editiee
had escaped the march of improve
ment was a mystery; possibly Satan
himself had leased the property and
scared honest folk away, since fht
house had bad name and was Stunned
by reputable people Some ayerred
that it was haunted at the very least
by rats; certain ii is that its massive
roof of states and its heavy wooden
shutters, ever forbiddingly closed, told
no tales.
1t was into this uncanny place thai
Garland led Max Boyden, having first
produced huge key and unlocked the
ponderous paddock.
"Just close the door md slip the
bolt, he said to his visitor, when they
stood within the darkened portals
while Irun upstairs and strike u light.
For precautionary reasons Boyde
closed the door, but omitted to shoe
the bolt, being sufficiently coward to
feel that he would be more secure with
some rapid mode of egress at his com
mand than without it.
Then he paused and listened to the
oppressive silence that was almost
audible by contrast with the night
sounds of the outer world, while he
inhaled the musty, tomb-like odor OF
his unexplored surroundings.
Presently faint simmer of pale
yellow light became visible above,
which increased until rough flight of
oaken stairs, surrounded by bare plas
tered walls, shaped themselves out of
the darkness, and the voice of Garland
was heard saying:
Can you see? Follow the light and
come upl"
Thus guided, Boyden mounted the
stairs and shortly found himself in an
upper chamber as bare and uncom-
promising as the entrance.
A common deal table, couple of
chairs, an iron-bound key, and bottle,
which served as a sconce for the light.
ed candle, were all the furniture that
the room boosted.
Garland stood near the heavily
barred window, and as Boyden APP
pcared he asked:
did You bolt the lower door,"
Yes. was the reply; then, with
glance about the gloomy den, he asked,
do you mean to tell me that you live
here?"
II receive my friends here; you
mind, I told you that it was no sort of
place for the likes OF you to come to. +"
1t is well enough; don't object to
1t. But let US get to business"
They had seated themselves upon the
two wooden chairs on opposite sides
OF the table, and as Boyden uttered
the last words Garland moved the
candle quickly, the better to get look
1t the face of his vis-a-vis.
What business?" he asked with in
terest
why, getting the girl, Oracle, out
Of my way. / have been talking with
her this evening, and find her as in
tractable as young colt in harness. ~
"Shes chip of the old block!" OBJ
served Garland, with knowing smile.
at which sally they both laughed.
We'll" he added, what do you want
done with her?'
i don't know, and care less, SO long
as she never troubles me-"
why should she trouble you? What
does she know"
She knows nothing, thank Godl''
And haven't you come into your
uncle's property, as no will was ever
found ?"
Perhaps something in the words, pos
sibly something in the mans tone, ar
rested Boyden's attention.
by the way, Garland, he said, un-
expectedly, what did you do with the
will?"
ooh, ] put it safely out of the way.r
was the nonchalant reply.
You destroyed it, Of course 2"
Il tell you l put it safely out of the
way
"But how? Did you burn it?'
!. no"
"What did you do with il, then %
i put It away, where no living soul
but myself can ever unearth il. /"
You put it away" cried Boyden,
you put it away when paid YOU your
price to destroy it2 You did not de
stroy it?"
Certainly not"
"Why not?"
Would you have me fiy in the face
of my fortune, DESTROY nv only stock