Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1891-03-19

who is in control?" asked Raxworthy
in a reverent voice.
The house faded slowly, but something
seemed to be coming into existence in
another part of the room. 1t was very
faint at first, but after several attempts
it became more distinct; it was the figure
of a man, or at least the head and shoul-
ders of one. He wore a bell-crowned
hat of a fashion at least 90 years old.
His face was overshadowed. He bowed
and said, in a cracked voice: "Good-
evening, good folks. am CATER Peters,"
This made me feel trifle uncomfort
able / turned for support to Sam, but
he was invisible in the darkness.
''Glad to see you, Gaffer," said Rax-
worthy, "Have you any message for u.s."
SIT is under the hearthstone," was the
reply. ''In the back sitting-room. 1t
worries met worries me! Under the
hearthstone. | buried it there" He
spoke in detached sentences, barely aud
ible.
"You buried whatv' demanded Rax-
worthy, little unsteadily l thought;
a chastity tale of murder and corpse.
"Gold and jewels-gold and jewels-a
vast treasurer came the response. 81
can't rest. Gold and jewels-I buried
them there. can't rest till they're taken
away"
'sWhere is the place, Gaffer!"
issVernon street, No. 81. Under the
hearthstone in the back sitting room.
All my treasure. Take it away. | give
it to you. Lose no time. 1t may be too
late.'' AS the last words were uttered
the apparition vanished. Mrs. Selkirk
heaved deep sigh; the trance was over.
| heard Sam step to the gas fixtures and
the light was turned on.
"Was it successful? 1 hope you are
satisfied, gentlemen" said the good lady
courteously.
every successful, indeed, madam"
replied Sam, in his deep voice. "It may
turn out that our friend Raxworthy is
indebted to you for much greater sum
than 49,"
"Oh, can't admit that, you know"
exclaimed Raxworthy hastily. "We
don't know as yet whether the spirit may
not have been mistaken, and besides"
81 am contented to take my fee and |
expect nothing else," interposed Mrs.
Selkirk quietly. eff the gentlemen meet
with any good fortune they are welcome
to it, and on the other hand / expect to
be relieved of all responsibility if any
thing goes wrong. Those are my rules"
With that she bowed as an intimation
that the audience was at an end, and we
departed.
''Now honestly what do you think of
that?" asked RaXwOrthy as we emerged
into the street.
81 should like drop of whiskey,"
said frankly. Sam settled his hat on
the back of his head and thrust his hands
into his pockets.
SIN practical man." quoth he, "and
l say we ought to put this thing to a
test at once. Let's go to Vernon street
its not far from here-and find out
whether such a house as we saw-97
wasn't it ills there. After that we can
consult what to do next"
The advice was sound, and we took it.
Vernon street turned out to be small
and obscure thoroughfare, somewhere
west of Washington square. 1t was bad
ly lighted, vilely dirty and given up to
very low order of the population. But
was conscious of queer sensation when
l beheld, nearly at the western extremity
of it, the identical building that we had
seen in the darkness above Mrs. Selkirk's
head. A low, rickety brick edifice of
two stories, with blinds rotting from
their hinges, and tumble-down steps.
No one lived in it; beyond question it
was the very place. We all three stared
at it in silence for at least minute. At
last Sam cleared his throat and spoke.
"Well,'' said he, $50 far so good. And
now, Mr.. Raxworthy, what do you pro-
pose to do?''
"sWe must get in there somehow" re-
piled Raxworthy, s'and find out if the
back sitting room-''
eve couldn't do that unless we owned
the building" Sam interrupted; "and
even if we could and the treasure was
there, we couldn't take it away. 1t
would belong to the landlord. That's
the law, believe
s'What can we do then?'' Raxworthy
inquired. ;.
'There is only one thing you can do if
you want the treasure, and that is to buy
the house outright" said Sam.
ssDear me! That seems rather extrav-
agant. Couldn't we take lease of it?'
ga lease wouldn't entitle you to the
treasure
"But suppose there should be no treas
ure?"
"Exactly! That's where your test
comes in. Its risk, and you may take
it or leave it. But there's this to be said
the spirits were right as to the house !;
why not as to the treasure as well?'
eyes," said Raxworthy hesitatingly,
and manifestly in distress, "but that
house would cost lot of money, and
swell, look here; I'll make this prop
osition," said Sam, with emphasis. ''I'll
go shares with you in buying the house,
or III buy it all myself. But in the
former case we 60 shares in the treasure,
and in the latter take it all. Is that a
bargain?''
s'Oh, as to that, l suppose-I'm
Obliged to you, butt suppose l might
manage to raise the money somehow. Do
you suppose could get it for $5O0?'
"You might for four or five times chat
sum- said Sam coldly. "But you'd bet
ter let me take it. There's the risk Of
getting nothing, remember"
Yes, | know; still, you knOw-but,
$500! That's awful, really! | could
get it on two-thirds mortgage, couldn't
[? l never paid such sum for any
thing But then there's the treasure-at
least. if it should be there Well, I'll
think it over, 1 guess, and decide in a
day or two"
sI'm decided now" said Sam. "I'll
buy that house the first thing tomorrow
.~.c.pinn IF won dop,t rat hafnro mo