Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1891-07-24

sunshine, he found himself threatened
with total deprivation of his estate. As
unexpectedly as though the heavens had
dropped upon his bewildered head, he
was notified by a lawyer in London that
he held for one of his clients mortgage
upon the place, executed by the vender
a few months before the sale, upon
which the principal and interest
amounted to quite the value of the
place, and that immediate satisfaction
was demanded and expected.
Then followed a tedious and vexatious
litigation. which resulted in establish
ing the mortgage and declaring the pc
cuniary ruin of Randolph Ferry. 1t
was the last drop in the wretched suffer
er's cup of gall. The little means that
he could command from his broken for
tunes had been swallowed up in his un-
successful defense of the suit.
The hour was about twilight; the un-
touched meal had been cleared away, and
the old housekeepcr had retired to her
chamber. Perry sat in the front room,
in low chair by the window, and,
absorbed in his misery, he noticed moth
ing of the storm that was coming up.
He had not sat thus more than half an
hour when he heard the sharp unlatch-
ing of the gate, and the quick step of
feet on the gravel; and then there was a
knock at the door.
A tall man stood without, his garments
cGnging to him IN wet folds and the
water running from them in streams.
The old man help up the candle to his
face and saw prominent nose and pair
of keen eyes under wide hat, and for
the rest there was handsome, rather
benevolent, mouth, and a mass of au-
burn beard. The man was stranger to
him.
"Good evening, sir" he said, in q
bluff, hearty voice. "May l come in and
get dry9 Such ducking haven't had
since l fell off Freehaven Dock, long ago.
viii you allow such wet rat in your
house2"
"Yes, come in" Perry replied; and
ushering the stranger into the room, he
brought some kindlings and light wood,
with which he soon made a fire in tho
fireplace.
The stranger took off his coat and vest
and squeezed the water from them, hung
them on chair, and addressed himself
to the drying of his extremities. The old
man looked on in moody silence, and the
stranger was compelled to make the first
advances.
"A nice place you have here, l should
think. | saw it from the bottom of the
hill, before tue storm came up"
"Who are youa" Perry abruptly
asked. "Do you come here. on any busi.
ness? Have you anything to do with
that rascal Murch, who has robbed me OF
I'll my propcrtya don't know, sir; per-
laps do you an injustice; but l have
become embittered against everybody.
III ask you kindly, if you came here
spying for Issac Murch, to leave peace.
| ably-and now"
'On my honor, then, sir" replied the
other, much surprised at the questions,
~ don't know anything of Murch, anC
I'm above spying for him or anybody.
came into Freehaven, down below here
this afternoon, in the steamboat, and ex
IGCACh " hailh OfCl w w tSIlOCh DSiOlS
the rain came on. got caught, and
made for the first shelter l saw. but i
you'd rather l would go"--
"No, no." interrupted Perry; 81
wouldn't turn dog out into the storm
much less human being Stay till you
are dry, and the rain is over; aud that,
think, won't be before morning. II
give you bed"
Finding the old man but little inclined
to talk, the stranger bade his host good
night ard went to the room assigned tc
him.
1t was then about ten o'clock. Thu
storm was at its height. aud it continued
for an hour longer, when it abruptly
ceased. The suddenness of its cessation
aroused the occupant of the room, anc
! wearied with his stress of emotion, HI
/ took his candle and ascended the stairs
He had no heart for anything but hi
own dreadful misery; and he would pro
/ badly have forgotten the presence of
| stranger in his house but for a ray o
light issuing from the keyhole of th,
chamber which he had babe him take.
Randolph Perry paused, and merel!
obeying sudden impulse, stopped anc
placed his eye at t = hole. He had no
the least curiosity about this man, anC
his act was certainly without motive
But his eye had but singled out his CUES
from the other objects in the room wner
he concentrated his attention upon him
with the greatest eagerness. He saw hin
sitting by the table, his back to the door
and the candle before him. Four or five
piles of bank notes, new and cracking
were before him; and he counted then
over rapidly, replacing them all in al
oiled-skin wallet beneath his pillow. Ii
a few moments more the light was ex
tinguished and the heavy breathing o
the sleeper was heard.
Silently did the listener gain his owl
room; aud as he stood there he was
man transformed! Could he have see
his own face at that moment he mus
have been terrified at the fiendish pas
sions that peered out from it. II
OF ~, hic l,nuyo1 cb In