New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-10
A GHOUES ACCOUNTANT.
TIE STORY OF A SULLIVAN COUNTY PROD
ICE DEAL.

UCE DEAL.
In wilderness sunlight is noise. Darkness
Is great. tremendous silence accented by small
and distant sounds. The music of the wind III
the trees is songs Of loneliness, hymns on aban-
donment. and lays of the absence of things con-
genial and alive.
Once a campfire lay dying in fit Of temper
few weak flames struggled choerically among
the burned-out logs Beneath, a mass of angry
red Goals gowered and hated the world. Some
hemlocks sighed and sung and a wind purrcd IN
the grass The moon looking through the
locked branches at four imperturbable bundles OF
blankets which lay near the agOnized campfire
The fire groaned in its last throes, but the bundles
made no sign.
on in the gloomy unknown a foot fell upon a
twig The laurel leaves shivered at the stealthy
passing of danger moment later man crept
into the spot of dim light His skin was fercely
red and his whiskers infinitely black lie gazed
at the four passive bundles and smiled smile
that curlcd his lips and showed yellow disordered
teeth. The campfire threw up two lurid arms
and. quivcring, expired The voices of the trees
grew hoarse and frightened. The bundles were
stolid.
The intruder stepped softly nearer and looked
at the bundles. One was shorter than the others
He regarded it for some time mOtionless. The
hcmlocks ouavercd nervously and the grass shook.
The intruder slid 10 the short bundle and touched
IT, Then he smiled. The bundle partially up
reared itself, and the head of a little man ap-
pearcd.
Lord" he said. He found himself looking
at the grin OF a ghoul condemned to torment.
Come croakcd the ghoul.
What ~ said the little man. lie began TO
feel his flesh slide 10 and fro his bones as he
looked into this smile.
Come" croaked the ghoul.
What - The little man whmpered. lie grew
gray and could not move his legs. The ghoul
lifted a three -pronged pickercl-spear and flashed
il near the little mans throat. He saw menace
on lis points He struggled heavily to his feet.
lie cast his eyes upon the remaining mummy
like bundles but the ghoul confronted his face
with the spear.
Where ?' shivcrcd the little man.
The ghoul turned and pointed into the dark
ncss His countenance shone with lurid light of
triumph.
Co.. he croaked.
The little man bndlv staggered in the di-
rection Indicated. The three bundles by the fire
was still immovable. lie tried To pierce the
cloth with a glance" and opened his mouth TO
whoop but the spear ever threatened his face.
little man stumbled on alone with the ghoul.
Tangled ,hckcts tripped him, saplings builete1
him and stones turned away from his feet.
blinded and badgcrcd, he began to swear
frcnzicdlv. 4 foam driftcd TO his mouth. and
his eyes rlowed with blue light.
"Go on thundcrousiy croakcd the ghoul
The little mans blood turned TO salt. His
Owes began TO decay and refused to do their Office
Uc fell from gloom to gloom.
4, last a house was before them. Through n
velow-papcrcd window shonc an uncertain light.
Tho oboul conducted bis prisoner To the uneven
threshold and kicked the decrept door 1t swung
crooninc back and he dragged the little man into
a room
A soilcd oil-lamp gave n feeble light that
turned the pincboard walls and furniture duli
orange Before table sat Wild, gray man
The choul threw his victim upon chair ana went
and stood by the man. They regarded the niue
man with eyes that made wheels rcNolVe In MS
soul.
Ue cast n dazcd glance about the room and saw
vaguely that it dishcvcllcd as from 'er'in'
scnele Chairs lay shattered, and dishes in the
cupboard were ground 10 pieces. Destruction Ia"
becp present There were moments of silence.
Tho oboul and the wild. gray man contemplated
their victim. A throc of fear passed over him
and he sank limp in his chair His eyes swept
fevcrisblv over the faces of his torinentors'
At last the ghoul spoke.
"Wcll!" he said to the wild, gray man.
The offer cleared his throat and stood up.
"Str,rccr" he said suddenly, how much Is
thr,ythrce bushcl, of pertaters at siAty-tour an
half bushel? ?"
The rhoul leaned forward to catch The reply.
The wild gray man Strengthened his figure ana
listened 4 fierce light shonc on their faces
Tbcir brcaths came swiftly. The little man
wIiggled his legs in agony
"Twenty-one. no, two, six and
"ouek. - Missed the ghoul, hoarsely.
"Twcnty-one dollars and twcnty-clght cents anu
half" laboriouely suffered the little man.
The rhoul gave tremendous howl
There. Tom Jones, dcam yer" he yelleu,
.wba. did | tell yer! hey? Hant right
See? Didn't tell yer that =,
The wild, gray mans body shook. lie was as
delivered of a frightfu roar lie sprahg ior""i'
and kicked the little man out OF the door,