The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-07-24
TIM, THE TOLL-KEEPER.
Legend of Early Days on the
Coast of Maine.
The Fate That Overtook an Avaricious Old
scoundrei-An Old woman's Curse and
Its Strange FulnIiment-
the bridge Became Free.

pcFptcNlUR TehcucS huu lilitSS thftt sCh-
tanglc the coast Of Maine, perhaps you
have seen .'Tim's Bridge" a queer de-
formed little fabric Of blockaded logs
spanning an arm Of the sea, locally
known as Clam river. Worn and weak
-cned by the service Of three genera
tions Of travellers, it trembles under
the passing Of heavy team, as II its
days Of usefulness were nearly over;
and the draw, when il opens, totters
on its infirm and decaying pier like an
old man with failing limbs
within hedge OF unkcmpt fish
wcirs and fringed with a growth OF
scraggy spruccs. here lies the sleepy
island town Of IIockamock, cut from
the main BY this mcandcring arm Of
the sea, and united to 1t BY Tins
bridge. Opposite is I3rowsic. an an
Gent and fishy hamlet In whose streets
the grass grows now, but the scene Of
stirring business in the days when
Phipps. the Knight Of the Spanish
Doubleons. was building his ships and
fitting ont his brave expeditions.
TO these shores about quarters
Of century ago, when the fishermen
and farmers Of the two old towns were
in the heyday Of their prosperity came
settler named Tim Stubs. Where
be came from nobody knows His be-
ginning, like his end. Is involved in
mystery II Is, however, well-estab-
Ished fact that ne built the bridge, the
wiscacres 81 the day shaking their
heads at his venture and vowing Mat
be never would get his money back,
but ii did come back, swelling 70 a
stream Of silver and copper coin that
made Tim Stubs the richest man in
Hockamock.
When he opened the bridge there was
great rejoicing in the two towns It
was such wonderful accommodation
to travellers that they Willingly paid
the tolls Someof the fishermen and
coasting shippers grumbled at having
to huff mp and hing of for Tim to open
his draw, but they soon became accns-
toned to it and blew their horns ard
conch-shells chcerily, always giving the
alarm just before they rounded the
/ sharp bend made by the reach a little
below the bridge. AS for the steam
boats that now pass and repass every
when Cur story begins.
But, unluclxily for the toilman and all
who went through his bridge Or over IL,
Tins nature was as dwarfed and ngly
as its frame, and he fed it on nothing
but his tolls, He lived In a little house
at the Hockamock end Of the bridge,
together with his boards and Cfingy yell
low dog. When he stretched ont his
palm for his toll, he had never word
of greeting for the passer-by, and If one
ventured good morning." Tim
z silently hurried away his money as
though civil word might break the
spell that protected it.
Old Squire Dummer, Of Hoclxamock,
came tearing down the road to the
bridge one dark night, his horse in a
gallop
open the gate, Tim, open the gatel
Its matter Of life and death!'' he
bawled
There Tim stood as unresponsive as
death itself, his dog by his side, the
gate shut and barred.
'Qnickp roared the squire. 'I'm
after the doctor for my wife she's like
to die"
Tins only answer was to hold out
that hairy hand Of his, while the dog
gave u low growl.
What do you mean, You knaye?"
Squise Dummer cried swelling with
anger Would you risk my wife's life
for tuppcnpe?"
Excited aud tuning he searched his
pockets fer coin while his horse paved
and reared
iii, there! whoa, boyl Confound you.
] haven't penny in my breechesl
Whoa. hoy, steadyI I'll pay you to-mor-
row, man Open the gate in heavens
name"
Brt the grim statue did not move SO
much as a finger till the squire, fairly
afire with indignation, threw down his
watch ana fob for toll.
When, next day, he told the villagers
Of the Gffair, the warmest indignation
was kindled4on both sides OF the river,
though perhaps it never would have
burned Tins ears but for Aunt Han
nah Kicks
The scuryy villainr' She muttered,
her gray eyes flashing, TN give him a
piece Of my mind, II no one else dares
70 say wordN' And away she hob
bled On her crutch down to the bridge
IA Fonr, bent and shrivelcd old wom-
an, with 4 face unpleasantly sharp and
tongue that was sharper still
.Ah' Tim, said she, shaking hen
longV bony finger in his face, ''ye won't
pe a. foar tricks much longerr'
What az You nean? growled Tim.
! mean rabbing and abusing folks
and tatipg their watches and fobs
when you've M right to them that's
what mean.
Vet. &ong, won GA hag! I won't
stand such TALK said Tim, with 4
threatening glare.
Hear me out, miserable mantr Aunt
Hannah went on, LET me tell you
that it's for the Evil One you're doing
ali this! It's FOR tie Evil One you're
plundering your neighb8rs and cheat
ing your own body and sopl,a
Won witchN Tom screamed almost
beside himself WITH anger BE OFF or.
I'll have You hung,
BahN retortedihe beldatne, With d
contemptuous snap Of her1s angers.
Wen have free bridge first.
Doubling bis fist, Tim stated toward
her, white the dog erouched for 4
spring
Nah" she rebeatet standing her
itTound and raising her crutch. come Al
me y ye dare, 10th of yer