The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-03-03
SOME ODD STORIES.

Through the Agency of the Ghost of Had
don's Corners-A Weird Story of the
Supernatural and Mysterious.
copyright, 1893, by American Press Associa-
fsan.l
Nine miles south ef the town of D.. in
Ohio, two highways cross each other at
right angles, and TIE corners thus formed
are known as ''Hadlon's Corners" Tween
ty years ago there was but one house there
"a half finished old structure which John
Haddon had started to build for tavern,
but never finished. Everybody knew the
man by sight and name, and yet no one
knew where he came from or anything re-
garding his past life. He might have been
As years old, or his age might have been 10
years more. He was one of those men who
reach q certain age and then seem to halt
there. He had bought 10 acres of ground
on the southwest corner, put up the frame
and inclosed a building large enough to ac-
commodate 100 guests and then finished off
two or three rooms at one end. He did no
farming, had no accommodations for man
or beast and was never seen half mile
from his house.
Haddon had been resident OF the Cor
ners about three years when | came to
Know DlIu. lu0 WCulttu VIM AA'S0 WIN
him as his wife was also character. She
was tall, gaunt, ugly and mysterious. Inc
two were never seen outside of the house
together, whether walking or sitting Such
farmers wives as called at the house to be
neighborly were refused admittance. Such
farmers as dropped in on Haddon under one
excuse and another found him distrustful
and exceedingly gruff. 1t was generally
agreed that he was an Englishman and an
old sailor 1t wasn't long before it was
gossiped about that he had been pirate
and was hiding from justice. l believe
that detective was employed to investi
gate, but he failed to discover any reason
why the strange pair should be meddled
with. The farmers by and by gave up try
ing to solve the mystery and let the Had
dons alone, but their presence was always
considered menace to the peace of the
neighborhood.
had come out from Cincinnati to set up
as county physician, and had established
myself at Blissville, a hamlet two miles
east of the corners. OF course soon heard
all about 1.-THE pirate" and of Counsel had
a curiosity to see the people. How the pair
lived was another mystery, though it fell
to me to solve it after a few weeks They
were never known to purchase anything at
the hamlet, nor was either one Of them
ever seen going to or coming from the city.
/ discovered, however, that the woman
visited the town of D. occasionally, but
always by night Had l made this fact
public some one would have followed her,
but said nothing about it, not caring to
make an enemy even where had no pros
pect of securing patient
1 had been practicing medicine for year
or more when / got call one evening to
farmhouse two miles west of the Corners.
This was in the spring, and it was both
dark and rainy when started to return.
AS l reached Haddon's he called to me from
the front door:
SIS that you, doctor?"
'Yes."
II want you to come in"
was glad of the opportunity to see the
inside of the house and meet the strange
couple face to face, though knew there
wasn't man in the neighborhood who'd
have entered the building after dark for
all the money in the state.
'Any one sickf" queried as I followed
him into the living room, which looked
more like barracks than family room.
mop be bluntly replied as he pointed to
chair and sat down in another. rs it
any Of your business who am, where
came from or how liver"
Certainly not"
Have you interested youself?"
mot in the slightest"
"I've seen you pass many times, and !
thought you had the look of sensible
man. No one is sick, hut I want you to
examine this hurt in my side"
"Why, man, you've been cut with knife
and lost much bloodl' / exclaimed as soon
as / got my fingers on the rude bandage he
had applied.
Eyes: it was done an hour ago, and was
waiting fer you to return Is it bad
hurt2"
IA very bad one. You must strip off and
get into bed and let me make a careful ex-
animation. How did you get its"
None of your businessi''
lis there any one here to assist me?"
mol There is hot water on the stove,
and here are plenty of cloths What do
you think Of it?"
"You have been severely wounded and
must have careful nursing There is GER
tain to beinfammation and fever. I'd like
to talk with your wife"
"There's nobody here"
sBut you must have some one"
bOSuI l'VS udu q uOZcu CutS WOrSe Uuetu |
this and kept on my feet. Leave your
medicine and a pitcher of water on the |
chair, and I'll take care of myself. You
can call in the morning, but don't bring |
anybody with you"
'sYour life may depend on the care you
get" protested.
Didn't say I would have no one |
aroundp' he shouted in an angry voice |
do as want you to or there's an end of |
It'll Pm no woman, that cut like this is
going to be the end of mel''
Some one with q strong hand had driven |
six inches of steel into his right side, and
his chances would not have been even up |
with the best of nurses An ordinary man |
could not have lost the quantity of blood |
he had and been able to move foot, and |
yet had found him on his feet and walk |
ing about. He had the build of a man of |
iron, and in looking him over / found three
or four scars of serious wounds. I offered !
to find him nurse for the night at least,
but he babe me begone and call in the |
Ireturned next day to find him |