The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-09-11

hobbled oft Her words must have
made deep impression ON Tin. for II
is said that be mover dared 10 look her
In the fncs again, but i he saw her
coming hurried Into his den, calling
his dog after him; and SO Aunt Hannah,
lall Rowsick and Iioclamack, alone
had the freedom OF his bridge aud rc-
ceived no attentions from scrap
But the years rolled by and brought
no evil visitation upon the tollman. lie
grew richer aud richer all the time.
and with his wealth his sullcn avoid.
ance Of his fcllowmen increased. He
| seemed 70 regard them al with a hos
/ tile suspicion and 70 have no friends
but his dog, who daily grow dingIer
and ugiier and more distrustful.
OF what was going on III the world
Tim knew nothing and cared no moro.
| book was not To DO seen in his
house. and he never read newspaper.
| OF railroads and steamboats,, which ali
the world had begun 10 talk about, hc
did not even dream Civilization
marched on from one height OF prog
ress to another great inventions and
discoveries were followed by those yet
more wonderful. but no sound 81 Ii
came 10 him
II he lad any pleasure bcsidcs count
Ing his heaps Of money, he found ii 10
annoying the navigators OF the reach
by obhging them to blow and blow for
half an hour ut time before attend
ing TO their signals Often would he
keep q skipper waiting until the wind
had changed or the lido had turned,
and good days work was lost, and so
oppressive did his ill-nntnrcd tricks be.
come that some Of his indignant mari.
ners openly threatened 70 tear down
his bridge.
But Tim and his bridge held unmo-
Tested sway over the reach until cer-
tain summer evening In 49,, when lust
as the shadows were falling the toll
man was startled by terrific scrccch-
ing that seemed to como from around
the bend.
Il was as loud and piercing as II all
the horns and conch shells In the Clam
river feet had blown at once, and ii
surprised him into an unwonted alnc-
ritys Leaping out on the bridge no
seized his bar and swung open the draw
without n moments delay
The strange noise was heard, again,
this time nearer and still louder. Never
could horns and shells have blown such
. blast as that Perplexcd and half
frightened, Tim leaned over the side Of
the draw, and, through the fast gather
ing shadows, looked eagerly down tho
reach.
Suddenly he jumped back, his eyes
bursting from their socketA
With . rush and roar, a, frightful
apparition had suddenly turned the
bend and was heading for tho bridge.
II doomed up IN the dim light, huge,
nncouth and uncanny, monster
neither Of the sea nor OF the air, but
alive and on fire. breathing out great
puts Of vapor. vomiting blotchcA Of
smoke and showersof sparks, churning
the waters with its feet and piercing
the skies with its yoice. As Tim still
looked, another cloud Of steam Missed
from its nostrils and it shrieked again.
That was enough Tim stared no
longer With loud cry Of despair he
bounded to the upper end Of the draw,
jumped into the water and disappeared.
The monster passed through the
opened drawbridge with asputtering, q
trembling and groaning. II lashed
the murlty waters Of the reach high
against the piers, frightened the birds
from the spruces and sent the cattle
sDorting and scampering TO the ends Of
the pastures Then In q moment or
two It had vanished, and the face Of
nature was serene again.
The draw still stood open. pointing
up and down the river as II TO mark tho
course Of the strange visitor. Travel
ers came up on both sides, halted and
turned back, surprising the Interrupt
ton TO be the latest device OF Tins
malice. For two days traffic between
the two towns was at standstill.
Then some Of the Hockamock worthless,
after vainly trying to arouse the toll. \
man, went out in boat, climbed up
the pier and swung the draw back.
Travel thereupon resumed It's wonted
course, and from that day TO this Tins
bridge has been free to man and beast.
After waiting due time for Tim to
reappear, the selectmen OF the town
made thorough search Of his house,
but no trace Of Tim, or his dog. or,
strange to say, Of his bags OF money,
could be found. Not even d button,
nor o penny piece, nor bonel
Aunt Hannah Kicks always claimed
with many chuckle that her predic-
ton had been literally fulfilled; but
after she had gone the way OF all
the prophets, there came to the ears Of
the townspeople rumor that in one Of
the interior villages Of Maine an old
man, apparently very poor, had been
found dead Of starvation and neglect In
. wretched howell, his body guarded by
half-blind, 'snarling old Dig and
stretched upon heap Of straw In
which were hidden several bags Of
money, amounting to wondrous sum.
Whether these were the relics Of Tim
Stubs or not nobody ever took pains
to make sure, though many Of the good
people Of Roswick and Hockamock
firmly believed the bones Of the dog
and the gold werc his. Some Of the
neighbors were fully persuaded that
Tim was never seen on earth after he
jumped into the reach, and at theNpres-
ent day one opinion has about ms many
champions as the other In these two
old towns. - Lewiston (Me.) Journal
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Getting 1t the Facts.
\ ''And yet. Miss Laura. said the pro
A s4 49, A . aa, = - II