The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1893-02-11

who dared 10 brave me warning tnat the
ghost gave them all was found dead, as
the first one had been.
The mill was soon spoken Of as haunt
ed by every one. No one would work
there, and finally Mr. McKin closed IL,
and it was left to itself and to the ghost
All this while Mime. McKin remained
an alleged invalid, shut in her room all
day, watched by her maid and talked
Of in whispers by her servants.
No one believed McKin's mill would
ever run again, but one day tall, strong,
broad shouldered young fellow walked
up the steps Of the McKin mansion,
asked to see the master, and begged to
be allowed to take charge Of the grist
mill.
I've heard the story" he said as Mr.
McKin began to explain. Il don't be
Geve in ghosts, and they CANT scare me
anyway, Tn in hard luck, and I'm a
good miller Trust me and your mill
shall work better than ever. You'll do
me service, and I'll do you one"
In vain Mr.. McKin set before him the
fact that two millers had been already
killed there in the haunted mill. The
young giant declared that he should not
be, and finally the gentleman engaged
him.
The mill was opened and the miller
set to work. He took with him into the
mill Bible, revolver and large,
sharp AK.
For the first two nights he saw moth
ing, but heard noises like the falling of
heavy millstones upon the floor above
and feet upon the stairs. He had ex-
pected something like this and remained
in his room reading his Bible by the
light of shaded lamp.
On the third night. having heard the
same noises and quietly disregarded
them, his door was dashed open and a
( hideous form entered. 1t was something
| between woman and a great bird Of
prey. 1t wore huttering white robes.
and had instead Of hands great black
| claws. II floated toward him through
| the air, and behind it came another like
unto it, but smaller.
The first creature swooped downward
and made a clutch at the lamp. As it
did SO he snatched his revolver from his
belt and fired, emptying all the cham
bers. The strange beings vanished with
! a wild shrek, but in a moment they en-
| tered again. This time the largest one
made a furious clutch at the lamp. As
she did 80 he lifted his AK above his
head. and with one blow severed the
hideous black claw from what looked
like a shriveled human arm; then he
hurled his Bible at the head of the
smaller tiend Instantly screams. oaths
and horrible curses filled the air. The
strange beings vanished and silence
reigned.
The black claw dropped to the table
1t was such lndeous sight that the mil
Ter covered it with cloth, that he might
not see it. He kept watch all the night.
and early in the morning Mr.. McKin,
who had been told that firing had been
heard in the mill, came to make inquir-
les The miller told his tale, and Mr..
McKin complimented him on his bra
very. OF course he was desirous of see
ing the amputated claw, and the miller
proudly drew away the cloth. Behold!
there lay upon the table. not a claw, but
woman's beautiful hand-a right hand
ON the middle finger of which cleaned a
splendid cluster diamond ring. At the
sight of this horror seized the miller
and Mr.. McKin seemed about to die. He
knew the hand; he knew the ring. Then
without word, he walked out Of the
mill and homeward and into his wife'r
chamber She was in her bed, as usual
The maid, pale, and with great bruist
upon her forehead, interposed to prevent
his approach.
MADAME is very i'll. she said.
"Out of my way, womsn" he cried
and pushed her aside.
Then, bending over his wife's bed. but
without his usual show of tenderness, he
said sternly:
= "ShOw Inc your hand
She thrust forth her left One.
"The other, he said.
She uttered a scream and turned dow
the counterpane, hut there was none tC
show-only n bandaged stump, from
which the hand had been severed.
The next morning the whole villag,
[ was in Wild excitement. for Jack Nc
/ Kin. whom they all knew and loved s,
. ! we'll udu gone 10 llo BAhNNg dAu ui'
2 there shot himself through the heart be
I side his mothers grave. And the serv
I ants had told their tale and the mile
r his. and there was the lady's hand, witt
e the ring uPon il, to be seen by all.
[ Burn the wretches." man cried, an,
2 a band of men. both black and white
7 bore down upon the AIcKin mansion
4 They entered the door and marched NJ
4 the stairs and into madame's room, bu
r there was no one there Nobody ha'
>, seen the two women depart but the
q were gone and We're never seen again
a and since that time NO fool has ever en-
. tered the old mill and it has slowly fall
l. en- into decay.
' The lady's hand, however, is still pre-
4 served in spirits in the town hall, an
the old negro who acts the part Of watch
= man declares that at midnight It alway
q changes to hideous black claw. How
ever, NO one else ever witnessed thi
transformation. Mary Kyle Dallas i
.e Fireside Companion.