The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-10-27
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 'struther Hammock attempted to rise. but could not. With one hand clutch ing the frayed arm of his chair and the other working uneasily among the papers upon his desk. he leaned far forward, his miserly face grimacing hideously, as though impotant murder iurked in the black heart behind. At last he gasped:
 And that's what you've been at, like a hungry ferret, through all these years?"
 Precisely"
 "Penruth. you're-you're poor man; and the judge ain't over well-to-do?" A slight pallor came into the face of the man of stone against the chimney. T ain't rich, mind. Far from 1t, Penruth. But I've been thinking. I've been thinking this very evening, that I'd like to sort of. well, do something handsome for-for somebody. wouldn't mind starting with you and the judge, Penruth; and making you both independent for life! Under stand?"
 Mop came quickly, tremulously. but with an infection of unutterable loath- ing. from the schoolmaster's scarcely parted lips.
 "Damnationw blurted 'Struther Kan nook with burst of his former brutal energy. T mean. Penruth, if you'll bring me those papers, every one of them, and put them in my hands with in the next hour, mind!-you may name | your own price for theml Will you do that. Charles Penruth?" Do you know what that price would be?" "Eh? Maybe five or ten thousand. Maybe not so much-considering I'm not rich; considering what I've done for them!" This with groveling wheed- ling and shame-faced gesture of his head in the direction of the old manse kitchen.
 Do you wish to know it?" "Yes, yes, yes!
 "Well, then, 1t Is one-half of every l thing you now possess, transferred to those to whom 1t rightly belongs; and | the absolute conveyance of your entire | interest in Anson Kannock's inventions
 
 "Penruth! Penruth! This is mad l ness" almost shrieked 'Struther Kan nook. sinking back helplessly in his chair.
 For years the madness has been yours alone;;" was the schoolmaster's quiet response, as he started to leave the room. .t~
 Don't go! Don't go! Oh, let me think; let me think" cringingly plead ed the wretched master of Hammock Manse.
 Tt is good to think" said Penruth pitilessly resuming his place against the chimney-piece.
 The old man turned his head from the light of the candle and ground it crushingly into the upholstering of the chair. He held 1t there for long, long time, motionless as the gray eyes which now rested with almost fiery intent ness upon him. At last he spoke in a muffled way, without turning his face to the one he questioned.
 "Penruth, you are scholar; a man who digs and burrows and thinks, Do -you-believe-there-are-ghosts?"
 Implicitly" &."s
 The schoolmaster's face lighted splen- didly as this was said. The word came firmly, convincingly, almost solernnly, from his lips. He moved step or two forward toward the huddled form in the old arm chair. His head was even now partly turned toward him, with listening, eager movement, almost as to a scholar whom he was impressive W leading to irresistible conclusions and facts.
 ",Real ghosts-ghosts that can help or harm?" half whispered the untitled voice in the chair.
 Actual, tangible, palpable ghosts" The schoolmaster almost stood over him as he spoke. "Struther Hammock, an awful, averaging, pitiless ghost springs from the grave of every wrong we place among the shadows of the past, deeming it hidden and still! It turks beside us, taunting us in happi- ness, flouting our power, maddening us into more desperate expedients. It is never voiceless, never hidden, never still! It is ever present; and at last like that face of Anson Hammock there, now!-at your window. 'Struther Kan nock!-"
 My God!-You liev' shrieked the frenzied wretch, plunging out of the chair past the schoolmaster to the chimney corner, where he covered, whimpering and muttering in almost imbecile and mortal terror.
 "Oh, didn't mean that! Don't go!- don't go!" he pleaded as his inquisior again turned away.
 Penruth hesitated, immediately | wheeled the arm chair close to the | fiickering fire and gently forced the | ghost-haunted master of Hammock | Manse within it.
 q must go now. promised to help the young folk with, their games for a l little-it's Halloween, you know; and I | must meet my brother later at his of l flee. We are to meet about those pa pers, 'Struther Hammock"
 'Yes, yes. yes!-the papers! Oh, yes, yes yes"
 He clutched the skirt of the school | masters coat almost fiercely.s
 'T've been thinking-I told Susan that T am thinking. I'll keep think ing. Don't let Judge Penrath go to bed this night. Bring him here, here to Hammock Manse, along toward mid night. Yes, yes. yes!-along toward 
 Penruth disengaged himself. not