The Saint Paul globe., 1898-01-30

the key or even7ito show any wish to
join his assistant. All his thoughts for
the moment seemed to be concentrated
on me-
you don't know little Rob" he in
quired, "the crippled lad who lives at
the head of the lane
NO" L said; 81 haven't been in
town day yet, but 1 mean to know
Rob and his sister too. Two cripples
in one family rouse my interest"
He did not say why he had spoken
of him, but began tapping with his
key again.
And you are sure you saw moth
fng?" he whispered Lots of things
can happen in lonely road like that" "
Not if everybody is as afraid to
enter it as you say your villagers are"
[ retorted.
But he didn't yield iot
Some folks don't mind present dam
gers,' said he. "Spirits''-
But he received no encouragement in
his return to this topic. You don't be-
lieve in spirits?" said he We'll they
are doubtful sort of folks, but when
honest and respectable people such as
live in this town, when children even.
see what answers to nothing but phan-
toms. then 1 remember what wiser
man than any cf us once said-But per-
DAMP"
Nonplused for the moment but in
tcrested in the mans talk more than
was consistent with my need of haste, |
said with some spirit for it struck me
as very ridiculous that this country me-
chanic should question my knowledge
Of the greatest dramatist of all time.
Shakespeare and the Bible form the
staple Of my reading" At which he
gave me little ned of apology and has
tened to remark:
Then you know W hat I mean-Ham-
let's remark to Horatio, madam, There
are more things etc. Your memory
will readily supply you with the words -
[ signified my satisfaction and perfect
comprehension of his meaning, and feel
ing that something more important lay
behind his words than had yet appeared
| endeavored to make him speak more
explicitly
THE Misses Knoliys show no terror
of their home,'' | observed They can
not believe in spirits either
Miss knollys is a woman of a great
deal of character, "ssaid he But look
at Lucetta. There is face for you, for
girl not yet out of her twenties, and
such a round checked lass as she was
once! Now what hasgmade the change ?
The signs and sounds of that old house,
l say. Nothing else would give her that
scared look-nothing merely mortal, [
mean"
This was going a step too far I could
not discuss Lucetta with this stranger,
much as l would like to have known
just what he had to say about her
Il don't know [ demonstrated TAX
ing up my black satin bag, without
which l never stir. ''One would think
the terrors of the lane she lives in might
account for some appearance of fear on
her part
Yes said he, but with no very
hearty admittance, so it might But
I.ucetta has never spoken of those dan
gers. The people in the lane do not
seem to fear them a all. 1t is we out
s:ders who don't know what to make of
the thing. Even Deacon Spear says
that, set aside the wickedness of the
thing, he rather enjoys the quiet which
the i'll repute of the lane gives him.
don't understand this myself I have no
relish for mysteries like that or for
ghosts either
You won't forget the key" 1 said,
preparing to walk out in my dread lest
he would introduce again the subject of
Lucetta.
No" said he, Il won't forget it."
But there was something not quite
hearty in his voice which should have
warned me that L need not expect to
have a locked door that night