The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-04-09

ulpuo iuutCtiuA oi TUE luuiAANSf tVp1
my way back to the house.
Tie Mast, for such was the quaint
name ouf house was known by, was
situated on the rise Of hill, around
which the main road crept TO reach it
therefore, it was Necessary TO turn from
the highway into a private lane. The
place was very retired; the main reason
for its purchase BY my grandfather
worn out by some half century Of city
life. Into this lane. then had turned,
and was whistling gayly as | walked,
half my annoyance of the morning be-
ing forgotten by exercise in the keen
air, and my anticipations Of our coming
/ fun, when ] was confronted by two men.
The suddenness OF their appearance
startled me; nor did a closer inspection
Of the gentlemen progresses me more
1 favorable The first was q great hulk
I ing. beetle-br0wed fellow, on whose re-
ceding forehead crime was legibiy
/ imprinted His companion though
smaller Of statue, and less formidable
aspect. was infinitely more repulsive.
aud the low cunning Of his blotched and
dirty face caused me 20 shudder invoi-
unfairly. They each carried bags, nor
was my surpise as to their being hawk
ers apparently incorrect. for with a
glance AZ his fcllow-pcddler, the short
one came forward and said ia d whining
voice:
Any pretty pictures, my little dear.
this morning very cheap and worry
fiue-only lo0k. my nice little boy.
So saying he thrust into my hand one
or two Of the gaudy pictures. 50
commonly hawked absut the country
Though but a child 1 instinctiyeiy
felt my feeling OF repulsion deepen, as
the cringing accents If the man fell
upon my ear.
With a hurried negative ] passed on,
bat not without hearing the deep under
tone Of the latter man pour forth
blasphemy, accompanied by the words
/ guess that's the cut Of the old 'un. :
AZ the time did not Iay much at
tention 20 the speech, as / had en- un-
defnable longing 70 place a greater dis
tance between ue, and Oh arriving at
the honso il was speedily forgotten for
the time, through the discovery Of my
grandfather in q tremendous rage.
! must here mention that among the
oddities Of my relation was his utter
dislike TO anything in money matters
that resembled credit In all his deal
ings he expected and paid ready money.
To further his views on this subject, he
was in the habit Of drawing very large
amounts from the bank in q bulk,
thereby always having ready money in
the house.
On this identical morning he had Just
received a large sum, and Il was during
The counting OF this that ! had dis
iurbed him by the mention Of my Hu-
lucky play.
lt appears that during my absence he
+ had discOyered some fancied errtr
made by the bank officials. and was 10 a
perfect fury about il. However after
the whole day spent in fuming aud
+ frciting, and threats II willidhawing bis
account he found IT 10 be an oversight
I of his own. aud became more pacifcd
Our household was a small one, con-
sisting Of my aforementioned old black
nurse. who, with a Young girl, COM
prisod the female portion Of is inmates
/ grandfather and MYSELF
The inexorable laws 81 the establish
ment doomed an early retirement 10
bed. 80 about eight o'clock found my
I way to my room. but not 10 sleep. Ny
+ first care was 10 clolhe myself ia the
dress had managed for the ill-used
false heir. and 70 rehearse that part
with the utmost delight 70 myself
Having commenced the dress re-
hearsal, inclination and duty rendered
il incumbent on me 10 GO through with
II. In accordance with this very
proper feeling. had doiied the habili-
menis which the badly-treated youth
was supposed 10 lave worn iu the flesh
for the more unsightly toilet popularity
ascribed 70 ghosts in general and the
tombs in particular
To heighten the horriic aud impress
ny audience with a due respect for the
ghasily aspect Of the appariiion, had
decided upon using phosphoric prep.
amtion
Thinking il would be better to
ascertain the effect of this my
self. before relying on it as a certain
success. ] was busily engaged rubbing
some On my face when I heard my
graudialhers step on the stairs be-
meath. / was aware Of what to expect
il canght ia fagranie delicto. 50 in q mo-
mcnl puff ont goes the candle, and %
goes his ghostship b bed.
Now whether the drama had made
me drowsy isome possess that faculty
To- a remarkable degreel or whether ml
Gaming had heightened my naturally
sleepy nature. I cannot youch for, bnl
what ever the cause, / must insianta
neously have fallen asleep 1 had
passed through a may century Of half
connected dreams when was awakened
by noise resembling a cats claws
scratching against glass; though bul
half aroused. I felt great surprise al
such an unusual sound. being award
that (on account Of nay grandfather.
aniipaihy e. al dumb things 20 AMI
nal could be is cause.
Droamily puzzled. but not sufficiently
auakepcd to give the matter mucl
thought, ] was returning to The land Of
dreams, when q croaking a. oi ms
0randfafher's bedroom window beiuo