The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-04-13

newcomers hailed from COlney Hatch
OF Hanwell he could not. for a mo
ment De thinking OF such a thing.
But the news was confirmed in the
afternoon by no less a person than the
landlord Of the Vernon Arms VIII
recited to a group Of eager and thirsty
listeners his wondrous tale The fam
ily from London were. at that moment.
beneath his roof SO far from being
denizens OF a lunatic asylum. they
were most respectable people a city
banker. his wife and two daughters,
who came down for a change Of air.
and seeing a fine house standing
empty. naturally enough concluded
that it was to let So. at the Vernon
Arms IN an after-dinner chat with
their host, they managed to ask nu-
merous questions about the mansion
on the hill. He answered them truth
fully; but he added. with a shake Of
the head as expressive as Lord Bur
leighs He wished no harm might
come Of 1t, for they laughed at the
idea Of ghosts, and one Of the young
ladies begged so hard to live in a real
haunted house that her papa had act
ually sent for the agent
The landlord laughed drew a long
breath. and solaeed himself with a
great draught Of his own ale
AT that moment the agent himself
was seen descending the stairs; the
landlord. hurrying from behind the
bar, threw the door wide open. with
low bow But Mr. Grant declined the
polite invitation. beckoned him out
into the passage. and closed the door
upon the gaping and disappointed
rusties
Il want to speak to you a moment,
Crimes he said, lmpatiently. is
there no private place IN this house?'
ITO be sure-to be sure, sir. replied
the host Step this way, If you
please. Becky, my love, pray go and
mind the bar a little while We want
the parlor to ourselves just now
Becky, who was the meek-fa mis-
tfess Of the establishment, being thus
addressed, took up the stocking she
was mending and went out without a
murmur The landlord closed the
door behind her, and the agent nodded
approvingly.
Capital training YOU have her in
Mr. Grimes"
Wen. SIR, ones Obliged to keep the
whiphand or there's no end Of kicking |
over traces, you know Now Becky. /
there. Is the best woman in England |
though ! say it as shouldn't But /
should never dream Of telling her so
The house would not hold the two Of /
MS together ten minutes afterwards"
quite right, Grimes The less you
praise a woman the better she behaves, /
as a general rule, / think But now
let MS 20 to business I'm very much
bothered IN my own mind. Grimes, and
want some advice"
Grimes. who had been busy over the
fire with some mysterious preparation.
which the agent affected not to see.
now returned to the table, bearing two
steaming tumblers of rum-punch.
which he put down with an air Of tri.
umphant self-satisfaction
Il do believe. the very best / ever
made yet. Mr.. Grant. he observed. as
he placed one cosy armchair before
the fire for his visitor. and ensconced
his own plump person comfortably
within the depths Of another
Good it must be- then. to dead
certainty replied the agent. taking
a long delicious draught. Enough to
make a man forget one-half his trou.
bles and snap his finger at the rest
~ hope 1t viii make you forget
yours. then, sir. replied the landlord,
who was dying with curiosity to know
why he bad been summoned 70 this
particular conference.
"Ah. no such luck as that The
trouble tonight is not exactly trou
bic. after an am bewildered and
bothered. I want to do a thing. and
yet ! cannot tell If ought Grimes.
you know the old Hall2"
The host nodded his head
'. should think I did. sirl"
And you know what stories people
tell about the placer
"That ] do Old John Jones. the
gardener. has made my flesh creep
many time with his tales Of the tur-
ret-chamber and the buffers pantry.
and the secret room where the priests
used to hide away many. many years
ago"
John Jones is an IDIOT said the
agent impatiently Upon my word.
believe the house is as quiet and
peaceabie as this old inn OF yours
Mr. Grimes took a sip OF rum.punch.
and said nothing
Il have been through the place a
hundred times dare say more-and
never saw anything there nor heard
anything either. for the matter Of
hat
Did you ever 60 there at night.
iir?' asked Mr. Grimes. with a signin- 1
ant smile
No. I can't say that ] ever did
and the agent smiled. too. but you !