Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-12-05
3
Sc Rickerby's Folly sc
Ky BY TOM GALLON *
-Oooo
CHAPTER III. CContIn ned


and so unexpectedly near 10 him-ne
saw a tall, IankY youth, with a curious,
ecclesiastical smile Upon his face, n
with his hands thrust under the skirts
OF d very long and very dingy New
market Goa A hat, of G. sporting
shape, was stuck on the back of his
small, round head, ard there dropped
from one corner OF his mouth a cigar
cite. from which a little spiral of smoke
went up into one eye, causing him to
wink without meaning ii. He might
have been. from his appearance, any
where from seventeen to twenty, n
was evidently N of those persons-the
direct product of IA democratic age
who would have accosted a prince of
the blood royal as readily as a gutter
urchin. He shuftied a little nearer to
Gilbert Rickerby, and turned the eye
into which the smoke was drifting to-
wards the GUS on the opposite side Of
the road.
There's things a-goin' on over there,
/ give you my word" he muttered,
hcarseiy. Are you On the same lay as
me?'
Gilbert drew back from him, frown-
ing a little.
What do you mean?" he asked.
"Oh, don't be uppish. I've seen you
standin'- abolt ERE this our or more.
a-watchin' that crib. P'raps you're
iookin' for the ghost?'
"Ghast! What ghost?" asked Gill
bert, interested, In spite of himself. II
know nothing about the house: I've
only heard about the man who belonged
there, and who Is dead. Has he left
his ghost behind?' He asked the ques-
ton somewhat bitterly. thinking Of his
own unhappy fate.
give Ii up. They've talked about IL
for years, L understand-about the
ghost that's In the side of the house
they don't use. None OF the servants
will go near that side, for fear OF it.
They say the old hloke's wife died
there. and 'as been 'aunting 1t ever
since. P'raps the dead chap'n join 'er
now"
"Weil-and what have you to do with
1T" asked Gilbert Rickerby, somewhat
essentially. II suppose they can look
after their w ghost, can't they?"
"Praps they Garland p'r'aps they
canf." responded the youth. That's
where my business comes in. Let me
ask you this ERE: IVY ave they been
talkin' so bold about the ghost, this
last day or two-w'y ave they been
teilin' everybody about 'ow Ii walks at
night-an' what IL does-eh? I tell you
there's summink behind tor my name
amt 'Ubbard!"
us that your manner" asked Gilbert.
Zone of EN-" replied the other. AN
I'm going to keep my eye on that
~'ouse-ghosts or no ghosts. I know a
bit--I do: an I'll know a bit more. be-
Gore I've DONE
Before Gilbert Rickerby could reply.
the youth in the Newmarket coat
swung on his heel and went Oft, whist
iiEg. Gilbert looked after him, with
certain new thoughts beginning to tax
shape In his mind.
Perhaps the dead chap will join
heri' Why not? HEAVIER knows, IL the
ghost of my poor, unhappy mother
haunts the place where she wept her
unhappy life away. there should be
nothing to fear from her. Why, Ia a
sense, I am a ghost myself; so far as
the world knows, the body OF me lies
under the turf; Gilbert Rickerby Is a
name. to be soon forgotten. Yet, before
ne lie quite forgotten, there Is a thing he
must do. Perhaps the dead chap win
IoiE her! Yes--the dead chap shall!
That side of the house is deserted-and
know a way into tia way ] have not
used for years. Gilbert Rickerby is
dead; but h ghost OF him goes back
to his fathers house tonight"
Four years before, when he had been
turned out OF the place, for the last
time. by his father. he had carried
away with him, quite unconsciously. a
very practical memento OF his meetings
with his girlish sweetheart. The me-
mento was no other than the key of a
little gate. long disused. which opened
into a small alley at the back OF the
house. The girl had given 1t to him in
order that he might creep In at night,
10 whisper his vows to her, without the
chance of discovery, and he had been
surprised at finding II in his pocket,
months afterwards, when he was miles
away from London. But, remembering
the service ii had rendered him, he
kent 1t. merely for sentimental reasons,
and to remind him--if any reminder
were necessary-of those happy, stolen
meetings. 1t was In his waistcoat pock-
ct now: he took Ii out and looked at IL
with a smile.
"As q ghost, Gilbert Rickerby. you
are a fraud" he said. "All the decent
ghosts of which I havs ever read found
- 4eNSS N@~y w oAP "a OuSh AoSh VI
key-holes, or slide down chlmney-pots;
you must needs go in like a thing OF
flesh and blood. Well, never mind; you
shall make UP for IL afterwards. Now.
to begin-it's well you have strong
nerves, Gilbert Riekerby, for i suspect
yau'Ii want them"
He waited until he was certain that
no one was In sight, and then slipped
round to that narrow little alley he re.
memhered so well. The bolt OF the lock
had not been shot since the time-four
years ago-when ne crept in to see his
sweetheart; IT. moved uneasily and
eomplainingiy. But still 1t moved; and
In a m lie had glided through and
had closed and locked the door behind
him, n stood IN the darkness OF the
garden. looking up at the grim old
place that had beer his mothers pris-
on.
About his feet chung the dank and
rotten leaves and weeds that had been
allowed to accumulate there for years;
the wind blew about him drearily, like
the signs and whisperings Of ghostiy
M CA-