Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-01-09
~, n,mse,f IN an attitude Of defense.

come all--and BrltonS SlTlhc HotiiSt
Here he lunged at the young man, who
seemed much surprised at his behavior.
ERE, cheese it," exclaimed the
youth IF you're a-doin' 1t to keep
~yerself warm. all right; on'y it amt
pretty. / wanted to ave a word with
you"
Mr.. Taggett Immediately lowered his
arms and became dignifed: folding his
arms, lie nodded to the young man to
proceed. IL was mistaken, sir" he
said.
II should think you was replied the
other. But / seed you come out or
that 'ouse, an / thought maybe you
could give me a little information about
the folks inside of it. I'm a good deal
interested in the people in that 'ouse.
'Indeed?" said Mr.. Taggett, glanc-
ing at his companion. and mentally tit-
ting him with a red wig n a smock
frock and putting him on as the comic
countryman. I'm what way?"
TITS a bit cold, talking in he street
amt IL p" returned the youth, ~insinuat-
ingly. Suppose we was to step round
the corner and see what they keep.
there, eh?"
II perceive, sir" said Mr.. Taggett.
smiling genially, that you are a young
man with a fine eyes for he true In
wardness of things. Curiously enough.
his is about the hour at which l gem
orally Stake a thirst which has ere now
proved expensive. Do not be alarmed,
However" he added, as the face Of the
youth grew suddenly grave. II have.
reduced II to a mere matter of pence
through sheer necessity &
Reassured, the gentleman of the New
market coat led the way into side
street and / to u small bar which
opened conveniently at a corner. There,
after imbibtng lert of a glass of hot
spirits, the spirits Of Mr.. Taggett rose
somewhat, and he became
cative. Il drink to you SIR" he said,
as a sort of afterthcught.
Thanks. / slotted you wen I saw
you comm out of that 'ouse yesterday,
with an old gent with a sort of twist i'll
is legs"
All, my honest friend, Cornelius Wee
vers,'' broke in Mr.. Taggett. "A
strange creature-yet with his good
points. In the matter of liquor, I find
that his tastes agree with mine admir-
ably. But he has queer notions in his
h~ead-very queer notions, my young
| friend"
lows that?" asked the other, indif-
ferently.
Mr.. Tagge.t leaned toward him and
lowered hisf voice to a confidential
whisper. "He believes. my dear sir,
that that house, from which ] have
just come, is haunted-or part of it, at
least. Think of that-for a sane mani"
The ungainly youth suddenly became
deeply interested. i've card o
that from a good many people," he said,
nodding his head, sagely. tits been
put about that ghosts walk there-and
lights are seen-aLd all that kind Of
thing; take my tip, it's a fake"
Personally" said Mr.. Taggett, slow
ly and t~houghtfully, II do not believe
in such things. But perhaps there is a
reason for my excellent friend, Wee
vers, taking a melancholy interest In
such thirgs. He told me yesterday,
over a friendly glass land in this very
house, by the way,) hat he had nee
lost a dear son. Probably the unhappy
fa~te-whatever it may have been-of
that youth has preyed upon his mind.
One can never tell"
The gentleman in the Newmarket
coat was listening eagerly. You don't
'appen to know the name or age of that
son, do you2" he asked. II ave reason
for askin'; I'm not sure that I don't
know something about i'm"
"Really?" Mr.. Taggett smiled delight
edly. ''This is very wonderful! l can-
not say what the & of the son might
have been; but have a feeling he prob
ably ran away to sea-. or something of
the kind, in b~oyhood's hour, and never
returned. o will find that Is what
usually happens. On the stage and In
books he returns, after a space Of
years, and catches his aged father to
his breast"
81 wish I knew something more about
'im," went on the other, speaking as IL
10 himself.
"And-now / come to think of 1t, he
informed me, in a burst of confidence,
that he had not seen his son since early
childhood; J believe he said that he
had separated from the mother. and
had returned to find the boy gone"
The youth emptied his glass of spirits
at a gulp and put on his hat firmly.
I'm glad I 'ad this ere talk with you"
he sale. I'm e-goin' back to the 'ouse
with you now. I am hat SOM"
Anthony Taggett stared at him in
amazement, and yet with a growing de-
light; already he saw himself in the
very center of he floor, introducing
this wandering son TO the father who
had hungered s" long for him, and
striking an attitude expressive Of as
many emotions as possible, while they
embraced. In his excitement he quite
forgot to finish his liquor; instead. he
literally dragged him from the place.
Gomez" ne said; there is not a mo-
nIent to be lost! Think. my young
friend, think how this old man, fast
tottering coward the confines of the
tomb, has hungered and yearned for
his lost offspring! Do not keep Kim
waiting a momen longer than can be
avoided! Gomez
They hurried out together, and almost
ran around the corner to the gate in
the wall of Rickerby's Folly. The i'm
perious ringing of Mr.. Taggett at the
bell brought out Cornelius Viewers, APP
4 va ~nxtI,v a. No .n1annn-4 LxrnAx. ha