Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-07-14

aroused and sent his hired man ort
win lantern, but naturally that
awaited not except to stimulate Meier
to longer enjoyment Of his tric,
| when the foolish search ended Tjmo
ana again did Meier pcrpetrata this
weird trick. Away, on dark nights. and
after an hour Of fun, secure his rigging
Tor use again and sneak away. He was
llke an Indian in his methods. solcct.
ing nights just right and not too
| dark, stealing on TO Davids premises
behind bush-choked fences and kocping
ont or possible sight, listening with
Keen ears and eyes until sure no one
was watching, and making his visits
with foxlike cunning.
David Curtis had lived his life Of
misery pinchlng and sharp scheming.
forgetting every law of Justice ard
honor in his erasping greed. had come
to be despisod by even his fellow
church members and hated by many
othcrs, and now. pursued by an I'M
cahny fear, growing weaker day by
DAY, was fast nearing insanity. What
premises
knew not He crept to his work
phySloH and mental wreck, dared NOT.
go INTO his own cellar or the dark baso-
ment of his mill. even in The dav-time
and required his hired man to slecp in
his room at night.
When the last of October and Tr,I-
lowe'cn came. he was little better than
a bordering idiot from fear. and. sit
ting in his mill all day. watched his
man at work, too weak to aid him.
And now came the climax of his
punishment.
Halloween had always been observed
by the young folks Of Grccnvalc with
the usual and time-honored ceromo-
MICS. Several parties we're usually
held. where apples. floating in tuhs
OF water and secured II possible with
teeth and lips Of maid or swain. formed
ono amusement. n one was thus fishnd
Tor and obtained. it was carefully pared
by IFS proud owner. and its perfect
peel, 'Wirlod three times around the
head and dropped. must inevitably
form tho first initial of his or her f,l-
ture mate kissing games to accol-
crate thes" results usually followed.
and later tho parties broke up Tor other
and more chostly anuscmcnts.
Small boys carried jach-o'-lantorns
through tho village. or hold them in
front of Windows; older couples or
small parties made n late tour. hang
ing caobaScs or paper bags contain
Ing onions or potatoes on door-knobs.
ana then. changing the iron knockers.
Scamporod away. Now and then some
bolder lad. wrapped in a sheet. stalltod
through the quiet streets that night.
and all manner of spOokish pranls
Wcrc INDUCED in. Meier. as might he
expected. had always been an active
participant in these obeervances ana
now. when The famous NIGHT drew
near. he resolved to Outdo himself
He had kept his Scar Face" DISCUS,
in safe hiding. and had in some way
obtained bit of phosphorus to rub
on the mask around eyes and mouth.
HIS plan, we'll matured. was first. AMI
most important of all. TO try his
hldeous disguise on his arch-cnomv.
David. and later on visit each house
on the street He kncw the room
David slept in. whore light was al
WAYS kept ,dimly burning. and as ~
had learned that The wrctchod -an
was too focblc to be again urod on
his only chance was to show himself
AT David's window.
1t Wa la'o that sNo0k-inros.cd ovon-