The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-06-01

see the clock is rather important"
II should think that you must come
of very quarrelsome stock. l wonder
that any of you are left alive" Miss
Dunn looked up, laughing, then seated
herself on the top step and patted the
floor. "Please sit here and tell me
more"
"Oh, there are as many legends ms
years TO the house. And as for ghosts
You'll find when you live here that
not servant will enter this hall alone
after dark. They think that the spirit
of bad Sir Thomas prowls in front
of the clock. I've watched many times
to catch him, but never did. Some sort
Of ghost antitoXin in my blood,
think"
"How dandy! What did the bad Sir
Thomas do?" questioned Miss Dunn
eagerly.
Lots of things, and every one of
them quite improper in a respectable
country gentleman. But he only had
the title and the other estate, so when
the master of Mayhem died he stood
guard over the clock for three days
and nights sword in hand and below
Ing at the others that We're trying to
dislodCe him. When the bell tolled
as the first earth fell on the coffin
three cousins whipped out their swords
and there was n glorious old battle.
Sir Thomas ran one through and
wounded the others, and in flash
hit the pendulum with his sword hllt.
The first tick was so loud and ON
nous that the beastly uproar stopped
at once, it is told, and there was a
long pause; then came the second and
the third. All sounded like blows on
an empty coffin. At the third Sir
Thomas drew himself mp with a terri
bic look on his face, brought up his
sword in salute, stood thus as one
might count Ave, then pitched forward
| dead"
splendid! Co on" she exclaimed
softly, her eyes shining and her hands
tightly clasped.
"There are stories of how three gay
young bloods of the Mayhews gambled
for the right TO set the clock going by
the candle lights Of the bier, and how,
when one of them, by cheating, won
| the right, the dead man called his
name and sat up, then fell back again,
and he was so scared that he confessed
| and promptly forsook his evil ways,
and hled him unto a monastery. There
over on the third step of the stairs is
where Richard Mayhew fell fighting
with his brother. The housekeepar
always shows visitors the bloodstains
in the wood, but l believe she put
them there herself. There is another
story Of how a desplsed and cruelty
treated wife took her revenge on her
husband by shutting him up in the
clock, where he nearly starved to
death, and certainly was insane all the
rest of his life. My uncle got the house
as n wedding gift and set the clock
going after his father had stopped it.,
with all the guests hurrahing. l came
down the stairs at 2 o'clock on the
morning my uncle died, the worst
frightened boy you ever saw, and
opened the case and stopped the pen
dulum. I don't know whether l blub-
bered or shivered the more, but the
hall was all sliding shadows and uuiv-
cry splatters of moonlight, and there
was a winding sheet in the candle. and
the housekeeper was gasping and
moaning, Lord. ha' mercy! Lord!
What is that? Then. after the funeral.
for am the last of the Mayhews, ]
started the clock as the bell rang. II
has never stopped since then"
Il wonder that you don't hate me
Perhaps you do" Miss Dunn began
after long silence and with certain
angry enthusiasm. ''How you can
bear to part with 1t don't see. I'd
work my fingers to the bone before I'd
sell it to strangers"
Sir Roberts face turned scarlet and
he rose, jamming his hands deep in his
pockets.
1T is-that is, L" he stopped and
began again: "Your father has beer
good enough to say that If he ever
wants to sell he will give me frs
chance to buy it back. / couldn't
| like even that slight hope"
Miss Dunn put her elbow on hel
knee and her chin in her hand ant
/ stared at the floor. Her face now wal
scarlet, and she frowned.
, II hope you won't mind IL I say tina
( = he said, "that it's the pleasant
, est part OF the whole affair to thlnl
E that ysu are here and that you will b.
! the one to-as ! hope you wiIl-to Sc
: the clock going and to keep it wound
. 1t win be O very pleasant thought q
3 me when I'm In Africa. The nices
Z thought"
' Are you going to stop ftw sh
} asked In Q whisper.
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