The new enterprise., 1905-08-24


his face covered by huge ragged
beard. He carried on his back an
enormously long and heavy pack. and
seemed 80 exhausted with his tramp
through the mire that hadn't the
heart to do more than order him of
the place"
THAT was pretty hard" said the lis
tener.
II suppose 1t was. The peddler
seemed all broke up when he found 1
wouldn't even give him a bunch OF
straw in the stable, and no other house
within twelve miles. Instead Of COM
planning, however. he merely begged
that l would let him leave his pack,
which be said contained goods Of
value, under shelter from the rain.
finally consented to this. SO. as had
sworn none of his trade should ever
cross my threshold. carried his pack
inside, while its owner limped OF to
crawl under some bush or other"
Didn't you feel mean;'
Yes: mean and bitter at the same
time. for something about the man re-
minded me Of Mary's husband q little.
However locked and barred all the
doors and windows. as usual. for some
road agents had been around those
parts about that time. and had stood
up and robbed several ranchers, and,
as ] told you. l was all alone. Some
how | couldn't 20 to sleep when went
b., la1 g,..zfs,.r e..
awhile I got up ana sat by the FIRE,
broodrg over my trouble and trying
not 10 think Of the poor chap shivering
ont there IN the cold and rain some
whore. l looked at his pack sitting up
In the corner, and wondered what made
1t 50 long, As l watched it / fancied
| saw it move
Saw ii moveG"
Exactly. / wouldn't believe my
eyes at first, but after watching in.
tently for while l distinctly saw the
front of a hand pressed against the
canvas from the inside. Like a fash,
then, 1 understood the whole thing.
The peddlcr was one Of the road
agents gang, and knowing | had con.
siderable money about the house they
hpd adopted this plan for smuggling
one of their crew inside the house. Az
ter ! had gone TO sleep the fellow in.
side could let in the rest and finish the
job, l walked quietly across the room,
took my gun from the antlers, knelt
down a few feet from the pack, aimed
square in the centre and pulled the
trigger"
go on" murmured the listener with
a shudder
But the gun didn't go off," contin-
ued the landlord. clearing his throat.
The nipple was rusty and wouldn't
work, 50 | laid down the rife and got
an axe from the kitchen. 1t had been
newly ground that day, and, when l
lifted 1t over my head, counted upon
cleavlng tAat pack, robber and all.
clear to the floor Just as / raised the
axe and braced myself for the blow /
saw a ghost"
a ghost|
"Yes, sir. The pack opened, and /
saw sticking out OF its top the curly
yellow head, blue eyes and rosy cheeks
Of my Mary when she was little tot
Of four. The shock staggered me so
that | sank on my knees. / wiped my
eyes, and wondered if l had gone
crazy. | was almost certain Of il when
the ghost stretched out a pair of chub-
by white arms and said, 'Deevin',
grandpa""
All" said the guest, with a relieved
sigh, Il begin 10 see. Ind what did
you do theny
Il don't exactly know" said the
landlord. softly. but If there is any
thing that will bend stubborn neck
quicker than the arms Of a little child,
I'd like to know what It is. put the
tired little prisoner down by the fire,
opened the door and held out my
arms"
And the mother"
Yes nodded the landlord, "they
We're both there, and, mister, guess
that's the end Of my story" and the
old man wiped his eyes.
You must excuse me-" he said weak
ly, but that was a wet evening, and
somehow l haven't got quite dry
since. ."-Grand Magazine.
Which Honey is the Beat?
This question will probably be dis.
cussed as long as individual tastes
differ, but mild Favored honeys will al.