Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1905-10-20

rmaA pdaec nnd km4b5A. eaough visitors
may get tea served In q neat and clean
psrlox. The inn Is licensed to Joseph
Exon. 1t Is also the smoking divan Of
the parish of Challacombe The room Ia
paved with stone, and furnished with a
long wooden table and benches, q high
backed wooden settee to pull before the
fire In cold weather, and a broad, hos
pitable fireplace
The room was about half full at nina
o'clock this Saturday evening, when the
latch was lifted, and an unknown per-
son-a stranger-stood In the door, look
Ing about the room. He looked about
the room as one who remembers it. But
his face was scared, and his eyes seemed
as II they saw nothing. Mrs. Exon, at
sight of him, spoke up:
Now, my man." she said, "what do
you want? We don't encourage tramps
here. You must go as far as Bovey to
get bed tonight"
81 am not a tramp" he replied,
hoarsely. Il have got money. See."
lie pulled out handful of silver. LET
me come i'm
He shut the door and sat down at the
lowest end Of the table, taking off his
hat and shaking his long hair off his
forehead. Six years ago all the men In
the room would have risen out of respect
to the owner Of Berry Down. Now not
soul remembered him.
His eyes were full Of trouble, and with
a kind of trouble which the good woman
had never seen before. Not pain of body
or grief, but yet trouble He dropped
his head upon his chest and began to
murmur aloud as II no one was in tho
place but himself.
Not deadl he is not dead! How can
that be2 how can that be?"
Then he fixed his eyes upon the land
lady's and gazed upon her as If she
could read In them what allied him. Be
wilderment and Amusement which beat
Upon his soul, as the old poet said, ss
madman beats upon a drum-this was
the trouble which caused his eyes to
have that terrifying glare and his limbs
to shake and tremble. Mrs. Exon watch
ed him, thinking he must have a fit of
ague.
THE poor man is ILL.," she said. Here,
my man, drink this" She gave him half
tumblerful of cordial, which he poured
down.
The dose. had the effect of composing
him little. His legs ceased trembling,
| tnOuBn MS hands shook.
Yes" he said. IT am ILL / was took
sudden just now. am better now.
Where may you have come from?"
asked one of the men.
I've come from Southampton, where
was put ashore. I've come all The way
from Australia"
And where might you be going nextf"
III tell you that, my friend, as soon
as know" Ragged and rough Re look
ed. he spoke, somehow, as if he belong
ed tn something better than would have
been judged by his appearance. "If you
had asked me this morning. l shoulr
have told you that l was going 10 Bo-
vey; now, don't know"
Mrs. Exon still looked at him with
curiosity which comes of a half uneasy
recollection.
"Old Dan Leighan, now" he went on,
"can any one give me news Of him
mean Old Dan; him as had Gratnor first
and Foxworthy afterward, and then got
Berry Down, being crafty old fox IL
he still alive? Somebody told me he
was dead"
Surely" replied Mrs Exon; ''he il
alive and hearty, except for his legs,
poor man"
Oh1 hC . hhft-dilNe anu ned-Iy -
thought, perhaps--somebody told me
that he died. forgot how-six years
ago come October it was. That's what
they told me; six years come October"
He had an accident Just about that
time-six years ago. Perhaps that IL
what you are thinking Of"
How" he asked, without taking any
notice of this reply, "can a live man
| ha ohocf1
send his own ghost to travel all round
the worldf Won't he want his own
ghost for himself sometimes?"
Hes got a touch of fever" said the
landlady, "and 1t has gone to his head.
You had getter go home, my mau, and
lie down. If you have got a bed any
where"
II want to know this" he repeated,
earnestly; did anybody ever hear Of
living man sending his ghost out on
errands, to keep people awake and
threaten thingsf 1t can't be; It isn't in
nature"
Nobody could explain this fact, which
was new to all.
How did he do it. Them" he asked,
impatiently, banging the table with his
fist; tell me that? How did he do II!
Then he pulled himself together and be-
came natural again. about his legs,
now. What's the matter with Dan
Leighnn's legsT
why, after his accident they began
to fail him." said Mrs. Exon, "and now
he's paralyEed, and never leaves his
room unless he's wheeled out Of a fine
morning. But hearty In appetite, and as
for his head, 1t is as clear as ever"
Go be continued)