The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1909-07-30
For Cash Down.

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that be could sell as much MS nutme
' crater. The house was a frame, III
, painted. weather beaten and gloom,
while the barn and sheds were of log,
the fences gone to decay. the field
grown mp to weeds. and the whole GU,
ut spoke Of poverty and shiftlessnes.
Years before the house had been bull
for roadside inn, but travel had bee
diverted to another road, and its own
or had abandoned the place. Shiftles
Joe Pinchly had come along with BIZ
slatternly wife and "squatted" Their
and raised just enough corn and tur
nipa to keep going. They were sittin,
on the rOtting veranda smoking as th,
peddler drove up.
III you had any gumption about you
you could make $1,000 out Of thii
place this summer" be said.
1--WE broke my back here for foul
years and almost starved to DEATH" re
piled Joe.
/: but you lack gumption. you see
Gumption means knowing how to lei
/ up on farming and take hold Of some.
thing better when It's right at your
door. Lord. man. but what a chance
You have missedv'
i've aiius told Joe there was money
buried somewhere around here" OBJ
served Mrs. Pinchly as she removed
her pipe from her mouth.
Buried money be hanged! It's right
on top Of the ground. It's right before
your eyes. It's In the house. It's w.
Ing around loose and waiting to be
picked up. II you'd had gumption
you'd be riding In your own carriage
today. You didn't have It. You had
to wait until came along to show
you where the money IT,"
And youth show usr' exclaimed
husband and wife In chorus as they
rose up and looked around.
That's to BE- seen. First l want
to look this old house over. wrnt to
see every room In 1t. Then l want to
have square talk with you. You are
sick Of staying here. and l am sick OF
tin peddling-not but what It's noble
profession. but 1t doesn't furnish the
opportunities for hustling man."
There was u talk lasting for two
hours. The peddler drew up paper,
aud the three signed It. When he de-
parted Joe Pinchly end wife were feel
Ing quite balniy. They hadn't found
any money. but they were nodding
their heads Ut each other and grinning.
There was u village Ave miles to the
east Of them and another six miles to
the west. and in both Of them weekly
newspapers were published. Before
night next day the peddler had inter-
viewed the editors. The editors had
hair raising story of haunted house.
There were score Of other papers in
he county. The peddler didn't stop
Until be had called upon half of them.
lie also stopped travellers ON the high
way and talked. and De talked to peo-
lie In villages. and inside of two weeks
5000 people had heard the news that
Zoe Pinchly's old farmhouse was
launted. The reports were awesome
nd grewsome aud hair raising.
People are never satisfied to simply
ak about haunted house II within
eaching distance of 1t. The peddler
nd provided for their coming. He had
unk his cash capital In buying pro.
isions. When the rush set In he was
here to welcome 1t. All Pinchly and
10 wife had to do was to shake their
eads and look mysterious and sell
les and sandwiches to hungry sight.
eers. Boiled eggs and hot ten and cot.
se could also be had at price. There ,
ere twenty different rooms and q eel.
= and garrett to the old house. and
le charge TOR taking a visitor through Il
lem oil was 30 cents. They were tax.
In groups Of six ut time. II they
erely desired to see the family bed. +
'om. where score Of mysterious
discs had been heard at night, togeth.
with the room where the peddler S
ID been hauled out Of bed by a ghost,
was only 70 cents. The night noises.
the peddler stated and the Pinchlys
hrmed BY mods Of the head, consist.
OF groans. signs. FOOTBALLS, tappings, 2
hisperings and large and well Sc G,
tied stock Of other hair raisers. !,
IN one week 200 people came In wag- "
9. some brought their food, and u
me bought 1t. They camped about
house and paid their money to be
nducted over It and then drove away
send others. During the second
'ek they began to come by rail- and
re driven over from the village. The
70 was II each. The peddler had wi
n to that; also to his divvy. Some IN
those who wished to remain al, =.
int and watch the outside Of the =
use paid quarter apiece for q bed
the hay In the barn and bought SUP.
and breakfast. Those who wished +.
pass the night In rooms In groups Of ~
zee sat on the door In the dark ness ~
paid 80 cents apiece for the priv. nu
e. They heard ghostly noises and ab
their moneys worth. Next morn. M;
they paid whooping big price for
led eggs. coffee and sand wiches.
Is matter Of fact and history
I the excitement was maintained
long eight weeks and that scores all
1cople came at least q hundred miles IN,
zee for themselves. Then there was m.
let-up. and tho peddler and the Ae
chlys showed their wisdom. Thev pei
the old house one night IN a thun.