Evening journal., 1910-10-20
Why the House
Rented Cheap
BY WARREN D. BENTON
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

country 4 eCdnhtu tue newspapers llh
found an advertisement OF one that
appeared 70 be what wanted. Taking
my little boy with me for company and
to give him a holiday. went to the
place. found the agent who had the
rental Of the house and signified a de-
I sire TO look at Il. He drove me to Il
and showed me through the premises.
/ When | asked him the price he hemmed
and said:
what do you wish TO payr"
named a price. about half what
thought the place was worth. and was
very much astonished that the figure
was accepted.
resolved to remain i'm the town
near which the house was located to
make inquiries as to why II rented so
cheap. At the hotel where we stopped
while eating supper / engaged the land
lord in conversation and told him that
had come TO look at the Rand prem
ises. as they were called. with a view
10 renting them. At the mention OF the
place he cast a quick glance az me. then
busied himself at a side table Where
the meats were served, as though he
did not wish TO continue the subject.
l did all / could TO draw him out, but
failed signally.
After supper. taking my boy with me.
went 70 a garden decorated with Chi
nese lanterns and. seating myself at a
table. ordered a glass OF wine. A man
sat at the same table, and l addressed
hlm:
"De you reside in this town. STRIP
81 do" he replied
do you know anything about the
Rand placer l asked, looking at him
knowingly.
you refer TO the old gentleman who
is interested in the hedgey"
yes"
/ had never heard OF an old gentle
man near the stable. but suspected
that I had struck what ! was looking
for, and this was the reason for my
Affirmative reply. / waited for him TO
speak again. but he did not SO TO
lead him on said:
Have you ever seen himw
II? No. How could / see himY'
''Why. with your eyes. Of course"
Don't you know" he said. looking
at me in surprise. that only a child
can see him?"
"A child7" l asked. puzzled
3 ''Yes. Your boy might. but not you"
''Hmw said for want OF some
y thing more indefinite TO say and not
4 wishing 10 give away my ignorance Of
s what he vas talking about. then after
4 a pause. ''ls he always there"
r THAT no one can tell. No adult has
n ever seen him and only a few chill
:. dren."
~ There was an orchestrion playing 4
en- the garden. and during this converss
Is. tion my son had left me aud gone I
he listen to It,
zee Il wonder" I said to the strange
elf 'if my boy would see him?"
'e- ''The boy who sat with you whs
~ you first came to this table,"
-. YES"
Il should think he might"
H. "Why soT'
of "Oh. It Is only surmise. The littl
he fellow has a spiritual look"
b. what Is the best nme to see the oll
le gentleman
J. About in the afternoon. That:
= the time he was killed"
''The time be was kiiledT
: "Yes. He had ordered his horse. a
a vicious brute. for his accustomed horse
back ride. A new groom had just
- come to work for him who did not
= know the animals tricks. one Of which
} was TO refuse to leave the stable. rear
ing and plunging when expected 70 do
so. The old gentleman went out to
see why his horse was not brought
round and found the groom struggling
with him. The gentleman mounted
the beast. gave him the whip and clap
ped the spurs into his tianks. The
7 horse shot out Of the stable. and be.
! fore he could be turned brushed against
the hedge. throwing his rider. who fell
on his head and broke his neck The
time was exactly fourteen minutes aft.
er s."
was tempted to laugh. but resisted
the impulse Nevertheless there is a
bit OF superstition in all Of u.s. and
!. determined to take my boy to the place
|. the next afternoon. Besides. wished
~ " tell ny Wlit tue oAble oA WY hutl
: a bargain was offered and assure hel
there was nothing in the story. 81
the next afternoon | went with my
p, boy TO the place. arriving there abou
!. o'clock. We walked about the ground
!, for a quartenof an hour. when said;
, Il wish there was some one here o
/, whom TO ask some questions about tn
;, place"
3 There is. papa. Perhaps the oil
4. gentleman over there can tell you wha
6 you want TO know
- / started. ! saw no one.
THAT old man over there pruning
= the hedgef" asked In pretense.
HE isn't pruning IL. papa; he's cut
ting It down with an az"
"Never mind. my boy. | think W,
won't TAKE the place after all. You
mother wouldn't like IT,"
took my son by the hand and LEI
him away as quickly as he could walk
Now and again he turned his head L
- look back. remarking. Il wonder wh.
~ he wishes TO destroy so well grown
i, hedge" or. what a queer looking ma
4 he is, Sometimes ] can't see him. an
II ! can't hear any sound when the a
\ strikes the thick wood at the bottoI
II where he IS cutting"