The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-08-05
tcopyrisht 1909. by ben1. B, Hampton.>

IN deep. wooded hollow between two rocky spurs II of the Sieve-na~man hills-as lonely spot as I can be found in all Tipperary-stands Chartres
 ruined mill. Two generations ago the tumolng stream which fed the mill dried up; and now the conuuering ivy shackdes the great helpless wheel, and the inpudent loosestrtfe unmoested and denant fares and itself from every piteous crack and crevtce. Summed and disliked, the ruin droops. blur of brown and gray the leaves-a pathetic picture of friendless old age.
 Some give one reason for this unfortunate decay. and some give another; but Sheelah McGuire the fairy doctor who is of course the best authority m Ballinderg upon such matters declares that the Ill luck which blghted the place commenced on that day in the rebellion of 179s. when brave old Felix Chartre hanged to its roof-beam for nlsn trea son. EXIA1
 However that may be, there is darker blight than mara i'll luck lurking under it's thatch the place Is haunted. There can be no doubt of that; any bare-legged little gossoon in the barony will tell YOU of many strange things and heard after twilight vicinity; and he will tell you, too that the strangest of these untoward experiences was that which fell to Bothered Bill Donahue, the tinker vbo spent an unwilling night within its crumbling walls How the tinker was beguiled into such desperate situation Is part of my story:
 One Sunday morning the village of Balinderg was astounded by the news that Mrs. Cornelius Brady had lost two of her fine black Spanish hens and also and this followed matter of course-that Mrs Brady accused Bothered Bill Donahue the tinker. of having taken them. afSi
 Mary Mcclure, Mrs. Brady's own sisters child. the tinker only the day before chirruping through the hedge at the two innocent creatures and they were looking him without blink of suspicion in their eyes. We'll the next morning. when Mrs. Brady feed the chickens, there wasn't pin feather of the poor things to be found. In twink ling the indignant parish took fire.
 a Now notwithstanding this strong evidence against him. Bill had no more to do with the mysterious Ss~~ of hens fhan had yell than had old Lord Kllgobbin himself. But though day after day. by virtue of his oath, he Say agely affirmed his innocence to whomsoever would usten the parish of BaIinderg passed him codly by with accusing condemnatory sances.
 One afternoon, about week after the disappear ance of the hens. Bul crewlsd through the gap in McGinnis' hedge end ssa4sd himself dejectedly in the deep shade Nursing hagshead in his two hands, the worried nan began h1fosly debating whether to shoulder his ds end leave tap County Tpperary for ever or whether to wlElrl and beat black and blue every man, woCsan and child in the village of Ballin- defg. As luck Wosid have 1t, in the midst of this bitter quandary. Public Opinion. personhed by Kate Clancy and her first cousin, Honoria Driscol. met itself in the highroad not three yards distant from whore the tinker sat- and proceeded to settle his reputation.
 ~Arrah, is that yerself, Kate Clancy? Sure wasn't I just on the road to yer house this minute. wouldn't stop to dhrink more than three of Mag Asansssys salybrated new Chinayse tay, though she slupest the shawl of moulding back to take = fourth cup. But, to tell ye the truth, Kate" >and Mrs Driscolps voice sank to hoarse, conden- ell whisper. "betwixt you an me, the sorra much think of that same, tay. It isn't to be com yared with yer own for stren'th; sssh she has to b1ie 1t ten minutes be the clock it has more stren'th than-Oh, did ye hearf came near for Esetiug to tell ye. Danny Giligan dhramed last night that he of Mrs. Bradys black Spanish hins estain' on Hagans stile. and it soldering up . hole in the bottom of big iron kttle."
 Mrp Clancy's lips frightened.
 aWfu ye look at that for proof" she groaned sIsn't 1t thrue sayin' that murdher will out? Oh. lnt he . irapscsilion of vilian!"
 well. Kate" said Mrs Driscoll, "it is thrue the
 urruId must have tinkers but afther that raydoubt able tArick, while Bill Donahue is mendin' my pots and soldering my pans, though may listen to the Rossip the william brings to the house (for must have of what's goin' in the worruld). 'tis an unfriendly an rayprovin eye I'll be givin see where the rogue is lying hiding an listening beyAnt the hedge? Oh, here he comes; run for yer ltss!"
 Even as Mrs. Driscor spoke the scowlng black face of the enraged tinker was pushed through the hedge and the next moment his long, lank body wormed itself after. Meanwhile the startled women he'd boltsd in opposite directions and were running Ike frightened hares toward their homes.
 Bill savagely shook his fist, first at woman. then at the other. Bad manners to the both of yez," he roared. So I'm to carry the gossip am l, and it's the loikes of you asn condescind to listen to 1t? Oh, ho niver fear but I'll carry the gossip; I'll hang the saycrt maymores of yer two families an of their dishgraceful pettgrees on livery bush betwixt Killmurphy and Ballinderg. Out on yez, ye ongrateful spalpeens!" He waved his clenched fist at the empty landscape "To the divil with yez to the divil with the whole parish for the matther of that! Pm done with yez aIl" he shouted
 By a strange chance this sweeping denunciation met with immediate challenge Out of the drowsy monday silence broke an answering shout of angry derison that startled the tinker. Giving surprised look in the direction whence it came, Bill ad- vancing toward him, down the by-lane an antagonist worthy of his steel. Standing erect in his donkey-cart and furiously shaking his fist at Bill came rascible little Michael Callahan who kept the private still up in Chartre's woods
 Now, Bill had not the slightest quarrel with the little distller, had Michea Callahan up to that moment. any grievance whatever against the tinker.
 nqaa