Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-07-29
The Haunted House

II was near the close OF cold Feb
ruary afternoon. The wind whistled
sharply as 1t flew around the corners
Of the houses, and the few people
abroad were hurrying along. intent on
reaching their homes before darkness
fell. One OF these was a young man,
quite tall. and though rather poorly
clad. he walked with a certain dignity
which distinguished him from those
around him. He continued on until,
turning a corner. he stopped before an
unpretentious-looking house. set back
from the street Unlocking the door
he went in. On table nearby, was
a letter directed in a small feminine
hand. which he instantly recognized
as that OF his mother,
Dear SON IT ran. 81 am very sorry
to have to give you sad tidings. as
you probably feel down-hearted
enough over the refusal OF your pic
ture, but you must know this. You
will. no doubt remember the last
tine you were home, that old Mr. Man
ning was ILL., Well. our dear freind
has passed away. and a letter which
ne wrote shortly before he died
awaits you here Isabel is half frantic
with grief, and has no interest for
anything. Would it be possible for
you to come home for a few weeks.
or at any rate until things have been
generally settled up? Isabel and
both send our love and hope to see
you soon. Lovingly. MOTHER"
Slowly he folded the letter and re-
placed It in the envelope. So Isabel's
father was dead. and now she needed
projection more than ever. Here be
was in the busy metropolis hardly
earning enough to live on. How con-
hdently he had started out year ago.
fully expecting to make his fortune
by his art. But a years hard striving
had changed his views considerably
| and he realized. now that Isabel Man
ming, made an heiress by her fathers
| death. could never be his unless some
| thing unforeseen should happen. Put
! ting his hand in his pocket, he pulled
out a small leather purse and counted
the contents. He had barely enough
| to pay his way there, and he disliked
very much to have them see him in his
/ shabby attire The thought Of behold
/ ing them. however, overcame his re-
| luctance, and the next day saw him
I on his way.
Two weeks had passed. The will
Of Robert Manning had been executed,
4 bequeathing all his property to his
daughter Isabel, but no mention OF
any money was made. except small
sum, which ~ distributed AnoAG a
| few faithful servants.
Clifton Kent had read the letter
left him by his old friend and ponder.
ed long over Its contents Mr.. Man
ming had bequeathed to him an old
| deserted cottage which, for many
years, had been regarded by all the
people of the village as haunted. II
was worthless, as he well knew. and
why the old man had given 1t to him
was more than he could fathom.
Hawever, the morning of the last
day of his stay he walked over with
the keys in his pocket The ruined
cottage was quite isolated and the sur
rounding ground was covered with
weeds and the growth of years. 1t haC
something OF an uncanny look abou
t. he admitted to himself as he drew
} near. He remembered a short time
when It had been rumored around th'
J village. that old Mr.. Manning haC
been in the habit of spending his even
ings in this old house, but the rumo
had died away as quickly as It ha'
started.
Meantime, he reached the eottag
and separating the key to the from
J door from the bunch, he inserted it IL
the rusty lock. He had expected SOM
difficulty in unlocking the door. bu
to his surprise. the key turned easil,
J and slight shove sent the door fiyinl
Inward.
He stepped into the musty hall an
shut the door behind him. Everything
was damp and a chill seemed to cree
over him as he stood there. H
squared his shoulders. however, an
proceeded on his tour OF inspection
AS he expected, every room was in
ruined condition. and he had Just com
TO the conclusion that he would turl
his back on this mass OF ruinatioI
when his attention was drawn to
ray of light coming from beneath tn
door of a little room at the end of tn
hallway. In his hurry. he had ovei
looked It, but inserting key after Ike
into the door, he finally heard the loc
click. and opening the door, he wen
into the room. He put his hand
quickly before his face, dazsled by tn
sudden light which radiatod from a
electric lamp which stood on a tabl
IN the centre Of the room. All the wiz
dows we're hidden by heavy. greer
plush draperies, and the room. ev
IDENTIFY a study, was furnished in oal
A large desk, with the top rolled becl
stood against the further wall Will
the leather chair In front looked as
Just vacated.
Kent looked about him bewildere'
and his eyes fell on a box lying by tn
side OF the desk He walked quickl
over and looked at it. It was of med
I'M size, iron, with neither lock nc
,ey Of any sort. He hesi.ated befoT
opening II. but he reflected that IN
-ottage was his now, and OF cours
-he contents would also be his. So b
] slowly lifted the lid and to his VI
BOUNDED astonishment his gaze fell o
gold pieces. piled to the brim-th
accumulated wealth of years. He loo
sd At them dazedly for a moment. an
.hen caught sight OF paper paste
90 the cover Of the box. On 1t, In
Hrm hand was written. For you an
Isabel. with fathers love and bles