Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-10-22

| Uiu not WlSn TO continue Tue suuJeSt.
did all / could to draw him out, but
/ failed signally.
After supper. taking my boy'with me.
l went to garden decorated with Chi
! nese lanterns and. seating myself at
ia bic, ordered a glass of wine. A man
sat at the same table, and l addressed
| him:
do you reside in this town. STRIP
II do" he replied
do you know anything about the
Rand place.? / asked. looking at him
knowingly.
"You refer to the old gentleman who
Is interested in the hedge?"
YES"
had never heard of an old gentle
man near the stable, but suspected
that l had struck what l 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 him"
81? No. How could / see fim%
"Why. with your eyes. of course"
Don't you know" he said. looking
at me in surprise. that only child
can see him."
"A child?" asked, puzzled.
''Yes Your boy might. but not you"
"Hmw l said for want Of some
thing more indefinite TO say and not
wishing to give away my ignorance of
what he was talking about. then after
pause. as he always there"
THAT no one can tell. No adult has
ever seen him and only few chill
drcn"
There was an orchestrion playing in
the garden. and during this CONVERSE
ton my son had left me and gone to
listen TO II.
II wonder" | said to the stranger,
''lf my boy would see him?"
THE boy who sat with you when
you first came TO this table"
"Yes."
81 should think he might"
"Why 500"
"Oh. it is only a surmise. The little
fellow has spiritual look"
What is the best time 70 see the old
gentleman"
About : IN the afternoon. That's
the time he was killed"
The time he was killed."
Eyes. He had ordered his horse. a
vicious brute for his accustomed horse
back ride. 4 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 to do
so. The old gentleman went out 10
see why bis horse was not brought
round aud found the groom struggling
with him The gentlemaD mounted
the beast. gave him the whip and clap
ped the spurs into his tanks. The
horse shot out OF the stable. and be-
fore be 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."
I was tempted 10 laugh. but resisted
the Impulse. Nevertheless there II a
bit OF superstition in all OF US. and
determined 10 take my boy to the place
the next afternoon. Besides. wished
TO tell my wife the story Of why such
n bargain was offered aud assure her
there was nothing In the story. So
the next afternoon I went with my
boy TO the place. arriving there ABOUT
3 O'Clock We walked about the grounds
for q quarter Of an hour. when | said:
Il wish there was some one here OF
whom TO ask some Plestions about the
place
There is. papa. Perhaps the old
gentleman over there can tell you what
you wan; 10 know
] stared J Saw no one.
''Ths; old man over there pruning
the hedge;- asked in pretcnse.
He isn't pruning 81. papa. hes cut
ting q down with an ak"
Never mind. my boy. think We
won't take The place after al. Your
mother wouldn't Ike IT.
l took my son by the band and led
him away a. quickly ~ he could walk.
Now and again b. turned his head 70
look back. rrmarking = wonder why
be wishes 70 destroy 80 well grown q
ledge" or. What queer hooking man
he -. Sometimes I can't sec him. and
J can't hear any sound when the AZ
strikes the thick wood ~ the bottom
where be r. cutting
I paid Do affanfinn 90 ihese CON.