Graham guardian., 1911-05-26
For Cash Down.

One June day a tin peddler came
alone to the farmhouse Of Joe Pinchly
aud halted Cor drink of water. He
didn't stop because he had any idea
that he could sell as much as a nutmeg
crater. The house was a frame. un-
painted, weather beaten and gloomy,
while the barn and sheds were of logs,
the fences gone to decay, the fields
grown up to weeds, and the whole out
at spoke Of poverty and shiftlessness.
Years before the house had been built
for a roadside inn, but travel had been
diverted to another road, and its own
er had abandoned the place. Shiftless
Joe Pinchly had come along with his
slatternly wife and "sQuatted" there
and raised just enough corn and tur-
nips to keep going. They We're sitting
on the rotting veranda smoking as the
peddler drove up.
III you had any gumption about you,
you could make $1,000 out of this
place this summer" he said.
"Tve broke my back here for four
years and almost starved to death" re-
piled Joe.
"But you lack gumption, you see.
Gumption means knowing how to let
up on farming and take hold Of some
thing better when It's right ut your
door. Lord. man, but what chance
you have missed"
AT xrroo
buried somewhere around here" OBJ
served Mrs. Plnchly rs 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 "
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 is"
And you'll show usp 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. want to
see every room in it. Then ! want to
have square talk with you. You are
sick Of staying here, and am sick Of
tin peddling-not but what It's a noble
profession, but it doesn't furnish the
opportunities for hustling man.
There was a talk lasting for two
hours. The peddler drew up a paper,
and the three signed 1t. When he de-
parted Joe Pinchly and wife were feel.
ing quite balmy. They hadn't found
any money, but they were nodding
their heads at each other and grinning.
There was a 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 ~
the county. The peddler didn't stop
until he had called upon half Of them.
He also stopped travellers ON the high
way and talked, and he talked to peo-
pie In villages, and inside Of two weeks
10000 people had heard the. news that
Joe Pinchly's old farmhouse was
haunted. The reports were awesome
and grswsnme and hair raising,
People are never satisfied to simply
talk about haunted house II within
reaching distance Of 1t. The peddler
had provided for their coming. He had
sunk his cash capital In buying pro-
visions. When the rush set In he was
there to welcome It, All Pinchly and
his wife had to do was to shake their
heads and look mysterious and sell
pies and sandwiches to hungry sight
sesps. Boiled eggs and hot tea and cof
fee could also be had at q pvlcs, There
were twenty different rooms and a Gel
lar and garret to the old house. and
the charge for taking visitor through
them all was 80 cents. They were TAX
en- in groups Of six at time If they
merely desired to see the family bed
room. where score Of mysterious
noises had been heard at night. togeth-
er with the room where the peddler
had hsep hauled opt Of bed by ghost,
i was only 90 cents. phe night noises
as the peddler stated and the Pinchlys
affirmed by mods Of the head, consist
ed Of groans. sighs. footballs, tappings,
whisperings and large and we'll Sc.
ected stock of other hair raisers.
In one week 200 people came in wag-
pms. Some brought their food, and
some bought 1t. They camped about |
he house and paid their money to be
oyer 1t and then drove away |
% send others. During the second |
week they began to come by rail- and
we're driven over from the village. The |
fare was 81 each. The peddler had |
'ssp to that; also to his divvy. Some
II those who Wished to remain all
light and watch the outside of tho
louse paid quarter apiece for a bed
~ the hay IN the barn and bought sup
,er and breakfast. Those who wished
o pass the night In rooms IN groups Of
hroo rat on tho Nnor In tho Io rt,o o,o |