Graham guardian., 1911-01-20

peen SOlQ or even Dlu IOr Oue
IL Is Gabe Lumley's "depot wag
on" and the other Ii "DanI Web
ster," the horse which draws It. Both
are very ancient. sadly In need Of mp
holstery and Jerky Of locomotion.
Gabe was, al usual waiting at the
station when tho down train arrived
on the Tuesday or Wednesday Of the
selectmen's meeting. The train was
due. according to the time table. at
11An A cloud Of white smoke bill.
lowed above the clump Of cedars at
the bend Of. the track. Then the loco
motive rounded the curve and bore
down upon the station.
The conductor stepped from the pas
senger coach. Following him came
briskly a short. thickset man with a
reddish gray beard and grayish red
hair.
"Goin' down to the village. misterT'
inquired Mr.. Lumley. carriage right
here"
The stranger inspected the driver Of
the depot wagon. inspected him delib
erately FROM top to toe. Then he said:
Down to the vtllagef Why. yes, !
wouldn't wonder. Say. you're Lum
ley, amt your
'swhy. why--yes. ! bel How'd you
know thatf Amt ever seen you afore.
have IT.
"Guess not" with a quiet chuckle
I've never seen you either. but I've
seen your nose I'd know a Lumley
nose II run across 1t In China"
The possessor Of the ''Lumley nose"
rubbed that organ In bewildered
fashion. Recovering In measure. he
laughed rather half heartedly and
begged to know II the trunk. then be-
ing unloaded from the baggage car. be-
longed to his prospective passenger
As the answer was an Affirmative nod.
he secored the trunk check and de-
parted. still rubbing his nose.
When he returned with the trunk on
the truck the stranger sprang into the
\ depot wagon with bounce that made
the old vehicle rock on its springs,
s"Jernshyy' be exclaimed. ,''She rolls
some, don't she? Never mind; my bal
last II keep her on an even keel
Trunk made fast astern? All right
Say. you might furl some Of this spare
canvas SOS can take an observation
an we 60 along. Don't 20 so fast that
the scenery gets blurred. will you!
Its been some time since ! made this
cruise. and I'd rather like to keep a
lookout" +
The driver "furled the cauvns"-that
Is, he rolled up the curtains AT the
sides Of tho carryall Then he climbed
to the front seat aud took up the rcins
"Git upr be shouted savageiy
DanI pricked up one ear. then iioof
and slowly got under way "A tIie
equipage passed the Baker homestead
the whole family was clustered abnni
the gate. staring at the occupant of
the wagon. The stare was returned.
~who lives In there?" demanded the
stranger. "Who are those folks?"
"Ceph Bakers tribe" was the sullen
answer.
Baker. hey? Humph! New folks,
presume likely. Used to be Seth
Shows house. that did. Where'd Seth
20 tor"
Gabe grunted that be did not know,
He believed Mr.. Snow was dead. had
died years before.
"Humphi Dead. hey? Then I know
where he went"
narorr xho coxrccv,or toouaA Srovp
the carriage and gazed steadily up the
slope ahead. And bis gaze. strange
to say, was not directed at the Inn
posing Atkins estate. but at Its op.
posite neighbor, the old 'Cy Whittnker
place.
Slowly, laboriously. Dan'l Webster
mounted the hill At the crest he
would have paused to take breath
but the driver would not let him.
"Git along. you'll" he commanded.
Tapping the reins
And then Mr. Lumley suffered the
shock Of a surprise. The hitherto
cool and self possessed occupant Of
the rear seat seemed very much tx.
cited His big red hand clasped Mr.
Lumley's over the reins. and Dan'l
was brought to an abrupt standstill.
"Heave tor he ordered sharply. and
the tone was that of one who has giv
en- many orders and expects them to be
obeyed. "Belay! Whoa, there! Great
land ef love. look at that! Look ut
1t! Who did thatY'
The mate to the big red hand point
ed to the front door of the Whitaker
place. Gabe was alarmed
"Done what? Done which, he
gasped. "What you talkin' about?
There amt nobody lives In there
That house has been empty for
where's the front fencer demand
ed the excited passenger. whats be.
come Of the hedge? And who put up
that---that darned piazza?'
The piazza had been where II now
was almost since Mr.. Lumley could
remember He FASTENED to reply that
Re didn't know; he wasn't sure; he
presumed likely twas them New
Hampshire Howeses" when they ran
summer boarding house.
The stranger drew long breath,
"Well, of all the he began. Then
he chosed, hcsitated and ordered his
driver TO heave ahead and run along
sue rne motel rs quick as the Almighty
world let hin Gabe FASTENED to obey
Nrs Hne'rs occped tha d.,