The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-06-02
THE UNCANNY
STRANGER
BY SHIELD ESTHER DUNN
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

| In the good old colony times Wnen
/ travellers, instead Of spinning along
| smoothly In parlor car were bumped
over dirt roads In a stagecoach on
the post road between New York ana
Boston, in the state Of Connecticut.
there stood tavern. Before 1t swung
/ sign on which, under a portrait OF
! King George Ill, were the words The
/ Royal Arms" In the room which In
those days was called the bar sat
number of persons, some drinking
from pewter mugs.
THE up coach will be late tonight,
said the landlord, going to the door
and looking out. ''The road Is BAD
enough at any time, but on such
night as this II is we'll nigh impass-
able"
AS he spoke gust Of wind shook
the building. and those In the room
fortified themselves with q pull at the
mugs before them.
"a bad night TO be on the road" said
a man in brown coat and bun
breeches.
"And a merry one for ghosts" put
in red headed, blear eyed person
whose wig, being awry, gave evidence
that he had drank too much.
Those about him looked at him pro-
testingly and with something of awe,
'If there's any of 'em about" spoke
up a fresh importation from the EN-
erald Isle, you're the first OF us that
they'll be visitin'."
A creaking and a splashing were
heard without, and the coach drew up
\ to the door Of the tavern. a man OF
somber appearance descended from
the vehicle and stalked into the bar.
His eyes were set deep in his head
and surrounded by dark circles, his
cheek bones high, complexion a whiush
gray.
Luggage, STRIP said the landlord
inquiringly.
Luggage! l need no baggage. l
wish lodgings for the night only, and
on the morrow / shall proceed on my
journey"
The stranger attracted the attention
of every one present.
There's something queer about
him." whispered the man in the brown
coat TO the Irishman, who was cross
I ing himself with his finger under his
coat. The landlord, who was looking
over the keys to his rooms with
view to selecting one for the stranger,
turned and said:
mo chamber vacant tonight, sir
Sorry"
q sleep tonight" replied the guest,
''in No. H."
His back was turned TO all save the
landlord. so that no one could see his
face, but they all saw the landlord
turn pale and take down the key to
No. H. The stranger took 1t, put It In
his pocket and, sitting down at a Ia
Bile. called for glass of hot punch.
In a corner sat young man with
hook nose, little newspaper and
mug of grog before him, who did not
seem to share the superstitious dread
of the others for the mysterious stran-
ger. Instead Of shivering this young
man looked at him almost insultingly.
The somber man returned his gaze
with his great melancholy eyes, but
/ failed to strike terror into him.
"What dye mean" whispered the
Irishman, by angerin' the manf Meb-
be he's a ghost"
"Ghostl" replied the other eontemp-
tuously. "1'll pull his nose for shil-
ling. There are no such things as
ghosts"
The somber man turned. you
would pull my nose for shillingf' he
cried. his deep set eyes lighting up
with fare. "I'll give you chance to
pull your grandfather's nose for t2o.'
my grandfather has been dead these
thirty years and is not likely TO come
back to earth for the purpose or get
ting his nose pulled"
"For go, say, TIL have him here.
If / fail, EGO is yours"
II have but 5s. Cd. VIII that server
"No. Now cease your talk
/ "Come, neighbors," said the man
with the hook nose. cant you help me
to show up this pretendery
The cupidity of those present over
balanced their superstition, and they
began to feel In their pockets for coins.
Twenty pounds was made up among
them, each man to receive as much In
addition at the winning of the bet as
be put In, and handed to the man with
the hook nose. The stranger produced
as much.
"Who shall hold the stakesf' asked
the hook nosed man.
Hold them yourself"
Twill not one of the gentlemen do as
wellT'
enc: you alone win know which
wins"
"All right" And the hook nosed
man pocketed the money.
Now" said the stranger. handing
him his key. ''go TO No. IL and stay
there till the bet is won or lost.
The hook nosed man did as he was
bid, and the stranger, sitting down in
the corner left vacant, apparently sank
into smmber. Presently terrible
shrek was heard on the floor above. 1t
| mos ranaatad amin and again. When