The herald., 1912-01-04
THE UNCANNY
STRANGER
BY SHIELD ESTHER DUNN
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1871.

In the good old colony times when
travellers. instead of spinning along
smoothly In a parlor car. were bumped
over dirt roads In a stagecoach on
the post road between New York and
Boston. In the state of Connecticut.
there stood a tavern. Before 1t swung
a sign on which. under a portrait of
King George Ill. we're the words The
Royal Arms" In the room which In
those days was called the bar" sat
a 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 a
night as this 1t is well nigh impass-
able"
AS he spoke a gust of wind shook
the building. and those In the room
fortified themselves with a pull at the
mugs before them.
"a bad night to be on the road" said
a man In a brown coat and buff
breeches.
"And a merry one for ghosts" put
in a 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
mp fresh importation from the EN-
erald Isle. you're the first of rs that
they'll be visitin'."
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 we're set deep In his head
and surrounded by dark circles. bis
cheek bones high. complexion a whitish
gray.
Luggage. sirY' said the landlord
inQuiringly.
Luggage! ! need no baggage.
wish lodgings for the night only. and
on the morrow l 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 lrishman, who was cross
ing himself with his finger under bis
coat The landlord. who was looking
over the keys to his rooms with a
view to selecting one for the stranger.
turned and said:
mo chamber vacant tonight. sir.
Sorry"
II sleep tonight" replied the guest.
''in No. L."
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. II. The stranger took 1t, put 1t In
his pocket and. sitting down at a tn
BILE, called for glass of hot punch.
In a corner sat a young man with a
hook nose. little newspaper and a
mug Of grog before him. who did not
seem to share the supersutious dread
Of the others for the mysterious stranA
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 man? Meb-
be he's ghost"
"Ghostr replied the other contemp-
tuously. "I'll pull his nose for a shii.
ling. There are no such things as
ghosts"
The somber man turned. "You
would pull my nose for a shillingY' be
cried, bis deep set eyes lighting up
with fiare. an give you a chance to
pull your grandfather's nose for f20."
MY grandfather has been dead these
thirty years and Is not likely to come
back to earth for the purpose Of get.
ting his nose pulled"
"For EGO. ! say, I'll have him here
II fail. EGO is yours"
II have but 6s- Cd. VIII that server
mo. Now cease your talk"
Come, neighbours" said the man
with the hook nose. cant you help me
to show up this pretenderT
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
he 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"