Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-02-10

returned from lunch l was agog with
excitement.
Guess what has happened. Jack"
crowed.
mo need to guess. Something in
the detective line has turned up.
grinncd my partner as he tossed his
hat on its accustomed peg and sat
down In his chair.
How did you flnd out5" ! asked.
chagrined.
"You always look especially foxy.
old man. and nothing. not even dead
client. with prospects OF rich pickings
from the
"oh. keep stil!.' Growled. "You
talk like a bird Of prey
Il am-we are birds of prey. Tits
detective side line of yours. Hal. or
hobby. or whatever you call it. VIII
run us out of our legitimate course OF
business IL you don't slacken up biz"
Have yon any important case on
your mind?' asked sardonically.
Rogers felt tentatively of his head.
Nothing doing. ! must confess. Hal.
| know there's something on your
mind. There's look about yon that
SAYS we must catch the two-some.
thing for somewherc-and it's lao
now" lie glanced Mt bis watch.
THE train leaves Mt 2:o3. III tell
you about IL on the way up"
After we were comfortably seated
In the smoker OF the train and were
headed up the bank OF the Hudson
river deemed il expedient to I'M
bosom myself lest in the telling OF the
story we might reach our destination
before had completed 1t.
That noon while | sat alone In the
Office | had received call from
queer client
She was little old woman. sharp
featured and white haired, with hard,
cold blue eyes and thin Tipped mouth
that seemed made for secrets. She
was CARRIED In shabby black and car
ried n rusty satchcl filed to bursting
that she watched carefully
learned that her name was Saran
Penny and that she lived ON a small
farm near Poughkeepsie. She said she
was Il widow and. besides owning her
farm. possessed n tiny income on
which she lived She also said thai
for two weeks past she had been
haunted by spectral farm that seem
ed TO adjoin her own. She related that
night after night when the moon was
high in the heavens she had seen low
king farm buildings where In broad
daylight nothing appeared but grassy
meadow dotted with ancient frut
trees. On dark nights the visitation
appeared MS n luminous glowing out
line OF buildings
Mrs Penny's old face seemed TO be-
come more wrinkied and carcworn az
she impaired these facts TO me anu
when she had concluded. saying thaf
she mad visited me with the intention
of making her will and had suddenly
determined to coniidc her fears OF the
"spook farm" as Sue called II. hoping
| might he able TO explain away this
horror in her solitary fife
tad promised 20 come up there TO
look the situation in the face. and |
declared my intention of bringing my
partner with me 50 now that we
were ON the way ! relnied AL these
facts to Jack Rogers. and together we
tried TO piece ont some fabric OF losical
explanation of the phenomenon.
Derry yelled the brakeman. throw
ing open the door. aud as that was the
nearest stntion 60 the spook farm we
goi OH and watched the train wind
out of sight among the hills. A station
agent was puttering around couple
Of empty egg crates. and approached
him.
(which road shall ! take 10 reach
Mrs l'ennsy's farml" ! inquired.
"One TO the right" and he disappear
ed quickly. rs II fearful OF further cate
.hism
II led away from the river and then
doubled back again. and this perform
ance II repeated over and over until
Jack announced that he felt as twist
ed rs spiral bed spring
II don't wonder your old lady sees
things ne complained as he rounded
another turn Il feel all wound up
Just like clock"
Il guess you can run down now" ]
said. for Just then the trees and dense
growth along the road thinned. and
we could see the gray shingles OF
weather beaten house just beyond.
Before we reached the house. which
stood in a grove OF gloomy cedars. we
met boy with an empty pail and Der.
~ stained lips.
"Son." said my partner kindly. can
you tell US where the Widow Penny
llves?"
The boy turned grimy little finger
toward the wcaiherbeaten house. In
there" he half whispered
do you know herr" pursued Jack
.arelessly displaying silver quarter.
The boy nodded I'm afraid OF her."
he said with more spirit she's n
miser: that's what my mother says"
ssU-h.. sfe.,u ,taxe tnnr 20 Mrs Don