The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1912-01-05

"Here we are, Mrs. Penny" I said
cheerfully, introducing my partner.
"Mr. Rogers and I propose to sit up
tonight and lay all these spooks OF
yours"
She fingered her spectacles rather
nervously and then removed them and
raped the table smartly with them,
cycling me keenly.
'"This Is no joke, young man." she
said gravely.
Indeed, madam" | replied warmly.
1--WE do not consider 1t as such.
spoke lightly because wanted to allay
your fears"
"Your own fears may need quieting
after you have seen them"
"People. you mean I" asked Jack.
"They were once" she answered
duly.
"You mean you have really seen
them?"
"Yes; the whole family. They're all
dead now"
"You can recognize them from your
Window" he asked incredulously.
She nodded an affirmative and then
sat In moody silence while Jack and /
conferred together. The result Of this
interview was that my partner and l
wandered about the spook ridden field
next door until Mrs. Penny summoned
us to supper. We ate without referring
to the object of our visit. In fact a
great depression seemed to have set
tied upon the three of US. The air was
heavy and damp, but the sun set bril-
liantly. and In the east splendid full
moon was rising. =
"You can sit In the side porch IL
you want to-" said Sarah Penny. II
shall be in the sitting room here wait.
ing for 1t to come"
Jack and both shuddered as she de-
parted We whispered to each other
and marveled that any sensible gho
would care'to return to such q gloomy,
God forsaken spot as this. We lighted
cigars and tried not to admit that an
eerie sensation was creeping over us
when Mrs. Penny's shrill old voice
broke excitedly on the air.
''They are here-it has conner
We lifted reluctant eyes and gazed
upon the spook farm. There was a
fascination about the weird scene that
drew us to the dividing fence.
There had arisen before our unbe-
lieving eyes white misty buildings
farmhouse with adjacent wings, dairy
barns--and here and there were forms
Of people. white wraiths with beckon-
ing arms 1t was MINDLESS night, and
the moon shone brightly.
Sarah Penny's voice again broke the
stiffness. this time hoarse with fear.
She was at my elbow. do you see
it?" she whispered.
"Yes." l answered, but
docs he see 1t too?'
"Yes. but
"Then 1t is sor' she moaned And
saw that she was holding her black
bag under her arm. II must give up
the papers, and perhaps they will 60
away"
There was an instant of intense 81.
lence. and then l turned my back on
the spook farm and said quickly:
LES, }Ou iuSt BiNG up thC PuPCko
Mrs. Penny. and right the wrong. You
had better move away" | advised
leading her into the house. quite
broken In spirit.
yes. | will go away. | have SIS
ter in the west. who wants me to
come. can sell this pface-and-here
are the deeds. | executed them years
ago. but l hated to part with them.
l have 80 little money! she walled
pitifully. opening her black bag.
Little by little | wormed confess
sion out of her of how she had held
mortgage on the farm next door,
which was owned by German family
She had coveted the land. but the
farmer had been industrious and paid
his interest promptly. Then one night
sorely tempted, she mad set fire to the
buildings, and when they lay a heap
OF ashes on the ground she took the
land for the amount OF the mortgage
and the Germans were homeless and
penniPss They mad gone forth help
ed by charity. TO make new start
and she had heard from some source
that each one Ind died years ago. All
this had happened fifty years before
and she had had long time In which
to repent of her crime.
The next morning when Jack and
went down on the early train we car.
ried proper legal papers conveying the
spook farm property. as well as the
home Of Mrs. Penny. to the heirs OF
the German farmer. Fritz Steber And
l may add here that In due course OF
time his children were found and their
inheritance restored to them. Mrs.
Penny. who possessed comfortable
fortune through her misery habits,
went west and was heard OF no more.
never knew what became Of the
vpook farm after that.