Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1912-01-12

Might raise a good crop OF spooks
here" said Jack. pausing and looking
over toward the adjaceni property.
"rhe kid was right. there must have
been a farmhouse there one day. See
the sunken rertangles OF turf where
the buildings once stood7 You can even
get M Idea OF how the yard must have
looked in those days. There's a snow
bail bush and a clump OF liIacs and
other lowering shrubs. and those apple
trees In the background must be the
remains OF the orchard"
| followed the direction OF his point
ing finger aud saw that be spoke the
truth We were speculating upon the
location Of the different buildings when
| heard slight sound and. turning.
saw Airs. Penny peering sharply from
kitchen window.
Here we are. Mrs. Penny" I said
cheerfully. Introducing my partner
"Mr. Rogers and propose 10 sit up
tonight and lag all these sI,ooks OF
yours
She fingered her spectacles rather
nerNuusly and then removed them and
rapped the table smarily with them,
eyeing me keenly.
This Is no joke. young man" she
said grnveiy.
~Indced. madam" ! replied warmly.
"we du not consider II as such.
spoke lightly because wanted TO sllay
your fears
"Your own fears may need quieing
after you have seen them"
People. you menn:" asked Jack.
srhey we're once she answered
duly
"You mean you have really seen
themgs
yes; the whole family. They're all
dead now
You can recognize them from your
Window he asked lncredu.ously
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
wandered about the spook ridden held
next door until Mrs. Penny summoned
US TO supper. We ate without referring
to the object OF our visit. In fact q
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 a splendid full
moon was rising
You tan sit In the side porch II
you want to-" said Sarah Penny. II
shall be In the sitting room here wait
ing for II to come
Jaci and both shuddered as she de-
parted We whispered to each other
and marveled that any sensible ghost
would care 10 return TO such a gloomy.
God forsaken spot as this We lighted
cigars and tried not to admit that an
eerie sensation was creeping over rs
when Mrs Fenny's shrill old voice
broke excitedly on the air
They are here--it has conner
We lifted peIuctani eyes and gazed
upon the spook farm. There was q
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 It was q windless night. and
tile 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" | answered. but
Does he see 1t tooY'
"Yes. but
Then it is sor' she moaned- And
saw that she was holding her black
bag under her arm Il must give up
the papers. and perhaps they viii 80
away"
There was an instant OF intense a.
lence. and then | turned my back on
the spook farm and said quickly:
''Yes. you must give up the papers,
Mrs. Penny. and right the wrong. You
bad better move away" | advised.
leading her Into the house, quite
broken In spirit.
"Yes. will go away. have a sis
ter In the west. who wants me to
come. can sell this place-and--here
are the deeds | executed them Year,
ago, but | hated to part with them.
| have so little money! she walled
pitlfully. opening her black bag.
Little by little wormed confes-
sion out of her Of how she bad held
mortgage on the farm next door.
which was owned by a 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
penniless, They had gone forth. help
ed by charity. to make new start,
and she had heard from some source
that each one had died years ago. All
this had happened fifty years before
and she had had long time In which
70 repent Of her crime.
The next morning when Jack and
went down on the early train we car
fied proper legal papers conveying the
sPook farm property. as well as the
home Of Mrs Penny. to the heirs 4
the German farmer. FIFTY Sfeber .rsd
] may add here that In due course Of
time his children were found and their