The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1914-01-07
John Jones'
Find
1t Was a Vacant House
That Paid a Good Rental
BY NATHAN B. TOWNSEND

Johnny Jones, Maine farmer boy.
went to the city to make a fortune bur,
getting stranded, started to walk home,
a hundred miles, usually sleeping out
Of doors.
| One afternoon while vending his
way eastward along the coast he came
to "A handsome country residence
standing alone. Looking about him, he
could not see another house, though
the coast was open In either direction
for several miles. But Johnny doubted
II he could get any comfort In the
place. for he could see no evidence Of
its being occupied. The shutters were
closed, not one being left open. Then,
too, there was an old look about the
house. The shingles on the roof were
black and crumpled. the woodwork in
places was rotten. and only the brick
Of which the house was mainly built
was solid.
"If could get inside" said John to
himself, II could at least keep warm,
and the night promises to be cold"
He had on only the thinnest clothing
and shivered as chill November wind
struck him. Climbing the fence--the
gate was fastened with a rusty chain
and padlock-he went up on to the
porch and began to look about him for
n means Of entrance. He was not long
In finding shutter with a loose fasten-
ing and a pane Of broken glass behind
1t. Putting his hand inside. he unlock
ed the sash and raised il.
To his surprise, the room into which
he looked was furnished. True, there
was mOldy look about the furniture.
but 1t was of a fine quality. though Old
fashioned. John climbed over the win
dow sill and inspected the furnishings
at closer range. He was in the draw
ing room among damask covered chairs
and sofas and velvet curtains to the
windows. A piano stood at one end,
and John struck the keys. He was
startled at the breaking of the stlll-
ness. 1t seemed to him that the shades
of those who had once inhabited
this house. who had years ago locked
and left it. had cried out at his lit
trusion.
John fell to wondering why so much
valuable property was left to rot.
Though young he considered the fnan-
cial feature connected with it. Had
the property been sold years before 1t
would have brought what to him would
have been fortune. There must be
some reason why it had been suffered
to sink to ruin.
John hesitated about spending the
night in so grewsome place. and had
1t not been for the cold without he
would have preferred to sleep under
the stars. AS 1t was. he looked about
for bed and. though he was hungry,
stairs. But 1t seemed to him that he
was lying among worms. He took bold
Of cOverlet to draw it over him. and
it parted through decay. This was too
much for him: he arose and felt his
way downstairs and finding a lounge
covered with leather. though it was
stiff through age. stretched himself on
1t and fell asleep.
He was awakened during the night |
by voices. For few moments he |
could not recall where he was. Then
he listened for the direction of the |
sound and concluded that 1t came from |
under him. Presently light flashed |
through crack in the floor. Sliding |
Off the lounge, he crawled to the crack
and put his ear to IL.
"We've got to run in some o. these
goods" said one in a mans voice.
This cellar is full"
'Why not store the next lot above?"
"What rot. Don't you know we've
taken every pains to keep any one
from looking i'm here? Put goods on
the floor above. and some hoy or some
tramp will look in. see them and re-
port the fact"
Its wonder no one has got on to
us as 1t Is" remarked third man.
They've gone around this depot often.
Fact is. it's well known that Crawford
OWNS II. and Crawford Is above sus-
picion."
"We pay him enough rent for It,"
"Rent be hanged. He's one OF u.s."
"He tells me the place can't remain
much longer as 1t is. A number of real
estate men have been to him to buy 1t.
They want to fix 1t up and make II
pay"
Crawford is making 1t pay well
This was the last heard OF dia-
ogue between different men. none OF
whom John could see. He heard some
hing fall and thought bolt was shot.
though he could not he sure Of this.
hen all was silent again. He lay
awake. thinking about what he had
heard. but couldn't make out anything
except that the basement was used for
he storage Of goods. Were they stolen
articles? Were they barrels Of liquor
Illegally? The reason
or the house remaining In its present
was apparent. This man
Crawford was keeping 1t for a pur-
lose. 1t had doubtless long been shut
Up and was not an object OF curiosity.
rIrninO thasa thiupa ovar ft, his x.t,H | .