Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-01-21
sit needs water, l think" said the veryessytolook-at- young woman

glanced carelessly in the direction Of
the sound, the highway in front and
-careiessly fell away instantly.
IN its place settled acute interest.
Several seconds passed, Tony's in
terest swelling with a rGpidity that
was astounding. And yet it was all
quite natural under the circum-
stances. for that which he saw was
a girl-and a very pretty girl at
that. Had she been ugly
But she was the direct antlthesis
Of ugliness. Besides, she was in
trouble, and a pretty girl in trouble
openly, visibly in trouble-rarely
fails to attract attention any time or
any place.
That her trouble was real was
obvious from the quick, appealing
glances she was shooting toward
Tony on the front veranda. He
knew she was asking him in Flap
peringo to "e'mon out and lend me
a handl"
"A Teller should always take a
chance-once." Tony told himself.
And he did.
Anything / can dc? ?" he asked, in
his best manner, as ne approached
the stalled car, cap in hand, the
morning sun shining on his short,
silky black and hair his five feet,
eleven of good lookingness.
The girl, standing by the radiator
of her car, a powerful roadster Of
expensive make, flashed him a smile
OF such gladstone "overjoyed to meet
you" charm, that Tony's ego went
up several notches. He stepped in
closer.
1T needs water, ! think" said the
very easy to look at young woman,
replying TO his query. 9Th engine,
/ mean" she added quickly, and
tackled on a little gurgling. ripping
laugh that made Tony think Of bub-
ling creeks and tiny waterfalls.
"I1l get a pail o. water" he told
her hurriedly. Then he was struck
BY another possibility. "How's your
gas ?" he asked.
This might give him a line on hel
on who she was, where she came
| from, and whittier she was going
Certainly she vas not q tourist
He looked at the gauge. 1t showed
a tank nearly full. She smiled al
his look OF surprise.
you're wondering how come I've
got plenty Of gas and NJ water" she
said with another gurgly laugh "It's
tn fault Of tn garage man. He
fixed the radiator and forgot tn wa
ter, ! suppose, because ! made hin
carry gas from the garage out Il
tn gate. We live on tn old Ryder,
ton place. yuh knowi"
"Uek-a!" gulped Tony, surprised
almost, into the swallowing Of hi:
Adams apple-surprised because he
had not thought of it himself. But
Of course, she could be none other
as he should have known.
ooh, yes" he managed finally
"you are Miss-er-ah-"
"Oh, mol" she cut in, not impo.
litely. nor with the least intention
of being flippant, 9Th Erraghs live
down tn river from us. I am Miss
Sweeney. Dad leased tn Rydertor
place because Of its ghost stories
1t is called The Spook's Delight,
yuh know"
Tony recalled the arrival IN tn,
preceding December of Patricl
Sweeney in Elliston. IL had beer
the occasion Of considerable specula
ton on the parts OF those who in
variably made II their business q
know all about other peoples bus
iness-especially newcomers. The
specific reason for this special in,
terest in Pat Sweeney was due I,
the fact that he had leased 9TH,
Spooks' Delight" an old colonial
mansion on the river bank that be
longed to the Ryderton estate anc
which had gone u~ntenanted for /,
decade or more because of its ghost
ly affiliations.
Pat Sweeney, a ~jovial. red-headeC
Irishman, hailing from Chicago, hat
laughed at the ghost stories, in
stalled an army of workmen, carpen
tiers. decorators and furnishers, an,
when the place was ready for occu
pancy had moved in.
That is, his housekeeper has
moved in with two maids, n cool
and a houseman. Pat Sweeney cam,
and went as suited his convenience
and his business dealings. He wal
a widower with q durable complex.
And then one day the gossips o.
Ellison fairly sauawked with an