The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-03-01
CHAPTER Continued

JULIUS SdcSdE was u StudiL tIau.
he said suddenly, much to his hosts
amazement. $50 was Napoleon. So is
Lloyd George" He bent over the
table. as If imparting profound Sc
cret $50 was the master of them
all-my idol. Lenin." Mr.. Smucker
touched his receding forehead with a
dramatic gesture. Don't think, he
cause you are twice as big, that you
can Outmatch me herew
Again he smote his brow.
That's all right" said the other
practically. Benny Leonard amt a
big man, and guess hes pretty
good. So was the baby that steered
Black Sand and won one thousand
iron men for daddy. You wouldn't be
where you are today If you hadn't
got the gray matter. Say, do you be-
lieve In haunted hOuses?"
Il don't believe in haunted houses"
Smucker asserted. NOR In the Inn
mortality Of the soul. I'm away be.
yond that religious bunk r
II didn't believe in haunted houses
when ! first went up there with MIR.
Seymour. was like you-conceited
-bone-headed. thought knew it oil
and then some." The stranger had q
cold and compelling eye. He looked
at NM Smucker In way thai dis
PEELED many of the secretary's the
cries. He leaned over the table. tits
fine and dandy to hold them beliefs
when you amt been put to the testl"
Il don't get you" said Mr.. Smuck-
er irritably.
You WILL" said the other simply
Il used to be chauffeur for MIR. Sey.
mOur up at the Gray house. His two
kids died up there. There's a curse
on that place. The man that had 1t
before lost his wife. Nothing the
matter with her until she went up to
Duchess county. 30. there's some.
thing In the lake there that calls peo.
pie to it. The man who had 1t after
Seymour and me was warned. Sey.
Inour said he went there on his own
responsibility. I'll say Seymour was
square about warning him. Well, sir.
that man was found drowned in that
id lake. The doctors couldn't find
thing the matter except he was
drowned. It's bad place to live in.
knowl | was there for two years
The strangers voice sank to a whis-
per.
You feel like people are watching
you all the time" he went on. when
you wake up. you think there's PEG.
pie ut the foot of your bed, and when
you switch on the light it seems like
you catch them going away out of the
tail of your eye. The help won't stay
there. They knowi Mr. Seymour
he's lord or something now
brought out an old cook from Eng
land. She went bughouse from what
she saw"
"Do you expect me to believe that?'
Smoker said.
mo" said the other. "You amt
got the education to understand. Mr..
Handy may. All ask you to do. II
you want to keep sour job. is to try
and prevent him from taking his fam
lily up there to live"
Smucker bitterly resented the
structures on his education. He
thought of many cutting things to
say. but words did not come easily.
His brain seethcd with brilliant still
born speeches After time he gath
cred his wits together.
ut amounts to this" he said. "You
want me to warl Handy before it's
too late"
Il DOM give d--n whether you do
or not" returned the stranger. "rve
got 1t off my conscience. If you want
them to go to- their death, it's up to
you. ANY mar taking his family there
Is killing 'em. just as much as II he
fed 'em strychnine IN their soup. What
do I get for this? Not a d-n thing.
I'm out dinner.
"That." said Smoker quickly, SIS
your own financial liability"
am no piker," said the other.
"Hey, Pat, bring couple of them
cigars that Morgan smokes. and some
black coffee. My friend here has an
Important date"