Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-22

could black mass, winch might
have been a dense wood had it been taller
Over this low, dark streak along the horizon
the pale moon was rising Outside all was
silent, as silent the three persons who sat
behind him In the living room, close to the big
stove that drove the chill from the air of early
Spring.
The boy at the window drew up his shoulders
as though he felt cold then turned. His face,
which had been serious, suddenly broke into q
od-humored grin.
"Gollyl" he exclaimed. "You folks and your
stories about Mournful Swamp have certainly
made the chills chase up and down my spine.
OF course, know that all this talk Of spirits
and weird cries and ghostly laughter is lot
Of poppycock, but when you stand and look
over at the swamp you can believe almost
anything about It'll"
The three persons grouped around the stove
did not smile One Of them was Jack Taggart,
KeitI's cousin, and a boy of about his own
age The others were Jacks parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Taggart. Keith had seen his uncle and
aunt years before but he had never met his
cousin until he had come to their farm for
this visit. But although he had been there only
q few hours, he and Jack were already fast
friends. Keith had lived all of his life in the
city, while Jack had been born and raised on
the Taggart farm in this remote section Of the
country, yet the boys had found that they had
many interests in common and both were look
ing forward to great time in the days of COM
partnership to come.
A FTER supper a meal during which Keith
had been urged to eat until he could
hardly get up from the table, the Taggarts and
their guest had repaired to the living room.
There the talk had soon turned to the great
swamp that lay SO close to the Taggart farm.
Keith had seen it on the train that day as he
arrived, and had questioned them about it. The
resulting stories were enough to satisfy even the
most rabd Searcher for thrills. MOurnful Swamp
had a very sinister reputation in the country
near it, and among the natives of the region
not one could be found to say a good word
for it.
Keith resumed his chair in the circle about
the stove and turned to his uncle.
YES" he resumed, I'll admit some OF those
stories are pretty scarey But tell me this:
With the exception of this awful laughter that
is supposed to be heard at night, and the
ghostly lights that are sometimes seen, and all
that, Is there anything really definite about the
swamp? 1 mean, has it ever actually harmed
anybody"
TACK TAGGART smiled grimly but he allowed
his father to reply.
"You should ask the railroad company that
question, Keith" Mr.. Taggart said solemnly.
"You noticed maybe, how the track curves to
run around the swamp. 1t five six miles
out of its way. Well when they were building
the railroad through here some Is years ago
they thought it would be cheaper to go across
the swamp. So they started to build fill.
Everything went fine, and they had gone
about half mile into the swamp without much
trouble They had a good solid fill laid, track
out on it, and laborers were camping on the
all, sleeping there at night The folks around
here told EN- not to do it, but they just laughed
ct us. .-...s. ....sr-. ,es,.l