The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-08-24
Ach and R e, q! {!
0I9,6 NEA Service. lne:

cant a yeai,
want if. It's not fit for rats to
live in. Belonged to old man
Hardison who was so misery ne
Let it almost tumble down on MN.
After he died folks said it was
haunted. Claimed they saw lights
in if sometimes. You couldn't get
ANYBODY to go anywhere near that
house after nightfall. Guess you
wouldn't want it anyhow. It's
three or four miles off the high
way in the woods. "
4Perfectr' Brent exclaimed.
"What's that?"
OTIS lust the house I'm looking
for. Inc doctor said | must 1--we
in the country" Brent added
hastily, 4 haven't been well re-
Gently" ..,u d..
"You look fit as fiddle: But
if it's air you want you'll get
plenty of it through the big cracks
at old Man Hardison's place.
81 wonder if you could direct
me to the house,"
"Sure. Drive on the highway
about five miles until you find a
little forked road cutting into the
woods. It's so overgrown with
grass now most people would
think it was just path. It's the
road that leads straight to the
place. It's lonely drive. II !!
were you, I'd wait until morning.
"Thank you very much. Good
by"
IF | was you, and happened
to see a light in those parts, Ia
sure wait until morning. Folks
say old man Hardison's ghost
The baldheaded mans warning
was lost in the sudden roar of the
old car.
A short while later, Brent's
searching eyes found the torked
road. He turned off the highway
an dwas soon deep in the wood
land described by the elderly man.
Suddenly he stopped his car. Some
distance ahead was glimmer OF
light.
Brent's lips set grimly. He drove
deeper into the woods, got out OF
the car, and started cautiously on
foot toward the house.
He saw, as he came closer, that,
with the exception of one light,
the dilapidated old house was in
darkness. A car was parked close
to the side of the building. Brent
stopped and focused a flashlight
on the locense number. The num-
Der did not correspond with the
one he carried in memory.
Perhaps there was another car
in the garage. He Strengthened,
and felt a heavy hand on his
shoulder.
What, my prowling friend, is
the object of your call this eve,
ming? Chickens? Cars You tell
me-"
Brent laughed. 81 was looking
for Mr.. Black. This is such a
queer, rundown place I thought
Bill Patrick had made mistake
about it. So l was looking at the
license number to make sure"
"How did you know the license
NUMBER"
Brent spoke easily. Everybody
in town knows it. Blacks big
fellow"
"What did you want with him."
81 have q message for him. Bill
said l wasn't to talk with anyone
else. If he's here, ask him to step
outside, please"
Not SO fast, my friend. What
do you say to stepping inside, in
stead?"
He was trapped! And Molly
was here. Brent was certain of
it.
He controlled his voice with an
effort. Gust as you say"
owe came out for a rest. Black
was nervous. And here Patrick
sends you out. How'd it happen?"
81 was doing some work on the
building" Brent lied glibly. "The
roof leaked from that last rain.
Bill needed somebody to take a
message and he offered me SIS to
make the trip. l was glad to do
it, too"
"We'll see what Black thinks Of
your message. First I'll relieve
you of your gun. Guess you
wouldn't be making lonely trip
like this without carrying a gun.
1t wouldn't be right safe, would
it,"
81 did happen to bring one.
Bill"
patrick told you to bring a
gun"
"Not exactly. He said it was
pretty dark and deserted out here
and maybe I'd be afraid to make