It gets into their heads. We have
one or two in the neighbourhood. They are quiet enough till
something happens.'
"'If I'd been two seconds longer,' I said, 'I believe he'd have done
it.'
"'It's a taking house,' said the station-master; 'not too big and not
too little. It's the sort of house people seem to be looking for.'
"'I don't envy,' I said, 'the next person that finds it.'
"'He settled himself down here,' said the station-master, 'about ten
years ago. Since then, if one person has offered to take the house
off his hands, I suppose a thousand have. At first he would laugh at
them good-temperedly--explain to them that his idea was to live there
himself, in peace and quietness, till he died. Two out of every
three of them would express their willingness to wait for that, and
suggest some arrangement by which they might enter into possession,
say, a week after the funeral. The last few months it has been worse
than ever. I reckon you're about the eighth that has been up there
this week, and to-day only Thursday. There's something to be said,
you know, for the old man.'"
"And did he," asked Dick--"did he shoot the next party that came
along?"
"Don't be so silly, Dick," said Robin; "it's a story. Tell us
another, Pa."
"I don't know what you mean, Robina, by a story," I said. "If you
mean to imply--"
Robina said she didn't; but I know quite well she did. Because I am
an author, and have to tell stories for my living, people think I
don't know any truth.
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