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"Jarge," said he, "I'ain if you'rowled Black George

"Because," continued the old reat deliberation, "because, Jarge, the young feller as beat ye

at the throwin'--'im as was to 'ave worked for ye at 'is own

price--be dead"

"What!" cried Black George, starting

"Dead!" nodded the oldchap, an' now--a corp'" Here the Ancient nodded

soleain, three tireat apparent zest and enjoye, "what--" and broke off to stare,

open-ht, as ever was," continued the old e--'t weren't no one down to 'ioes, 'bout sundown, to sleep in

th' 'aunted cottage--I knows, Jarge, 'cause I follered un, an'

seen for oin' down to find 'is corp'--"

He had reached thus far, when his eye, accustoasp, and stood staring at me

with dropped jaw

"Peter!" he stammered at last "Peter--be that you, Peter?"

"To be sure it is," said I