The Grinder Papers — page 120: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE GRINDER PAPERS. 115 York folks calls rooms, and there he jumped up ontu the barril © with his fore paws, and barked and bit at my ankles. Wonder I didn’t guv up the spook. I was near about skeered to death. ‘He was barkin’ and Biddy screamin’, and Pat beatin’ on the door with his stick, when in came a couple o’ neighbors. One was a little short old man, and one a tall young ’un. You see, I could see out, ‘cause the kitching was light, and they couldn’t see in, ‘cause the pantry store-closet was dark. Sez the old gentleman : ‘* How now—what's the matter ?” *<Tt’s a ghost!” sez Biddy. ‘“*Tut, tut,” sez the old gentleman. ‘*Thrue for ye,” sez Pat. ‘‘I seen the face, and it’s the divil, - more betoken three shots went clane threw him widout hurtin’ a hair.” ‘Nonsense, nonsense,” devil don’t hide in pantries. It’s a housebreaker,” ‘* Thin we'll all be murthered in our gory beds,” sez Biddy, banging the door tight on me and the dog. The dog barked and I screamed. -**Oh, lemme out! I’m the wretched victim o’ a most drefful mistake! I’m Charity Grinder o’ Peekskill.” But they didn’t hear me for the noise. Purty soon the young man peeks in. ‘‘The burgulars is a hidin’ tu the further eend,” sez I. ** How many on ’em, Lawyér Trats?” sez the old gentleman. ‘“Near as I can see, two,” sez he. ‘‘ Look yourself doctor.” sez the young gentleman. “The cS €o GComicboo