A HORRIBLE STORY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 289, 5 December 1881, Page 4

A HORRIBLE STORY

A mysterious business is relatad from Cernaia, in the depths of Hungary. Bergo Levies, a bricklayer of tbat town, was nearing his cottage after the day's work, when a strange man stopped him in the road and asked bim if be would undertake a job, for which be sbould he be well remunerated. " I and my wife are living in a country bouse a little way out of town, and I want you to to come wilb your tools and wall up a a sort of cupboard. But you must come afc once, for my wife declares sbe wiil not sleep another night in tbe place if tbe thing be not dove before dark. I fancy the cupboard must be connected witb some drain or passage, for it swarms with rats and mice; and that is why itmHst be walled up. If you will come at once you shall bave 50 gulden. " Needless to say that tbe poor workman collected together the necessary implements in all baste, and marched off after the stranger, wbo led bim to a tumbledown looking and long untenanted bouse about a mile out of town. A pretty young woman, who appeared very nervous and anxious, met tbem at the door. They traversed several rooms, and at last reached a kind of kitchen. A dark closet, which evidently reached some way back, opened into tbis room by a low doorway. " There's tbe place, " quoth the lady, " it's full of rats; wall it up quick, ugh!" Levies went to work, but stopped short with a start of surprise at a noise be beard issuing from the hole. "Ob, tbose detestable rats!" exclaimed the lady," only listen 'to tbem!" Once more tbe man took up bis trowel, but after two or three artistic flops wi'tb the ' mortar, dropped it again with a jump. •' Go on, go on!" begged tho lady. But Levies now declared he would not lay a bnck till be bad looked for himself with a lantern wbat manner of place tbis was. More demands that be should finish his job; threats, tears, and offers of lOOfl., loOfl., up to 500f1., if he would go on. But this only excited his suspicions tho more, and be remained firm. "Well, go and get a lantern, tben," said the gentleman, *■* but take a glass of wioe first," You can guess what effect this had. He drank and went to sleep, Wben be awoke tbe bouse was empty. He staggered to tbe police station (for his bead was still swimming from the doctored wine), and related wbat had happened. Search was made, and in tbe recess they found an infant about six weeks old, naked, and with its mouth gaoled. It was still alive, but died that evening. — Globe's Vienna Correspondent.