Ridan the Devil and Other Stories (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: BILGER, OF SYDNEY A Death in the family brought about my fatal acquaintance with Bilger. A few days after the funeral, as my sister and I sat talking on the verandah of our cottage (which overlooked the waters of Sydney Harbour) and listened to the pouring rain upon the shingled roof, we saw a man open the garden gate and come slowly up to the house. He carried an ancient umbrella, the tack lashings of which on one side had given way entirely, showing six bare ribs. As he walked up the path, his large, sodden boots made a nasty, squelching sound, and my sister, who has a large heart, at once said, ' Poor creature; I wonder who he is. I hope it isn't the coal man come for his money.' He went round to the back door and, after letting himself drain off a bit, knocked gently and with exceeding diffidence. I asked him his business. He said he wanted to see my wife. ' Not here. Gone away for a month.' ' Dear, dear, how sad ! Broken down, no doubt, with a mother's grief. Is there any other lady in the family whom I could see ? ' ' What the deuce do you want ?' I began angrily; then, as he raised his weak, watery eyes to mine, andI saw that his grey hairs were as wet as his boots, I relented. Perhaps he was someone who knew my wife or her people, and wanted to condole with her over the death of her baby. He looked sober enough, so, as he seemed much agitated, I asked him to sit down, and said I would send my sister to him. Then I went back to my pipe and chair. Ten minutes later my sister Kate came to me with her handkerchief to her eyes. ' Do go and see the old fellow. He has such a sympathetic nature. I'm sure I should have cried aloud had I stayed any longer. Anyone would think he had known poor little Teddie ever since he was born. I've asked Mary to make him a ...