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THE HISTORY OF THE BARDCOMES
217

"And are they living in Longpuddle still?’ asked the new-comer.

“Oh no, air,” interposed the clerk. “James bas been dead these dozen years, and his mie’ess sbout six or seven, They had no children. William Privett used to be their odd man till he died.”

“ Ah—William Privett ! He, dead too?—dear me!” said the other, “All passed away !’

Yes, sir, William was much older than I, He'd ha’ been over eighty if he had lived till now.”

“There was something very strange about William’s death—very strange indeed !” sighed a melancholy man in the back of the van, It was the seedsman’s father, who had hitherto kept silence.

“And what might that have been?” aaked Mr, Lackland.

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