The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-01-01

then went softly down and through
the wood yard to the work shop
Once in there, / turned the key, and
looked about me. Some tools were
lying on the bench, and from these
chose two or three-a sharp screw
driver, a hammer, and wedge
Then [ went to cupboard, and
pushing back some boxes and parcels
came upon an old dark lantern thai
had stood there untouched for per
haps dozen years. / had to look
in another closet for q bit of candle
and some matches; but had them
all at last, tied up the tools and Ian.
tern in a scrap OF mating, slipped
the candle and matches in my pocket
unlocked the work shop door, and
then crossing it, went out with my
bundle in my hand by side door al
the opposite end, which led. not into
The village street, but into a cart
track, hardly ever used, and ther
into paddock, shut in by high
hedges. There was no one in sight
rs ran across the paddock, and Sc
struck into the sandy lane-you
know it well, Miss Hester-which
runs along by the churchyard wall
In two minutes more, was over the
wall, and sklrting it inside. At the
corner close by, / knew there was
some loose stones. knelt down by
these, pushing aside two or three,
laid my parcel down between them,
and piled the stones carefully up
again, so that they hid it. Then i
looked cautiously all around, to be
sure that | was not seen, and vaulting
over the low wall, slid down the
steep green bank. Now could
breathe again, for | didn't care who
met me. | went round by the sex
toms house, which stood near the
charchyard gate, but ] did not go in
there. | only looked well at it, and
at the little out house hard by, as /
passed, and then was away over the
moors TO Kettlethorpe. l walked fast,
not whistling, not thinking. only
trying to get over the ground as
quickly as could. My business was
soon done, but yet it was quite daEk
when turned my face bomeward-
darker than usual, for the moon was
Young, and the driving clouds hid
the stars. | heard the church clock
strike ten as | crossed the last bit OF
level ground, and began to make my
way down the slope toward the vii
lage.
81 wasn't in n hurry now, though
the night wind blew chill in my face
and made me shiver; / sat down or
4 tuft of damp grass and watched til
one hy one the lights in the village
beneath died out. When the last
glimmer oil candle-light was gone
from the sextOn's windows Just below
me, started up, and half ran, hal
scrambled down the hillside. This
time, stopped hy the wlciSet-gat'
that led into the Sections garden
lifted the latch silently, and stOl
across the grass, not to the cottage
door, but to the little shed beyond
and steppinGin, IIelt cautiously will
my hand along the wall. Yes, there
stood the spade and pick-aXe as | hat
seen them two hours ago. TWAS tn,
pick-aNe | wanted and lifting it OF
my shoulder, crept back, over the
little grass plot, and out into the
ane. Dark as it was, | felt rs if {
hundred eyes were watching me
then. Painting, and with shaking
knees, l climbed up the bank, and
over the church-yard wall, and
CROPPED my way to the corner where
| had lett my tools. By the din
moonlight, l could just see the white
he9p of stones, but it took me long
while to find my parcel. had it al
last, and with it in one hand, and the
pick in the other. | struck across
the church yard to-to the vault
You know now what meant to do
| was going to rob the dead.
Il stumbled twice over the low
foot stones, which | could not see
Once | fell, bruising my knee; but
cot there at last. 1t l hadn't known
the place so well, | should hardly
have been able to find it ; but l had
taken my bearings that morning, and
II could just see the sharp point Of
the marble monument standing ouI
against the gray sky. Tie stone
had to lift was not many inches off,
and, STOPPING down. felt for it upor
the ground. / soon found the rougf
edge, more by my fingers than my
ewes, and then l knew whereabouts
to stick in my pickaxe. When
had done this, the loose soil round, Sc
lately disturbed, made my work easy
enough, and though it cost me ;
tough strain, l had the stone up be
fore you could count hundred.
did not wait moment. | was like
one possessed, as | went on hand:
and knees down the narrow slippery
stone steps into the vault. | was
scared enough, and though the per
spiration was running down my face
| was all of q cold shiver. But ye
| verify believe that if anybody ha(
l cone upon me then, should have
killed them. There was just gllm
mcr of light thrown into the vaul
from the opening above, but no
enough for me. 1t helped me, how
ever, to push back the slide of my
bit of candle, and then | groped IN,
way on TO the farthest side Of The
vanlt, and struck n match Itiizzed
, blazed up, and went out With
muttered cath-it wasn't often ths
swore, hut | did them tried an
other, and this time it kept light til
, the wick of the candle caught, ant
showed the vaulted roof and the darl
row OF collins ranged round the stOn
; floor. | did not want TO look a
) them. l closed up the lantern, ant
| putting it on the ground with it
, light side towards the one collin
t uaHied, | went back to the steps, T.
find ont if there was any glimmer T.
: be seen above. No. / was safe 81
E far no spark of light showed there
t Now for my screw driver. If only
could do the work silently enough
{ The first noise Of my effort wa
fistartling, and / scarcely dared tr.
> another; but / remembered that til
y vault lay deep, and that there wer
; no houses within furlong of it. A
t any rate, | was in for it now, and
4 cot used 10 the sound as bent DIES
; perately to my task The lid ha