The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-04-23
8 AV ED..A HsY FIR B. {:
Circumstantial Evidence.

Don't make = fool of yourself, my
boy" continued Tom Lyon, carelessly.
You were surely not trying to frighten
me ?"
Still no response.
"That's a rich idea, really" pursued
Tom disdainfully III give you credit
for it, old fellow. above ground, |
thought you'd do me the simple justice
to manage it a little better, as it is got
up for my benefit, and take your position
just little farther off. Are you ready
to go back to the world again p
The silence continued unbroken and
Tom Lyon shrugged his shoulder con-
temptnously, without looking again to
wards the individual. he had been adj
dressing. "Well," he continued, in the
same tone, ''you may like your quarters
under the earth, but don't; it's neither
cheerful nor safe. l prefer the free at
mosphere of terra .frnaG, and I'm going
up. So here's luck to u.s." He gave a
long, shril whistle, between his hands,
cried out in sharp, piercing tone, and
turned one ear upward in listening at
titulc. A rumbling, continuous sound
fell on his tympanum, and then Tom be-
gan to whistle tune. YARD after yard
of the immense hemp coil had been un-
wound, and presently the large 'lift," or
bucket, came in sight. Tom held up his
Davies lantern, just before it rested,
with thump on the dark sub-stratum
of earth, and beheld the well known
phiz of Ned Kean, with its merry gray
eyes looking out at him.
Where in the devil did you come
from p was Toms astonished and inele-
giant sa'utation. Il thought had been
talking to YOU for five minutes"
"Don't speak lightly of his Satanic
Majesty here replied Ned Kean, in a
mock-iragic tone. eve are nearer his
accredited regions than l like to be, and
he might overhear and come ont for us,
for the 'Dccensus Arerni' seems to be
almost made every time | come down
into these horrible pits. Did you find
your pocket t-hook ?"
"Of course not. Some of the dirty,
roguish thieves that work here every
day picked it up after l went out yester-
day; and there's no chance of hearing
of it again. But who is that in the cor
ner, yonder? He is drunk, or has lost
his tongue. l thought you had come
down after me, and were trying one of
your old tricks; but l supposed you
knew me most too well for that"
Il was preparing to follow you, when
Tom Crouch rode up, and would not let
me off until had repeated to him all |
knew about that note of Bob Herndon's,
and the Hunt estate; so could not get
off Shall we take another search in
company, or GO up?"
"Go up. We had as well look for a
needle in haystack, as l told you at
first," replied Tom, with philosophical
resignation. "And you, nv fine fellow,
whoever you are" continued he, turning
once more to the mute figure, ''if you
want to be taken out this evening, you
had better be stirring your stumps -
There's no use shamming around u.s."
Perhaps he's one Of the regulars, and
don't mind spending the night here. It's
a very hardening life They get SC, o,they
don't mind the thought Of going down
lower. But as he's taking it SO very
cooly, think he must be asleep, unless
it's spirit from the internal regions
Hold up your lamp, Tom; let's take a
look at him. Tom did as directed
"My God, Lyon" cried Ned Kean,
starting back in horror, at is a dead
body! 1t was too true As the young
men leaned forward holding their lamps
aloft, that the object Of their inspection
might be the more clearly distinguished,
they saw, sitting perfectly upright against
the damp, dark wall of the subterranean
vault, within narrow niche, the body
of man, stark and rigid in death-a
death that had claimed its victim days
or even wesks before-they could not
tell.
s'Who can it be?' said Ned in low
tone.
at is impossible to tell here" replied
Tom Lyon, very white and sick, as he
went nearer. "Some poor wretch, dare
say, who had been drinking too much.
and sitting down there fell asleep, and
was poisoned by any of the .noxious
gases that are frequently so sufocating
in q pit And to think was standing
here, feeling really indignant at the sup
position that it was you, What is to be
done?"
Have him taken out, Of course. But
it's no use our meddling with forgot
ten corpse Let's get out with all speed,
and request the superintendent to send
some of their regular workmen down.
Five feet below the earth's surface is
deep enough to be put at last. But
hundred! Faugh. l feel as if the weight
of Atlas were on my shoulders. Come,
in Gods name for if the pit were a bed
of diamonds, don't think could be in
duced to remain here another minute"
The young men hastily placed them
selves in the bucket, and giving the sig
nal, were drawn once more to the light
of day.
"You two look as if YOU had seed a
ghost" said one of tine men with
laugh, as Tom Lyon and Edward kean
stepped out Of the shaft and shook them
selves as though they were covered with
cobvebs.
"We have seen more loathesome
sight-a dead aud half,rotten man. re-
piled Kean, drily. "Where is Mr. Sui
lyT
"Up at the company's store, l think,
just now, sir"
The two friends turned and walked in
the direction indicated.
Half an honr later Mr. Sully,t man.
ager, and with him quite crowd, had
gathered about the mouth of the pit
The body was brought out, amid an I'M
usual silence; and sickcning and dis
gusting spectacle it presented.
The face and hands Of the unknown
victim to violence or disease, was gan
srened from decay and outwardly black
ened by coal dust until he might have
been an Ethiopian for anything they
could tell. The hair of his head, which
alone, however, would have satisfacto.
chic clouuhn nff