Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-05-20

OF sudden | heard, from what seemed
the bowels of the earth, just in front of
me, the barking Of dog; it was Bingo's
bark among a thousand. Back, backr
l cried, recoiling with such force that
dragged the old gentleman several PAGES
backward; he lost his hold; l heGd
cry, splash. Back, backr thrusting
Fay friend into the room we had Quilted
The door behind US had not swung to,
Tor jackson had not passed quite through
into the passage, and there was such ter
ror and warning IN my voice that he
sprang back instinctively and regained
the room we had left. The door went to
with bang; it closed with a spring
lock and there was no means of opening
1t. We stood together in the darkness,
our arms clasped together, not daring to
move to one side or the other lest some
pitfall might open beneath US. We saw
at once that we had been entrapped into
this house to be made away with We
had been lured into an oubliette, from
which we should hardly escape with
life. We had been hunted down by the
body-snatchers, whose safety demanded
our destruction.
At this moment light appeared be-
meath the door by which we had first
entered, and presently the door itself
was opened and face appeared, pale,
CHASTITY and drawn up by strong emotion
\ dog ran forward, barking loudly. Next
moment the dog began to jump and
fawn upon us.
"' Ia, Bingon cried in a voice that
l tried to make calm and assurant:
Where's your master, Bingo? Where's
the purveyor?'
The man stepped into the room sud-
denly and flashed his light upon US. 1t
was Blackstock What! MIR. Wilson,
he cried, 'Mr. jackson! All! | never
dreamt it was you. Pray what are you
doing here?'
:" We have come here by invitation
l said unconcernedly, to drink bottle
Of wine with little old gentleman
GO Ahr said Blackstock, with forced
kind of laugh. know him. Have you
been in there with him?'-pointing to
the passage.
"'No,' said; mo. He left us just
now, and hasn't come back
I" Blackstock looked first at me, then
at the dog, which was wriggling and
fawniLg and my feet.
a" 'Ah,' he said, you were always kind
to Bingo, sir. Step this way
" We followed him, cautiously enough,
down flight of stairs, at the bottom of
which he flung open door, which led
into the street. How delicious was the
breath of air upon our cheeks!
"' Goodnight, gents said BIackstoek.
You'll keep your tongues between your
teeth, know, for your own sakes, anoth-
er time. Don't you mention names, sir.
You've been precious near kingdom come,
gents, this night. Good-by'
"We never saw anything more of
Blackstock in our dissecting-r but
few days after the occurrences of that
night we had new subject, which turned
out to be the little old gentleman Of
course it was no use returning his snuff
box, and have kept it ever since, as
memento of an occurrence I should other
wise sometimes fancy was but dream"
Yes, he was kind-hearted individ-
ual, your Mr.. Blackstock, as you re-
marked when you began your story"
said the Colonel, yawning violently.
" Why, it's two o'clock. l never spent
longer hour in my life. Well, good-by,
Wilson; gentlemen, good-by. BY the
way, Wilson, what became of the key?"
tive no doubt it is at the bottom of
the river to this day." said Wilson, with
a chuckle. "Adieu, my friends"