Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-08-15

BOHEMIAN, MONTANA, THURSDAY, AUGUST Is, 1878.
sequent proceedings with the air of total
ly disinterested observer,

|
ly disinterested observer.
"'Clar to goodness, now," mntteret
Uncle Zeke, ''wish't un'stood bout di.
ting. Can't be no spring-trap like de las
time. kase how he gwine to spring froo d.
do! Ke! ke! Done bodder Mis- Smith
sho' huff when he find dat ole rat-trat
sprung and muffin cotch. High! Cam
fool dis yere chile wild no traps. No, sar
Done seen too much for dat.''
Uncle Zeke paused, scratched his heat
meditatingly, and then resumed his solil
oqny--
"Well. 1 declar,' eff dis yere'do beat
preachin'! Mus be gun in dar Eff dey
amt no gun, den dey amt muffin dere-al
fyolishness. Enyway, is gwire for to try
| him."
Uncle Zeke threw his bag to the ground
| stepped to one side of the house, and with
his pole struck a sharp blow on the brass
knobnearest him. Nothing followed. He
pried against it with stick, but still with
out effect. He went to the other side OF
the house and repeated his experiments on
the second knob, but still all remained
quiet.
Uncle Zeke how drew from his pocket a
skeleton key, mounted the ladder. and in a
trice had opened the paddock which held
the door.
''Dar, now, JUS s I fought. De boss
done humbug dem niggers, max 'em think
dis yere house witched. Amt muffin dar,
sho' :nuff.''
The old darkey reached up and cautious
ly turned the handle. The door opened a
little, and, casting away all fear. tncle
Zeke boldly reached for the other knob to
steady himself while he swung back the
door.
Literally like flash of lightning the
electric discharge passed through him.
The muscles OF his fingers contracted, and
he could not release his hold of the en-
chanted handles. at last his feet slipped
from the ladder, and the weight of his
body tore his hands adrift. Like log the
old man dropped to the ground, and lay
groaning, praying, and generally bewil-
dercd.
''Oh, de Laws Cor Almighty! Oh. my
Hcabenly Marstcr! Who cher fought o.
dat! My conscience done wake up. my
conscience done wake up! Hearn bout
it often. an now l knows il. Oh, my
iIeabenly Marster! eff you lets up on me
Ills time, Uncle Zeke neber touch muffin
no mo-. Glare to goodness, is changed
man from dis day. B-r-r-r-r-r-" And
what, with the shock. the fright. and the
fall, Uncle Zeke's senses seemed deserving
him. -,o1einr voice. lhs'inc..
ively Uncle Zeke answered, Here me.
and looked in the direction OF the sound.
Oh, horror. A figure clad in white was
nearing him with slow and solemn steps.
As the mysterious visitor approached II
seemed to rise until it lowered to the height
of at least ten feet. The wretched Ezekiel,
on his hands and knees, his eyes protrud-
ing, and his jaw dropped, remained para
lyZed.
Suddenly the phantom bowed itself. and
its head descending with incredible swift
ness, smote the unfortunate Uncle Zeke
senselcss to the earth.
Infec Gays Ettcr, aS pun O"oio AeNN
lay, racked with rheumatism and torment
ed with spiritual fear, upon his bed in the
si.gle room at his cabin, the door opened
and in walked Mr.. Smith, of Bellevue.
"Good morning, Uncle Zeke. Why,
what's the matter with you, old man?''
"Oh, Mas Smith, On, Mas Smith, l
done had some terrible 'speriences Lately.
De angel OBJ de Lord done wrastle wild me,
an my conscience done woke, an, Oh, my
Heabenly Marster rs one sutierin' sinner
Mas Smith, is you bin-is you done-is
you m-miss any ting wild dat ar courthouse
O. youry'
mo, indeed, Uncle Zcke; nobody has
been near it. Everything is all right
now" 81. s+-
can nobody done touch de lock3 De
look ebery mornin' p
.Yes, indeed. Why, who do yor thinl
would touch it, old man?'
Uncle Zeke answered not, but his lip
moved convulsively, as he muttered
knocked me down fusr, an den locked
de do an took de key. Now l knows
was de angel OBJ de Lord.'-T. l.. III
C.endv. in Harper's Magazine.