The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-06-14
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in my body quivering
Imust certpinly have jumped about three
feet from the ground.
"Ha it is he" said Miss Travers. al
must conceal myself or all is lost"
She darted into the adjoining room and l
followed, just in time to see her disappear
in the cupboard and close the door.
had left the pigeon-pie in there, and !
naturally felt little uneasy on my own ac-
count as well as the young lady's.
But had scarcely time to reflect upon
anything before heard another tremendous
guushot in the garden, so agonizing to my
nerves that nearly fell in fit.
A nice beginning to a quiet 4th Of July.
A moment afterwards heard the military
tramp of General Boomerang in the hall
lie appeared, followed by Fox the pointer,
and think it was the most nervous moment
of my life.
The general was tall stout ruddy. faced,
and l iancied rather bloodthrsty- looking
but at present he was smiling-a savage
smile; but even that was to an extent re-
assuring, considering what one might imag-
inc his frown TO be.
"Ha! How do? Hope my noise didn't
alarm you," he saidj in a tremendous voice
meant, however, I suppose, to be pleasant
Noise? My dear sir, heard nothing"
said /, shaking his hand with trepidation
and remorselessly sacrificing the truth.
"Been very quiet here, sir"
"Hal Bachelors Hall, Ell? Lots of lib
erty and fun; no women to meddel No
petticoats about, eh?'
"That garment, sir, is, assure you, here
unknown" replied, emphatically, with
tremulous glance over my shoulder
al know. He, hal Been bachelor all
my life, sir; but tomorrow my liberty ends.
Old bird-caught at last, you know. To-
morrow marry the young lady over at the
Oaks yonder; glad to see you at the we'd
ding. Wen make happy pair, daresay
though we have quarreled more than once
about her proclivity to airt-there's skele'
ton in everybody's closet, eh?"
"There's none in my closet, assure you,
sir" hastened to declarej trembling vio-
lently.
"By Jovew exclaimed the general, sud-
denly breaking off and staring over my
shoulder. Talking of closets-just see how
oddly that dog behaves before your closet.
He is actually pointing"
With a dreadful apprehension, turned.
Eox having scented his mistress within
the cupboard, was seated before it, wagging
his tail with great animation.
What's in that cupboard?" asked the
general, with unconcealed curiosity and in
terest.
oil don't know, sir-nothing, sir"
d" 1t must be birds"
at is bub- birds" gosped. at is
pigeons-in pie"
" Nonsence, sir. He wouldn't be likely
to point cooked pigeons. Let's see what it
really is"
l staggered as he passed by me, and would
haye tainted, but that heard him say after
trying the door
:" It's a spring lock-have you the key?"
"N-no, sir, there's no key to that cup
board. We always keep it locked. 1t has
been locked for years"
"Well, how the deuce did you get the
pigeon-pie into it?" he demanded, staring
at Inc suspiclously. "Your ideas appear
confused. Come,my friend, confess that
you have game in the cupboard-what sort
fgame, now?"
"Upon my honor" declared, vehement
ly, "I am not up to any game, sir, nor have
any key. don't live here and l wish
had never seen the place. simply came
to spend quiet 4th Of July"
The general was evidently slow of appre-
hension, and did not understand me. My
confusion, my red face drenched with per-
spration, and my contradictory answers
puzzled him.
"Well," he said, after few minutes re-
Election, 81 have bunch of keys in my
trunk, and III step over to the Oaks and
get them, for am determined to find out
what is in that cupboard. Come Fox?"
He whistled to his dog, and imagine my
relief when they disappeared together.
ran instantly to the cupboard, and found
that the spring lock had already closed.
, "Miss Traversl" called, pounding lus-
: tilY; but there was no reply.
, Again and again beloved through the
keyhole, at the same time hammering with
I my knuckles, but received no answer.
Great heaven had she suflocated or per-
ished from fright? If her body were found
there cold aud lfeless, should be accused
of murder, and the generals testimony alone
would be sufficient to hang me.
| Distractedly ran from room to room,
hurting for screw driver with which TO
press the bolt out of the socket. found
one, and rushed back.
At last, at the end Of fifteen minutes, the
: lock yielded, and flung the screw-driver
/ out OF the window, for fear it would be evil
dence against me when my enemy, the gem
eral returned.
, Then opened the door. Miss Travers
, was lying on the floor of the cupboard, not
: dead, but in a dead faint. Ipieked her up
and carried her TO the sofa, beseeching her
to revive but she wouldn't
At this moment, / again heard General
Boomerang's heavy sLepin tho hall. had
only time-te fling my aeoat over her, and
close the cupboard as before, when he re en-
tered. Luckily he had not brought Fox
back with him, and in place of his gun he
carried cane, and in the other hand a
, bunch Of keys.
"IIere we are" he said, exultantly. owe
E will get her open this time, l wager. Lets
, try at all events-bu; l say, my friend, how
5 very remarkably excited you look"
, | explained that it was July, and natur-
( ally very warm.
lie scarcely seemed satisfied but without
I saying anything more, went to work upon
the lock and in a little while succeeded in