Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-02-22
shed where the sheep were huddled to-

shed where the sheep were huddled to
gether.
Somehow or other. / feel kind o
shaky,' Jake whispered. It's mighty
risky business
Come on and don't be calf Dave
growled
Bot before either had gone dozen
steps further both crouched down sud.
denly and listened.
! just over among the gloomy trees at
their left dry limb had snapped, and
they heard it. For a moment the
shadowy outline of a man in the same
direction was in danger of being dis
covered. But they did not see it and
walked on.
1T beats all, the man whispered,
keeping his eye on them, how mean
some people can be. I'll tackle lem,
though, in a minute, without leave or
license from any one.'
He sat down and pulled off his cow
hide boots, ard then began to crawl
along on his hands and knees slowly
and cautiously toward the she'd
In the meanwhile, over in the village
it had been noticed that the frightful
image was again lowering in the sky
and every one was becoming excited.
A sleight-of hand entertainment, which
had been astonishing an audience at
the school house, was just finished, and
as the crowd came out all saw the
| thing at once. This time it was away
up high over the river, and was maneu-
vering around at great rate, brandish-
ing its sword, swinging its lantern,
and now and then darting through the
darkness as though fighting the wind.
'Sakes alive! What on earth can it
be!' Uncle Simeon exclaimed, standing
stock still, with his wife Polly clinging
to his arm.
IT'S got heap more gumption than
like to see,' said the storekeeper, ner-
vously, Il wish it would clear OUT
In fact, most everybody felt little
relieved when it began to move toward
the island, instead of coming nearer.
The sleight-of.hand man, however,
who was stranger and tall, myste-
rious kind of a person, with very long
hair, said, coolly, that he guessed he
could shoot the thing easily enough, if
any one would get him gun.
There was some hesitation, for the
idea of shooting at atanything of the kind
seemed rather preposterous at first; but
finally, Tom Jackson ran home, and
brought back rife that belonged to
his father The magician then loaded
it with much deliberation, in the pres
ence of the wondering crowd, gauged
the sight carefully, and walked away
few yards, to calculate the distance.
1T is too far off, he said at length,
somewhat perplexed but, if there's q
boat handy and couple of you will
row me out within range of it, I'll
show you thing or two about shoot
ing
His bravado and confidence in his
skill induced the schoolmaster and q
stout lad, named Sawyer, to volunteer
their services, and in the course of
seven or eight minutes the crowd stood
on the bank of the river, ghastly silent,
listening to the dip of the oars and
awaiting the turn in events.
The image, phenomenon, or what
ever it might be called was now direct
ly over the island Indeed the man
prowling on his hands and knees in
the shadow of the pines (who, it might
as we'll be stated, was the bronzed old
farmer,) had discovered it also by this
time, and was wishing that he might
be anywhere else in the worlu just
then. Springing to his feet and seizing
heavy stick he almost held breath
while he watched it slowly descend. If
the thing really was judgment on
those tbieving boys, he meant to stand
aside and let it have its own way. 1t
appeared, though, to be coming down
on him, instead of them, and he didn't
want any mistake made.
In the confusion of the next few mo-
ments, he saw the young Pixleys run
out from the shed into an open space
aad look up at the image. as if they
were suddenly struck dumb 1t was
coming down faster, and he shouted
at the top of his lungs:
There they are | There they are,
Gabriel, ever by the shedp
Instantly there followed a loud,
sharp report, and the old man leaped
into the air several feet, and then
struck out for the shore, without hat
or boots, wildly intent on reaching
home. in spite of fire or water.
The three in the boat, a short dis
tance away from the island, saw him
rush pellmell up and down the shore,
and the boy Sawyer declared in some
trepidation that he was the thing it.
self, with the brightness gone; but the
magician said, impatiently. 'Bosh
Nonsense ? and standing up, called
out:
Hello there Who are you p
'Hellow = the old man returned, as
soon as he could get breath. I'm-I
guess Pm Zekiel Tomkins. Who are
you p
Ina moment or two the boat touch
ed the shore and the magician and the
schoolmaster sprang out.
Did you see anything bright come
down among the trees up yonder, q
few minutes ago? p the former asked,
coolly.
Yes, stree / reckon | did, Mr..
Tomkins answered putting.
Come along, then, and show US
| where it is
Wal, | guess not, stranger. Not
while | have got legs to run the other
way. It's my opinion the tarnation
thing is up there somewhere busted
You'd better keep clear of it.
The man of magic laughed contempt
uously and walked off to the grove.
He believed be knew what it was, he
said, and he meant to see if he hadn't
put hole through it.
What be found hanging around the