Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-06-01

IAoopOo1 LAC ohooP WoASr |" aSSh he
had raised fromSa few eossets, aud
everybody knew that the money he
usually obtained in the Spring for their
wool helped him to pay for term at
the acadeply ia The Winter. Conse-'
quently lthose who had a kindly Fellow
feeling expressed their sentiments; but
shortly the phenomenon was the chief
topic again. Nobody could ever inn
agine, of course, that it's appearance
really had anything tosdo with the
thieves, or that Seth knew anything
more about it than he did of the man
IN the moon; yet, strangely enough, it
turned out in the end that such was
the fact w ~
, zDnring the next two weeks. while
all were on the watch every night for
another glimpse of the image, Seth
was busy watching Jake and Dave.
whom he suspected were the guilty
ones. He had laid several traps to
detect them, but without success. One
night he had concealed himself among
the trees on the island and waited for
them until daylight; another time he
patroled around the island in boat;
but they always seemed TO be aware OF
his movements and either escaped be-
fore he could come near or postponed
their visits till he was out Of the way.
What he was waiting for now, how
ever, was good clustering, dark night,
with breeze blowing across the river.
Then, if they CHANGED to be on the is
land, he meant to try their courage.
AS it happened, Jake and Dave
Pixley also were waiting for about
such night and finally it arrived.
Scarcely star was visible and the
wihd blew just enough to ruffle the
river in waves and make a lonesome,
melancholy noise in the pine grove on
the island. Both boys got into their
boat about ten O'clock and pushed off
into the darkness very quietly. EES
"They'er all up to the school house,
and we can have clear show L reck-
on" said Jake, in low tone.
go slow and keep quiet with your
oar" his brother WHISPERED. Dtsc
When they reached the island, they
drew the boat up carefully and partly
hid it under some bushes. Then they
crept here and there stealthy and eX
amined the surroundings before finally
venturing in the direction of a long
open shed, where the sheep were had
died together.
"Somehow or other, / feel kind of
shakey," Jake whispered. "It's mighty
risky business n8t
"Come on and don't be calf" Dave
growled. ~kaz~E- v.ozs #s,s q
But before either had gone dozen
steps further both crouched down sud
denly and listened.
Just over the gloomy trees at their
left dry limb snapped, and they heard
it. For a moment the shadowy out
line of a man in the same direction
was in danger also of being discovered.
But they did not see it and went on.
at beats ALL" the man whispered,
keeping his eyes on them, how mean
some people can be. I'll tackle 'em,
though, in a minute, without leave or
license from any one"
He sat down, pulled off his cowhide
boots, and then began to crawl along
on his hands and knees slowly and
cautiously toward the shed.
In the meanwhile, over in the viii
lage it had been noticed that the
frightful image was again lowering in
the sky and every one was becoming
excited. A Straightforward entertain
ment, which had. been astonishing an
audience in 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 maneuvering around at great
rate, brandishing its sword, swinging
its lantern, and now and then diving
through the darkness, as though fight
ing the wind.
"Sakes alivel What on earth can it
be?' Uncle Simeon exclaimed, stand
ing stock-still with. his wife Polly
clinging to his arm.
"It's got heap more gumption
than / ike to see" said the store
keeper, nervously. at wish 1t would
clear out"
In fact, most everybody felt a little
relieved when it began to move toward
the island, instead of coming nearer.
The sleight-of-hand man, however who
was a stranger, and tall, mysterious
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, anything of the
kind seemed rather preposterous at
first; but, finally, Tom Jackson ran
home, and brought back rifle that
belonged to his father. The magician
then loaded it with much deliberation,
in the presence of the wondering
crowd, gauged the sight carefully, and
walked, away few yards; to calculate
the distance AL q. ~
"It's too far off," he said at length,
somewhat perplexed; "but, If there's a
boat handy and a couple of you. will
row me out within range of it, I'll
show you thing or two about
shooting go z y z, -
His bravado and confidence in his
skill induced the schOolmaster and a