Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-03-17

respected organi>t of the church his
eyes were observed to flash meanngly.
There was to be grand tcic in the
church, and a great preparation was
made. AS the organ needed repairs, il
was decided to repair it thoroughly:
and one of the builders from Bordeaux
was sent for.
He was to come on Thursday; but he
CHANGED to arrive the dav before. and
was to begin work early the following
morning. That night, light glimmerea
out OF the darkness Of the gallery of
the church.
Two days passed. The repairing Of
the organ went on, but there was much
to be done and it might take week.
One afternoon. rs Francois passed
through the center of the village, two
men came hurriedly out of the town.
house and fastened away toward the
church. 1t was the organ-builder. very
much excited, and one of the officials
of the town. The young man, ventur-
ing on his well-known skill as an
Organist, followed them; and the three
entered the building. A few worship
pers were at the great altar, and the
sacred edifice seemed unusually quiet
and peaceful.
The organ-builder seemed too agi-
tate1 to answer the questions that the
town official asked him, but led thu
way quickly to the organ-loft. Put
your foot on that pedal!" he said, eX-
citedly, pointing to particular one of
the scale.
The official was too bewidered to
comply, and Francois did it for him.
"NOw try the next Onen said he.
Francois did so, but no sound came;
only queer, Intermittent rumbling
like bounding and reboundng.
at does not sound" said the organ
builder. "Follow me and | will show
you why"
"It never has sounded since the
great trial-day, years ago." muttered
the young man. But he followed on.
They clambercd up q rickety stair
case. still more rickety ladder, and
came to q platform at a level with the
top of the organ; and all around them.
reaching up out of the dim light below,
were the open pipes. Passing hurried
ly around on a narrow plank to the
back of the organ, their agitated guide
paused before row of immense pedal
pipes, and without allowing his own
eyes to look, he held the light that he
carried for the others.
Both looked down into the cavernous
tube that he indicated. and both start
ed back in surprise and fear.
at is mans legs!' gasped the
frightened town official.
After the first moment of surprise
had passed. they began to get back
their wits; and the young man advised
that they send for several strong men
and lift out the pipe.
This seemed sensible, and in half
hour the men were at hand and the
pipe was drawn down to the level of the
organ-loft and laid horizontally. The
workmen had been informed of the ma
ture of their work, and all were under
intense excitement. The pipe was
very long, and the body was at least
five feet from the top. One of the
workmen reached in pole having II
hook at the end. and the next minute
drew forth the dead body of the sinis-
ter old organist, Baptiste Lacombe.
There was pause of silent horror
Nobody cared particularly for the dead
man. but the manner OF his death was
terrible.
"How did it happen?" whispered
one
"Perhaps it was suicide" answered
ano ther
They began to more closely examine
the large tube. Francois Tegot, who,
although thus far cooler than the 9TH
ers, now seemed unable to stand, point
ed to the hand of the dead man, which
was tightly clenched upo1 small cord.
One OF the workmen approached, and
with some difficulty drew out the line:
and new thrill of expectation went
through the silent company when they
saw, attached to the end of the line. an
old leather bundle covered with dust.
Young Tegot now seemed to master
himself by great effort. and, motion
ing the workman back, he advanced.
and, lifting the bag tenderly out
into a more convenient position, he
said, solemnly, Us if to himself, II have
long suspected something was wrong.
and now | shall know"
Then he examined the bag. and at
length took from his pocket knife and
carefully cut open one side.
Despite the fact that he expected the
revelation that now came, he started o
little back. for the opening revealed a
piece of cloth, a coat. which even the
town official could recollect to be the
coat of the long-lost organist, Raoul
Tegot, Francois father.
l. The young man stepped back and
sank again into his seat, and the others,
coming forward, laid the bag quite
open, and drew forth watch and an
embroidered vest; in pocket of the
coat was found purse. "Here is an
odd treasure" said one of the work.
men, holding up locket of dull gold.
Francois seized it and opened it. The
color forsook his face and his eyes filled
with tears. He simply said:
"My mother"
The town official now whispered to
the surprised organ-builder that the
villainous Lacombe had killed poor Te-
got on the morning of the trial. and
had secreted the body in some unknown
place and hidden the valuables here.
Frightened by the fear of discovery, he
had attempted to remove the treasures.
and had fallen into the pipe and had
thus met horrible death. There is
nothing secret" said Frances. "but
shall be revealed. Sin is its own de-
tector, and its secrets cannot rest"
The excitement among the townspeo-
pie was for many days even greater
than it had been at the time of Tegot's
disappearance, and many and bitter
were the reproaches heaped upon the
wicked organist's memory.
Francois was Immediately chosen or
ganist. and held the position during his
entire life Youths Companion.
Honey Cakes.-Three and one half
pounds of -four, one and one half pounds