The Penn's Grove record., 1883-12-01

cape"
Every one yielded, and the intelligent
passenger deposited the money in the
hand as it lay on the ground. Closing
its fingers around the money, the hand
disappeared. The driver mounted the
box, the passengers resumed their places
and the stage proceeded on its journey.
Great excitement was created when
the story was told in Little Rock, but
many matter-of-fact people we're dis
posed to scott at the passengers for
their silly fears. David Caldron, a
well-known blacksmith, ridiculed the
passengers so mercilessly that there
came very nearly being blood shed.
| Quite a number of the boldest men in
town agreed to go back with the stage
and investigate the mystery.
Here's a chance for you, Dave,''
said Captain Lomal, addressing the
blacksmith.
81 can't leave home," Caldron re-
piled. 81 am not afraid, for | don't
believe thar's anything the matter out
thar, but I've got too much work to do
at home, and, sides all that, l amt
got the money to spar for the trip"
1.-THE trip shall not cost you any
thing the captain declared.
81 don't believe 1 want to CO."
"You are afraid,' said the captain.
"You snort around and laugh at others,
but when the time for showing your
mettle comes you back out like the
coward you are. You needn't get
mad, tor you M you are a coward T"
The blacksmith, whose courage had
never before been disputed, bit his lips
and walked away.
Captain Lomal rode on the seat with
the driver. "Tell me-" the captain
said, ''when we get nearly to the
place.
sWe are nearly there,v said the dri-
yer, after a few moments.
The captain examined his pistols.
"For Gods sake" exclaimed the dri-
yer, don't shoot. l tell you the
thing, whatever it is, amt to be fooled
with.n #
"Leave that to me-" the captain re-
piled. Hello. what's this2n
The horses stopped, and the driver
whispered. "that's it,
The arm arose. The white, phos-
~phorescent hand cleaned with a pale
light. The captain, despite tie wills
pered p~rotestatlons of the hand, leveled
a pistol and fired.
The hand laughed.
The captain leveled another pistol
and laughed.
The hand laughed again.
The passengers got out of the coach
and the captain dismounted. This is
certainly very wonderful" he said.
''Bruxton, what do you think of it?"
81 don't know" replied the person
addressed. "Never saw anything like
it before, and L hope l shall
again."
''What do you wantp" the captain
demanded of the hand.
"Money. Your relations in Hades
are suffering. Your grandfather is
urging youto relieve him. Satan holds
his note for fifty dollars and he will
burn until it is paid"
"You are a liar,'' voeiferated the
captain.
The hand drew up its fingers and
laughed, such a horrible, shrill shrek.
ing laugh that old Bruxton turned to
one of the adventures and remarked,
wish l hadn't come"
sim going to see what that is the
captain declared. 81 have come here
to investigate, and I'm going to in
~vestigate."
"Don't go near itln implored the
driver. "Come backl" but the captain
pressed forward. When within a few
feet of the hand the captain stopped
and turned back. but too late, for tn
hand seized him. 1t whipped him
against the ground, tossed him up and
caught him and shook him again. The
poor fellow yelled and begged his
companions to come to his assistance,
but paralyzed by fear. they stood, SEEM
ingly unable to move When the cap
tain was released he hobbled back to
the stage and implored his friends to
give up their valuables. The hand
stretched itself on the ground, and
Bruxton, after being assured that he
would not be harmed, deposited the
money in its palm. Then the hand
disappeared. When the stage reached
the next town the villagers were
thrown into a high state of excitement.
The Adventures would not return by
the Rock Pass route, but walked over
the mountain. When they reached
Little Rock, the captain sought David
Caldron, the blacksmith, and apollo
gized to him.
The road was abandoned, for people
actually were afraid to go through the
pass. Sometimes private vehicles,
owned by Adventures, would go
through the pass, but never without
being stopped by the hand until a long
time afterward, when the hand failed
to appear. but the memory of the terri
BILE arm deferred the stage company
from ever afterward resuming their
business as public carriers.
David Caldron would never go to the
place. Several years after the first ex-
element caused by the hand, he dis
appeared suddenly and every one decj.
ded that he had been murdered.
Several days ago while railroad work
men were cutting through Rock pass,
they suddenly broke into a cavity.
Near the center of the place they found
a skeleton under a large rock that had
fallen from above. Further research
discovered a great arm ingeniously