The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1884-12-03

silly fears. David Caldron, a we'll.
known blacksmith, ridiculcd the passcn-
gers so mcrcilcssly that there came very
near being blood shed. Quite number
Of the boldcst men in town agreed to &c
back with the stage and investigate the
mystery.
Heres a chance for you, Dave" said
Captain Lomal. addressing the black
smith.
II can't leave homc," Caldron replied
81 am not afraid, for I don't believe
thar's anything the matter out thar, but
Eve got too much work to do at home,
and. sides all that. amt got the money
TO spar for thcr trip
"Thc trip shall not cost you anything"
the captain declared.
81 don't believe want to go"
You arc afraid,'' said the captain.
''lou snort around and laugh at others,
but when the time for showing your
mettle comes you back out like the COW
ard you are. You needn't get mad, for
you know you arc a coward"
The blacksmith, whose courage had
ncvor before been disputed, bit his lips
and walked away.
Captain Lomal rode on the scat with
the driver. "rcll me-" the captain said,
"whcn we get nearly to the place"
"Wc arc nearly there said the driver,
after few moments"
The Captain examined his pistols.
"For Gods sakc," exclaimed the driver,
don't shoot. tell you the thing.
whatever it is, amt to be fooled with. !"
Leave that to me-" the Captain re-
piled. "licllo, what's this ?''
The horses stopped and the driver
whispered. "Thats it,
The arm arose. The white, phospho-
resent hand cleaned with n pale light.
The Captain, despite the whispered pro-
testations Of the driver hvcled q pistol
and fired.
The hand laughed.
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 ?''
II don't know" replied the person adj
dressed. Never saw anything like it
before, and hope l never shall again.
"What do you want ?'' tue Captain de-
manded Of the hand
Money. Your relations in hades are
suffering. Your grandfather is urging
you to relieve him. Satan holds his
note for fifty dollars and he will burn
until it is paid"
''iou arc liar" vocifcratcd the Cap
tain.
The hand drew up its fingers and
laughed, such horrible, shrill, Shrek
ing laugh that old Bruxton turned to one
of the adventurcrs and remarked, "Wish
| hadn't come"
"Dont go near it" implorcd the
driver. "Come back !" but the Captain
pressed forward. When within a few
feet Of tho hand the Captain stopped
and turned back, but too late, for the
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 COM
panions to come to his assistance. but
paralyzcd by fear they stood seemingly
unable to move.
When the Captain was released he
hobblcd 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 it its polm. chen tho hand dis
When the stage reached the
next town the villagers were
thrown into a high state Of cx-
element. The adventures would not
return by the Rock Pass Route, hut
walked over the mountain. When they
reached Little Rock, the Captain sought
David Caldron, the blacksmith, and
apologized to him.
The road was abandoned, for people
were actually afraid to so through the
pass. Sometimes private vehicles
owned by adventurous, would 60
through the pass, but never without be-
ing stopped by the hand, until long
time afterward rosuming their business
as public carriers.
David Caldron would ncver 60 to the
place. Several years after the excite
ment caused by the hand he disappear
cd suddenly and evary one supposed he
had been murdered.
Seversl days ago while railroad work
men were cutting through Rock Pass,
they suddenly broke into cavity. Near
the center Of the place they found q
skeleton under a large rock that had
fallen from above. Further research