Connecticut western news., 1886-12-29
A Farm Hands Adventure.
BY EDWARD STEVENSON.


 ''The Ben Jenkins farm," as it is called in the ncighborhood, is small enough, but every square rod of it has always been so carefully titled that there is seldom week in the year when one cannot find what Peter Scott calls ''sights to do" on the prem ises. Peter Scott head hired man, fills 6 highly responsible post; but even Peter Scott can hardly testify to the ''sights to do" from so thorough an experience as Dun Beam, the youngest of the '.help." At the time of Dams taking service, his understanding With gruff, but by no means ill-.atured, KIT. Ben Jenkins, was that he should do 'leetle of everything in general. Dan', and nothin' in partick'- ar." The result of an adhering to this basis of this contract tired the muscles of Dan'Ps well-developed legs and back and arms six days out of the seven, to degree that nobody else could appreciate. He generally tumb.ed over upon his pill
 
 ary.
 On a certain September night Dan snored like steam engine. It was the mpst unromantjc thing to do, because through the open window poured the moonlight, broad and yellow track. The great black mastff, Danger, was singing to the moon down by the barn, song of canine defiance. Danger hated the moon, as much as he esteemed Dan. Perhaps it was Dangers howls that | stirred Dams dreamless s!umbers. At any rate, he sighed heavily-rolled over and found himself half awakened. Ills opened eyes turned drowsily tow arl the one window aforesaid of his small bedroom. All was still now, even Danger. Mir. and Mrs. Ben Jenkins slept the sleep of peace in the east wing of the farm house, and the rest of the family were elsewhere. Halloa! What made that window frame look so odd? Part of the sash, the lower left hand cor ner, seemed-yes-thicke than the rest, as Dan studied it sleepily against the brilliant night sky. What! It moved Not SO. Something that was not the woodwork off corner, but that filled up the corner, moved. Dan sat bolt up- right wide awake and leaned forward in the dark staring.
 Could it be possible that fat human arm was being cautiously inserted around the framework into the little rooma Certainly there was nothing tcere worth stealing.
 The arm, nevertheless, went on, slip ping itself along gently over the sill. No mortal thief could have such an end less, ghastly member. Dln cried out in perplexity and terror: q say there" :" He leaped up on his bed and stood witt his wild young eyes fixed upon the grea } patch of moonlight over the bare floor l for To, there extended straight across it that horrible, ghastly arm. And there upon it rose, of its own motion and os ciliated slightly to and fro, and wher' the hand should have been, sparkled tw' diamonds in the moonlight, like tn
 jewels in a ring. The arm was a grea serpent.
 For months the farmers had been tell ing tales of glimpses, far dow : in their tangled cranberry lots '. at the great python whic1 had managed to slip away from "Claw bottles Only Consolidated Oriental Cir GUS and Menagerie" In May. Incredu lous folk had laughed at the tale tellers In spite of the laughing, calves an sheep, inexplicably vanished, as if t
 about the ravines of Blue Run valley S Here it was tonight to answer for itselt 7, No doubt about that
 Probably the creature had bee e stretched under some outbuilding all tt afternoon perhaps beneath Mrs. Be Jenkins own front piazza. When Il e stirring of teams and men was over. , slid from its retreat into the cool igh ;, ;, and Dan Beams open window suggeste
 entrance. The greater part of the sleel D fat body lay already in folds under Il U panel of the window, where des a shadow brooded. The upper portit
 was advanced onward toward the bt z and its occupants. The uplifted, inter head was making keen observation