The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-07-24


could bear. Fortunately for him he had
And then most extraor-
binary thing took place. Scarcely
had the shrek to which the
Major gave utterance, and the howl Of
multaneous, died away, whenlthe phantom
peddler and his phantam pack seemed to
be in strange commotion from some
cause or other, and the next moment the
peddler, in some mysterious manner, had
disappeared, leaving his pack in the road
behind him.
CHAPTER III.
Exactly how Major Lawrence reached
home that night he could never tell. He
had faint recollection of crawling along
the road on all fours, but the idea was very
indistinct and snadowy.
Somewhere along in the "wee small hours
ayant the twal," good Mrs. Lawrence was
awakened by hearing a strange noise in the
front room, and going to investigate, dis
covered her lord and master, still arrayed
in all his outer habiliments, boots and all,
scious state.
"'Tain't no use, Mandy" he said,
feebly, when he had regained the
use of his tongue once more,
"Im goin' ter die, know. l
the Rocks an he warned me, am amt
much longer to live. 1've been n wicked
man, Mandy-I've lived an onrighteous
sort of life, and wish could hev it ter
live over agin; I'd do different. How
somever 'tain't no use now" And with a
gronn the Major turned his face to the
wall.
20 Lifeletw Mrs. Lawrence sobbed,
'don't talk so. You'll kill me. II John
were only here" she continued, turning to
Maggie, who stood at the window
| fhA
could go to the Corners for the doctor.
But dear me, he amt, and don't know
what we shall do"
"He's here now, mother, and I'll go and
tell him." said Maggie, and at that mo-
ment the sound of wheels was heard in the
| The girl few down the steps and out into
the yard, and related what had happened
as nearly as she could to the astonished
John, who waited only long enough to
harness fresh horse, and then started for
the Corners. 1t was not vet sunrise, and
being Sunday morning no ono had as yet
been over that road between Major Law
rence's and the horseback. John, who was
too busy with his own thoughts to pay any
attention to what was going on, was Occa-
| sionally urging his horse to greater speed,
when that animal with snort Of terror
suddenly stopped and refused to go step
further. Ahead in the road lay an object
of some kind, which second glance showed
to be q dead sheep. As John sprang from
the buggy to investigate matters, Tom
| White made his appearance on the hill
above.
"What in thunder" began John, and
then he caught sight Of Tom. "It's-let
me see, one ear notched and t'other one
slit-why, yes, it's your'n, Tom. But what
| in the name of General Jackson does it all
| meanW
Tom stood and looked on in dazed sort
| of way for moment, and then light
seemed to break suddenly in upon his
mind.
"Bin sykes"he involuntarily exclaimed
IA bad sight? Well, of course it's bad
sight, Especially when it's your sheep. But
what dees 1t mean"
"Must be one of mine that somebody's
stolen, said Tom sententiously, and then
added, "But what brings you here so early
in the morning, John! thought you were
in another direction"
"Father's sick; got scared last night at
something. guess, at any rate he's sick
now, and Pun going for DR.. Stone."
| LET me take the team and get the doctor,
there II your fathers so very sick, and l
can go as we'll as not. But, john" he
continued, as John, agreeing to this plan,
was about starting for home, "don't say
any thing about finding this sheep, will
but can't just now. Keep it dark, and l
think I've got plan by which to find the
thief who has been taking Off our sheep
lately"
John gave the required promise and Tom
DIR. Stone still in bed.
"Why, bless my soul, TOMB said the
worthy doctor, when he at last came to
the door, still rubbing his eyes, "what
brings you here so early? And old Law:
rence's outfit, too" he added, as the spiedd
the Majors team. "What does it mean?
Who Is sick?"
"It means, doctor, that Major Lawrence
| is sick--very sick, they say--and / came
over for YOU" said Tom. "They want
you right away, and so il you can go no W
l'll take you over with me, and save time.
They'll bring you back"
ain just a minute, Tom, in just min
ute" said the doctor, and he disappeared
within for few moments, AMI then came
forth again, equipped for the journey.
"Ani so old Lawrence is sick, Is he?"
remarked the doctor, US he took his seat
beside Tom. "What seems to be the
trouble? ] didn't think he ever was sick; (;
thought he was too stubborn and con-
trary."
just what passed between DR.. Stone
and Tom (who was a great favorite with
the doctor) on their hurrlel three mile
journey, l can not say; but as the doctor
sprang from the buggy at Major La "
rence's door, he turned to Tom with the
remark:
"Yes, that will be all right, White; I'll
help you all can. and see that it's carried
through, 4 possible. MOI, no danger at
a low tone, "it won't hurt him-only do
him good. He needs to be taken down a
peg or two."
He took his medicine case which Tom
handed to him, and entered the house. In
the hall he met Maggie, and stopped to
speak to her for moment, and then on.
tered the room where the Major lay, still
silent and motionless, his wife sitting by
the bedside, weeping. The doctor said
something in an undertone to Mrs. Law.
renee, who got up and left the room, and
he was alone with his patient.
"Do you believe II, sperrits, doctorf
asked the. sick man feebly,, after the
doctor had gone through with the usual
formula of examining the tongue, feel
ing the pulse, and asking the customary
questions.
ayes, do" said the doctor, solemnly
and then he added, sotto voce, =" IN ths
kind that's bottled; ] can't say that svel
saw one inyself," he continued aloud, Al
h0 bogan mixing uD q OOmpound from