The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-12-23
A Farm Hands Adventure.
BY EDWARD STEVENSON.

The Len Jenkins FARM" as 1t is
called in tho 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
a highly responsible post; but even Peter
Scott can hardly testify to the "sights to
do' from so thorough an experience as
Dan Beam the youngest of the "help."
At tho time of Dams taking service, his
understanding with grutf, but by no
means ill-natured, Mr.. Ben Jenkins, was
that he should do 'lcctle of everything
in general, Dan', and nothin' in partick'-
lar" The result of an adhcring to this
basis of this contract tired the muscles
of Dln'Ps wel!-developcd legs and back
and arms six days out Of the seven, to
degree that nobody else could appreciate.
He generally tumb.cd over upon his pill
low at right a tagged out supernumer-
ary.
On certain September night Dan
snorcd like steam engine. 1t was the
most unromantic thing to do, because
through the open window poured the
moonlight, u broad and yellow track.
The great black mastiif, Danger, was
singing to the moon down by the barn,
a song of canine defiance. Danger hated
the moon, as much as he esteemed Dan.
Perhaps it was Dangers howls that
stirred Dams dreamless s,umbcrs. At
any rate, he sighed hcaviy-roled over
and found himself half awakened.
HIS opened eyes turned drowsily tow
arl the one window aforesaid of his
small bedroom. All was still now, even
Danger. Mr.. 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. Haloa! What
made that window frame look so odd2
Part of the sash, the lower left hand cor
ner, seemed-yes-thcker than the rest,
as Dan studied it sleepily against the
brilliant night sky. What! 1t moved !!
Not so. Something that was not the
woodwork ofthc corner, but that filed
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
room9 Certainly there was nothing
there 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. D IN cried out in
perp!cxity and terror: 81 say there"
He leaped up on his bed AMI stood with
his wild young eyes fixed upon the great
patch of moonlight over the bare floor
for 10, there extended straight across it
that horrible, ghastly arm. And there
upon it rose, of its own motion and ns
ciliated slightly to and fro, and where
the hand should have been, sparkled two
diamonds in the moonlight, like the
jewels in ring. The arm was grea,
serpent.
For months the farmers had bcea tell
ing tales of glimpses, far down
in their tangled cranberry lots,
at the great python which
bad managed to slip away from "Claw.
bottles Only Consolidated Oriental Cir
Gus and Menagcrie" IN May. 1ncredu
lous folk had laughed at the tale tcllers
In spite of the laughing, calves ant
sheep, inexplicably vanished, as If tt
prove that the mon stcr really lurked
about the ravincs Of B,ue Run valley
Here it was tonight 20 answer for itself
No doubt about that.
Probably the creature had bcel
stretched under some outbuildng all th
. afternoon perhaps beneath Mrs. B.
Jenkins own front piazza. When III
stirring OF teams and men was ever,
, slid from its retreat into the cool night
ard Dan Beams open window suggcstc'
entrance. The greater part Of The sleek
j.. fat body lay already in folds under III
d panel Of the wjndew. where dee
. shadow broodcd The upper roitio
:, was advance onward toward the be
and is oc upauts. The upiifted, in;er
! bead was making keen. observation 0