Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-09-22
the Captain. sob, where are the sleigh.


that used to belong to Deacon Joe West
erbrook, that was in the Revolutionary
War, and there's the two cow-bells that
Mary Ann might scour up with ashes
"Pshaw!" said the Captain, do you
take me for Rip Van Wmkle? There's
pretty little string somewhere, for
saw them when Mrs Westerbrook went
out day before Yesterday
II hain't seen nothing ON 'em," said
Job, stolidly.
Come, come, don't make yourself
out any stupider than you be by nature,
job" said the farmer, laughing, new
ertheliss, for the Captains airs and
graees were fast wearing out his well
come, and he secretly sympathized with
the much afflicted Job. Il guess they're
out in the barn chamber. You better
go with him, Captain, if you expect to
find 'em-our jobs dreadful thick
headed when he chooses to be-"
Come along, my line fellow" said
the Captain loosely, collaring Job and
marching him off in the direction of the
old red barn under the hill. "We don't
need any lantern i'll this bright moon
light, that is one comfort"
Old Billy, removed for his kicking
qualities, blinked sagely around at them
from his stall, and Tom, the little gray
pony, who was destined TO figure in the
cutter shafts that night, set up low,
friendly whinny, as they entered the
big, frosty, fragrant barr.
Where are the stairs?" demanded
the Captain.
There amt none," said Job. "It's
a ladder"
"Up with you, then,n said Meredith;
but Job shrunk steadfaStly back.
81 wouldn't not for fifty dollars, :"
SAID Job. sold Michael WeSterbrook
hung himself from the middle beam
fourteen years ago, and folks say he
stands up there with rope around his
neck every moonlight night"
stuff and nonsenSeHi calculated the
Captain in accents of supreme contempt.
You great cowardly lout, stay where
you are then, and I'll go myself"
He sprang nimbly up the rounds of
the ladder and disappeared through the
trap-door.
Where is it?'' he called
The ghost? Right under the middle
beam by the windy was the place where
- ''Blockheadi l mean the string of
bells.n
Look for 'em yourself" said Job,
sulkily. Il don't know where they be,
and what's more, don't care"
''I'll settle with you, my fine fellow,
when / come DOWN. said the Captain,
threateningly, as he groped abou: in the
dim light which was admitted by cob
web-draped window at either end of the
barn chamber.
Don't hurry yourself, Cap'u," re-
joined Job in jeering mood.
As the Captain plunged into dark
corner. there was a jingle, and the
string of bells suspended from a nail hit
him directly on the neck, SO like the
grasp of death-cold fingers that he could
not but start.
"Oh.'' said the Captain, nervously.
'IIere they are. Catch 'em, Job:
Hellol where S the trap-door?'
And it took the milItia-man fully
sixty seconds or more to realize that the
trap-door was closed and fastened on
the lower side. He rushed TO the win
dow and threw it up, only to see Job
speeding up the hill.
''Hal-lo-o-oalr yelled Captain Mere
dith. Come back, you scoundrell you
ill-conditioned louti you imp Of evll.''
Job turned round and executed that
peculiar gyration OF the fingers in con-
nection with the nasal protuberance
which is supposed 10 express the eN-
tremity of scorn.
You'll find the ladder on the barn
floor. Cap'n,n hooted this young rebel.
And don't be afeared o. the ghost.
It's very harmless if you let it alone. "
"But, Job-Job, come back-1'm to be
at Mr.. Harrington's at half past seven
Don't worryi' hoarSely bawled Job.
"Miss Sibyl won't wait very long afore
Mr.. Max'll be on hand"
The CAPTAIN danced up and down the
barn floor in an ecStacy of rage as JOB
disappeared over the crest of the hill.
There was no use calling for help. He
knew very well that if he had possessed
the lungs of Boreas he could not have
made any one hear. He sat shiverlng
down on the hay, starting nervously at
the sound of Kicking Billy's feet among
his snug bed of straw, and thinking now
disacreeably bar of moonlight which
streamed down from crack IN the roof
resembled tall, white figure standing
under the centre beam. He could almost
fancy the rope around its neck-pshaw.
And the Captain jumped up again, with
starting dew on his temples, even in the
freezing atmosphere Of the barn cham-
Der.
What was to be done? he asked him
self And Echo, if Echo had had any
common sense, would have answered:
Inst nothing at all!'' Job had outwlt-
ted him. He might, and probably
would, ''settle" with Job for the future,
but for the present Job had manifestiy
the advantage of him. And pretty
Sibyl and Max Crossley, with his red
cutter and great chestnut-colored morse!
The Captain executed an impromtu
series of gymnastics in the hay as ne
reflected on these things:
81 won't wait another minute Tor
him. said Sibyl Harrington, colorlng
nm with the tears in her blue eyes. TO
on girls-I shall spend the evening at
"Tbere's plenty of room for you In
our sleigh, Sibyl," coaxed her brother, a
great good-humored athlete, with red
Whiskers and dimples like her own.
..Bessy Brown will be glad to have you
no. she will not, either" pontedi
sibvl "As if 1 were going to spoil all
her fun. No-if / can't have an escort
Of INV own, I'n stay at home and mend
stockings. And 1 never will speak 10
CAPTAIN Meredith again."
Hosea Harrington was just opening
his mouth to argue the matter with lt1a,,nS ms
sister once more when the door opened
and in walked Max Crossley.
Sibyl jumped up, radiantly; she haa ,.,
neye1 been so glad to see honest Max In
all her life before. ,y,, = tho
IT don't know" said Sibyl, tartly,
..and I don't care. Am l Captain
Meredith's keeper?''
1yyiIl YOU go with me?"
..Vas I will - said Sibyl, the purple