Connecticut western news., 1888-08-22

where best to conceal myself while waited for night.
 There stood, little to tn, left of th' road, clump of thick evergreens. t. which, as the nearest refuge, l straight way directed my course. On reaching the spot was greatly assured to find il graveyard. This, of all places, thought, is tho ono most fortunate fol me; SO, leaping the low stone wall, proceeded to examine the surroundings. A family vault, in crumbling condi tion, bore the namo of the village; and some of the tombs were of older date. Iu one special corner of tho enclosure was group of fresh graves, where took it to be that the soldiers were buried; and among these I noticed i, newer mound, which, from tho flowers upon it, I thought had been raised that morning.
 Tread the inscriptions from tomb tc tcmb till it got too dark to deciph' I them. Presc ntly lights from the di.tant houses began to appear; and was just thinking it time to go, whom tho sound oi some vehicle coming my way arrested the thought.
 Listening in breathless suspense, soon found that the wheels were much nearer than I had supposed, the stealthi- ness of tho approach alone having kept mo from hearing them. Before hal time to collect myself, close covered wagon stopped outside the wall, and saw two men get cautiously out of it. one to open the gate, and the other tc lead tho horse in. The time, the place, thu mysterious approach-everything tended to agitate me, and wa, on the point of taking to flight, when the truth flashed upon m,. Proceeding at once to tho new-made grave, the rob- bers, each with spad from the wagon, began forthwith to remove the loose earth, with a skill and rapidity that proved beyond doubt their professional character.
 It may bo imagined with what pro found interest watched their opera tions In less time than I had con. ceived it possible tho ccffia was raised, and the body, around which they threw a long cloak, removed to the wagon. Tho work of refiiling the grave was soon done; and hardly an hour from the time they came in the rascals were out of tho graveyard and on their way homcward. The wagon had no soon CT turned from the gate than Istarted to follow it.
 Therc was no moon, and tho night was dark; lut, luckily for me, the will lains drove slowly, and, though at some distance behind the vehicle, I never lost sight of it.
 When about halfway back to the vii. lage we camc to q stop; and saw the two men, to my great satisfaction, get out at the door of public house, leav. ing, mean while, the cart and its occu. pant alone in the road.
 Just as the tavern door closed again quickened my pace, and, impolled by a sudden inspiration, leaped forward and into the cart.
 There bolt upright against the from scat, sat tho stolen corpse, hat pulled low down over the face, whilo the cloak before mentioned completely envelop ped the rest of the fguro.
 My purpose was, first, to remove th, cor pse, and then, having put on tn, cloak and hat, to take its place and await what might happen.
 I need not have hurried my task as did, for the men took their time. Whe1 they came out at last, it was evident that they had been drinking freely in sile; and l saw with delight as they entered the wagon that one had a bottl, along with him to imbibe on the way They resumed their seats, ono on eacl side of me, and wo started again. Hitherto, I am in nclincd to belle ve not word had been uttered upon tn road by either of my companions; but the alcohol doing its perilous work they began to talk openly. Ilearnc' now that it was not their intention t stop in the village, but at vacant hous six miles beyond; and this place was, a further discovered, within easy reacl of my own destination.
 | By the time we were fairly out of tn village the bottle had already twice bee produced, with results that greatly con firmed my hopes of the scheme I wa meditating.
 My comrades, soon in this maud;i state, became silent and drowsy; an' just here it was that my part began Very gently at first, and by slow de grees, inclined myself more and nor to one side.
 'Jim, you arc pushing this thing O mo-" said my left-hand neighbor "Don't lean on it so."
 Jim, with an effort, strengthened him self and tried to slt upright. It wa his turn next to complain of me, for gradually sloped my whole weight O him till he gasped for breath.
 By George, it is you that are shovin it now! Pm almost smotheredl Pul up the blanc thing, will you7' he cried ''and don't let it slip over this sid again."
 Denying the charge with an oath, tn other leaned over, and drew mo int position. So ludicrous was it becomin to me, that, but for the stupefied stat of the roguos, I must have betraye