Wichita eagle., 1889-12-06

way across the canal.
The strange conduct Of the loaf was, in 70
atty, caused by the currents and revolutions
of the water, but as these were unpercefved
by those who looked on, they became inn
pressed with the conviction that the loaf was
really animated by mysterious occult power
that inpeled it to fulfill the task allotted
TO it.
AL now stood hnshed for fully five min
utes, almost breathless, none stirring, every
eye directed to the light to see whether 1t
would remain where it was or recommence
its wanderings.
Then the night watch exclaimed: 'sThe
moonl"
Ali turned to the east and saw the orb rise
red above a wooded hill. The darkness was
at once relieved.
'Naw, thenr' shouted Bib; Sin wit irons,
Just at place wheer t. cen1 stands"
The grapplers were cast in, and caught i'm
mediately In some object near the surface.
The men drew at the ropes, and the waters
gurgled and were disturbed about the loaf,
producing a broad commotion. The loaf
leaped, turned over, and the light was ex-
tinguished.
1t had accomplished its task.
Whatever can't beg' asked one of the
men, 'Sho might be coil COAL barge sunk.
Shos sac heavy"
Stay" said the night watch. "T' water
for sewer ain deep here, nobbut up to t
armpits. WHATEVER it be, tits this at ha'
caught and held t cake. All fancy t top OF
concearn is just belaw t. surface. If some
O you chaps II help, III get in, and together
we'll hug it out"
Two or three volunteered, and after much
wading and splashing cumbrous article was
heaved out of the water, but not by three or
four men; for several more, haunted by the
mill lasses, went in to the assistance Of the
first few volunteers.
"Why Gin general exclamation, sho's a pi-
ano!n
This discovery provoked laugh, in which
ali shared.
'How liver could a piano ha' got thereF'
was asked
THAT beats a." shouted another, "that
. loaf and canl shud tell wsere piano lay
drownded."
The moon had risen by this time sufficiently
TO transform the whole sheet of water into
one of light.
Suddenly the laughter, the jokes, the ex-
CARNATIONS of wonder died away-for some
thing WAS seen that had risen from the depths
disturbed by the comrnotion of the water and
mud when the piano was extracted.
And seel the loaf, with its extinguished
candle, was swimming toward the object. 1t
reached it; it capered about it; it ran round
it, and then attached itself to it.
What was iti
Then there rushed by along the line train,
with the whistle shrieking continuously, to
give warning to workers on the embanlzment
that it was coming. And that shrek so
wrought on the nerves Of some OF the girls
present that they screamed also in sudden
terror, for-though no one answered the
question what that blot on the canal surface
was-every one knew.
All stood motionless again, waiting till the
scream Of the train was lost, and then, in ST
lence. two men waded into the water,
reached the object, drew it after them to the
bank and laid it on the towpath.
Then the group drew toward it. after mo-
mentary hesitation and recoil, and the police
man passed the ray of his bulls eye lantern
up and down it.
The question could no longer be, "What
was itY'
1t must now be put, "Who is itg'
Yes-who! For the body just recovered
was defaoed almost past recognition.
Whoever he may be-" said the policeman,
1--WE must find out by his cloas, for his face
and head be that mashed and mutilated-'tis
pictur. For ceartain the piano must ha'
fallen ON him, that is on his head, and left
not feature to recognize"
"And the clothing is queer" observed the
night watch. 1t was 50. The body recovered
was partially naked, with bare feet, and
wore nothing more than torn shirt and
great Goa
''Stand back, !" ordered the policeman. LET
Miss ellsworth come for'ard-" And he
stopped and spread his handkerchief over the
disfgured face.
Salome stepped forward She was shud-
dering but spoke with composure, and not
till she had thoroughly studied the corpse at
her feet.
This cannot be Mr. Pennycomequick,n she
said; ''he was in black suit. He had been
out to dinner"
Il beg your pardon" said Mrs. Sitlebot-
tom, who had pushed forward; ''he was no:
dressed l went into thu bedroom as soon as
| knew he was lost, and found that his dress
clothes were there and the bed disturbed"
The policeman, kneeling, examined the
pockets. From that in the breast of the over
coat be drew forth card case, and held it
close TO the lantern
Salome looked at It and said Immediately,
'That is Mr.. PennycomeqIick's card case
And his cards are in it" added the police
man.
Salome looked again astentively at the
body
That is Mr.. Pennycomequick's overcoat.
l know it-but that cannot be Mr.. Penny |
comequick wearing it."
The policeman had now extracted letter /
from the pocket; the address was blotted, but |
after little examination could be made out: |
u. PennycomeQuick, ESQ.,, Nanfr, Merga-
troyd"
''It is strange that he should Be without |
his boots" said the policeman. refectiveiy.
Not at ali. said Mrs. Sidebottom. ANY |
one but fool, IS soon as he is in the water,
kicks them Of. Is they i'll and drag him |
my brother. Remove the body 70 tine house.
-Fiorn The PennJconequicks; A story OF
the English foods bv & Barring Gould.
The Engineers Mascot.
II was ON the night run" said the engi-
neer, land my train was about thirty min
ubes late. / said to nv fireman: Keep hes
hot; mean to so TO meeting point On time
During the next fifteen minutes l was not
long in passing the mile posts. for my engine
few along at the rate of fifty miles an hour
down long grade as straight as an arrow.
Suddenly something struck me in the face,
making a slight wound | slowed down.
WI bats that near the furnace door, asked
Of the fireman, pointing to q little bit Of
white paper lying just TO my left The fire
man stopped, picked up the paper. and hand
ed il to me. In the dim hight Of the steam