Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-09-20

out of a nightmare or a bad dream"
"Well, the message might have gone
over then. What time was it,"
swell, the storm was just over. 1t
was about half past five, I suppose"
The music stopped, and the heated
jewellers strolled out on the piazzas by
twos. The man who had brought his
key to the desk passed the door. He
was tanning the pretty, flushed facs of
the girl beside him. As he bent his head
toward hers he said something, and she
laughed low, pleased laugh.
Old Bess had been hauling stone in the
morning, and 90 was tired, and Samuel
Finisham let her go slowly up the hills.
1t was nearly eleven when he was turn
ing away from the gate Of the overgrown
farm boarding house, which was called
lately "The Ovcrvale," from the station
where it got its mail. He had been
obliged to wake up his old friend, David
Meter, whose guests were quiet people,
who went to bed early. When Samuel
had explained the reason of his late visit
DdNltl lOIu Hill OldI NO Ouc 1idtt uItAl
there mot sence last year"
"You remember him, Sammy, don't
you2 The consumpted man, you know
They brought him when he was most
gone, anyhow"
Samuel remembered. Then he took
the telegram out of his pocket.
"Well, what do you make out O. this,
David2" he asked.
David read it by tie light of the flaring
lamp he held. There was light breeze
rising
"Why, it's from the Intervale House"
he said, ''and if you'v been there, and
Their amt no corpse it looks to me as if
somebody's put up joke on you. Mebbe
it's Steve Birnans. He swore when you
voted agin him he'd get even with you"
Samuel said he was "bound to find out
who sent it." lie had declined David's
invitation to stay all night, and was out
on the road again. Old Bcss logged on
through the mud, and Samuel Finisham
turned over slowly in his mind various
plans for discovering who had sent him
on this FOOLS errand, and after while he
dozed and nodded, for it was long past
his usual bed time
The breeze which had sprung up shook
hanging Dough and sprinkled his
face with drops from the wet leaves.
Samuel started and looked about HIM
He had passed the road which would
have been a shorter cut to the village
He must go now the longer way, by the
big hotel. He slapped Old Bess's back
with the reins; sect up! must be hur-
rying."
The clatter of horses hoofs came
down the road toward the wagon. His
rider, who was evidently unused to
horses back, for legs and elbows were
both wide spread, called "Hellow
Samuel Finisham answered, "Well?" |
care you an undertaker2n
''That's my business-one of EN-"
''Well, if you're the one that came to
the Interyale House this evening they
want you to come back there now. was
going to the other house for you"
The undertaken was near enough now
to sec the brass buttons. He recognized
the bell boy.
"Look here, young man." he said; 81
don't know your objick, nor any ones,
but l got dispatch and went to the
hotel. They said it was a mistake. I've
been to Overvale, too. Now, I'm not
goin' to make fool O. myself runnin'
round any more. I'm goin' home"
"This amt any mistake. There's been
an accident. The gentleman dead. The
clerk said was to tell you, please, to
come as soon as you could" and the
boys insolence was gone. The words
came out with jerk.
"Wcll, I'll go along with you; but if
it's another mistake"
Ordinary words failed Samuel The
bell-boy turned his horse and rode back
beside the wagon, glad to be near
human being.
When the undertaken went up to the
high steps again the moon was showing
her white face among the clouds that
were moving eastward in slow process
ion. Some of the candles still burned
in the Chinese lanterns. Groups of men
and women in evening dress stood about,
talking in low voices. Samuel Finisham
walked toward the desk, the mud-be-
spattered bell-boy beside him. The clerk
came to meet him.
'If it's a mistake" began the I'M
dcrtaker.
at is no mistake" said the clerk.
There has been terrible accident
One of the ladies dropped her fan over
the railing of the piazza; the gentleman |
who was with her, in reaching to catch /
it, fell over and broke his neck. The |
body had been taken to his room. Twill 1
show you the way. John, tell one of the |
porters to bring those things in the |
wagon to No. So"
The sun was rising when Samuel Fin
isham drove his black wagon out of the |
hotel grounds He returned later in the |
day, and the afternoon train took away
4 coffin.
The bell-boy had told the story of the !
telegram. Some of the members of the /
syndicate who owned the hotel were in |
the house. They made every effort to
trace the source of the message. The |
man at Overvale, whose name was |
Brown, said he knew nothing of it,
The operator at Gainesville swore that
he received it at half past five. He
could not leave the office, so took the
first opportunity and sent it to the I'M
dertaker by Jim Tyler, who had stopped |
at the ''store' on his way. Mr.. Sanders |
swore he did not even know of Samuel |
Finisham's existence until he saw him at |
the hotel with the telegram in his hand.
He had not heard the message go over |
the wires. He had been asleep for per |
haps five minutes and had had bad /
dream.
The gentlemen then examined the /
doors and windows of the Office They |
said it was mysterious. They gazed up
at the wires. They talked of atmos-
pheric conditions, of electric and mag
netic currents, of clairyoyance. Some
of the guests begged Mr.. Sanders to try