The morning call., 1890-11-12
SIR GILES COFFIN.

excite Tile leIIOl WlllSii tuNJ oNeuohiy PAN
| duced in the neghborl1ood of Pen Owen.
In the malignity of his supposed qualities
and habits the ghost in question surpassed
all other members of his race. 1t was
ayerred that he usually made his appear
ance in the form OF quadruped, or, at any
rate. that his normal position was on all
| fOurS.
This much was established as fact-that
| Sir Giles body had been found hanging in
| an old summer house, still visible when L
was a child, with every appearance OF death
by suicide, and that his coffin. still shrouded
! in the pail originally covering it, lay alone
| on the ground in the center of the extensive
vault where members of the Penn Owen
family had been deposited for generations.
The old clock which stood in the kitchen
| at the Pen Owen Arms announced to
| the villagers assembled there one Christmas
| eve that it was 10 o'clock, enforcing the
| statement with an emphasis and delibera-
! ton that admitted of no contention. Ot The
further fact that the night was wet and
dark and windy the guests could satisfy
| themselves by glance at the lattice WIN
| dow.
| There was obviously no desire on the part
! of the inmates to substitute the darkness
| and cod of the outer world for the warmth
and bri. htneSs of the comfortable Inn.
| Sooner or later, however, the exchange
must be effected, and David Thomas, TIE
merry, ruddy-faced groom from the rectOry,
took the initiative.
"Well. gentlemen" he exclaimed,
must be off. so good night, and, Jem At
| zins, take care Sir Giles ghost doesn't get
| hold OF you at last. hes SAFE u pe "oou'
| on night like this.
| Sir Giles be bowed! returned Jem AT
| knS, the village smith, clinchlng MS mas
| slve fist; should IKE TO see MIN coiiie
| within telch OF my arm.
Jem pridtd himself on De!ng proIouhd
skeptlc IN all mat eTs temporal anu spil l'uIi,
| long way home instead OF cutting across tlle
! churchyard and past the door oil the vault
Another laugh greeted thls renewed az
| tack on Jem Atkins, VINO was anything ou1
| a general soou laVor'te.
| wv hoover told you that, ynung man, tO!u
| You -. DO LOOK Ike being airalu OIL Il
! ghost"
An irritating laugh was the only reply
| We'll, I'll tell you what N 90, ex-
| claimed the blacksmith, ansrily. III bet
| YOU half Il crown that go INTO the vault by
myself tonight, and, what's more, III SIT
| bit Oh the old gentleman eOiln anu smoke
| pipe, if you like, there; that is, IL Morgan
| here will letme 90 IN.
The answer to this challenge was the I'm.
| mediate offer by Old Morgan, the sexton, OF
| the massive key which opened the door OF
the vault.
"Wat a minute" objected Jem'S tor
mentor I'll you go alone who's to know
| what game you mayn't be up 10? why, you
| might Just 90 out into the road, come Dack
in ten minutes and never go near the churh-
yard mt all"
The justice of Thomas suggestion was
| generally recognized
1t was finally arranged that the proposer
| of the bet should establish his claim to the
stakes by hammering TWO or three nails into
the baronetS coffin, feat which would
serve as proof on the following morning
that he had accomplished his proposed per-
Torrance.
In a short time the blacksmith had turned
his back on the cheerful light which shone
from the window of the ale-hOuse, and was
proceeding on his hazardous errand.
1t was less than ten minutes walk from
the Pen owen Arms TO the cnurcn, Dut De
Jem Atkins had repeuted his engagement,
which, but for very shame, he would now
| willingly have abandoned, even at the sacrl-
| nee of his half crown.
No wonder, then, that he started with ter
| Tor, and that his heart beat loud ana fast
when some large animal brushed against
him at the very gate Of the church-yard. 1t
was only the retriever which habltuaiiy ac-
| companied our game,keeper, JACK rawlings,
n1UlfIV
ceeded in completely shattering the nerves
of the blacksmith.
The wind now howled and shrleked
| among tie branches OF the church-yard
ehns, ami heavy rain-drops battered loudly
| against the ianiern,, which scarcely served
| 10 guide Jem ATKINS steps aohs tne MIDI
| ing path to the door OF the vault. The
ancient key appeared 10 utter note OF
| warning when he turned 1t IN the rusty lock,
and the gust OF WIND admitted by the open
| Ing door seemed, as IL swept around the
silent chamber, to carry to It's occupants an
announcement OF the rash visltoI's pres
ence.
But even In TINS supreme moment, Jem
| ATKINS betnought MN Oh dangers otheT t1an
those connected win inc unseen World lie
was aware that tie vault door, Which closed
| inward, smut WIN epIiDS Consequently,
| II lie lett the Key uutSlde, one touch ol
| an uniriendly hand, or even one gust of
wind, might eonslgn MIN TO niShs-ion5 I'M
| prlsonment.
The intruder's hand shook as he placed
| the key IN the inside keynote Ell the uoor
| and proceeded TO hang up Tue lantern on IT'S
! projecting handle. Either Jehi eye was
| deceived by the uncertain iisbt or MS trenl-
bling hand was unequal TO the attempt, Tor
few moments alter he mad Quilted MS hoid
| OF the lantern ii slipped from us support
and lay win broken framework anu eXtlil-
| gulsheu Hgnt Oh lhe Hoor vi ihe chatiief
| house.
|
In vivid contrast TO tne gloom ana silence
of the vault were the bright light and merry
| conversation at the zen owen Arms. Jem
msslon-to HIM the cause Oh so much ap-
| nrehenslon and terror-iOrmeu suplect OIL
| the utmost hllarlty 1or the companions ne
had left behind.
As the time OF MS expected return ap-
| preached the merriment abated, ana ~ was
almost amid silence IN the ian parlor that
heavy tread was heard approaching.
| In another moment Jeh qasheu INTO inc
room, slammed lhe door oellhq nun, anu
| with look OF asoniZ'd terror III lGS 0iree-
ton stosd with his back to the wall, tTem-
bling in every limo; MS eyes giareu Wildly
and the sweat broke out on his forehead.
! Nothing was audible outside. except Inc
faint murmur OF the now departing storm,
and Jem took courage.
1t was even with some assumption OF his
usual manner that he announced that he
had won the wager and demanded the
money.
But it was plain that Jem was suffering
from the effects OF some serious alarm, and
| h,,, TO- nrf no tunt1