Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-05-28

long as possible, In order to Whot our
curiosity, when singular sound, pro-
ceeding from the inside of the church,
fell on our ears, startling us moro than
we cared to say.
"'Whats that? asked the story-teller,
half-rising, his face as pale as death.
Great Scott! what can it be"
each of us looked at the other as the
ominous sound ratified and rolled again.
Louder and louder, clatter, thump,
thump. CHATTER, as though dozen horses
were tramping overhead. had never
heard any thing quite like it.
"'1'll not stay here said Jack Hale,
as the noise, after subsiding for mo-
ment, broke out again.
"1ts the wind, perhaps I said,
though I didn't believe it. sit down
and 60 on with your story
AS If could, with that horrible
clatter going on! l never heard such an
internal noise in my life-and in this
church, too, just the place to give one
the horrors! l just believe it's old
Parson Jenks.'
Who's old Parson Jonks?' asked
Fred Gray, q slight young fellow, very
boyish-looking.
- That's him. said Jack. pointing to
the picture of the man in clerical dress.
Didn't you ever hear of him? He was
found dead in one of the rooms of this
old rectory; had been living alone for
some time, and as several hundred dol
lars OF church money was missing, it
was thought by some that he had been
foully dealt by, though the coroner's
verdict was death from natural causes.
hate these old churches, anyhow-that
is, at night
"'We're not exactly in the church,
said Fred Gray. But should like to
know what that noise is.
. Suppose we Investigator I said,
and see If we can find out. My father
taught me to prove things. There must
be some reason, Ct course, for the noise,
and I don't believe in ghosts
II dared not say how much the story
of Parson jerks had affected me.
4 should think it was a hundred
something's Jack said, as the thunder
ing sounds began again. Its mules,
and they are racing
"'Mulesr laughed Fred. Fancy mules
in church. Even nine-pins would be
funny
- "Who will carry the candle and go
withsme?' asked.
:" Not L. said Jack. you may count
me out g., 81 81
- 81 WILL Fred Gray said. in resolute
voice, that gave the lie to his slight
figure and delicate features, II should
/ - Well, r stay here, thank you, said
Jack. No money would tempt me to
go tntoIthat poky Old church tonight
!'''There is some reason for the noise
Isaid, and '1'm going to tind what It is.
Come on, Gray.''ii ~ }<jff5:sl <1'jE'''@
"'Oh, come. don't leave; a fellow alone,
and its storming cats and dogs, tool
think7we had 5all better leave: and take
our chances ,s,
He looked 80 miserable that for a
moment wavered. 1t was, may be, q
foolish experiment., There was no
chance Of lighting the church, but tho
romance of the thing had got hold Of
me, and ! hated to give it,up. 4 always
did hate to- give up things had once
t9ckled-7vou know that Boys. ~'rhe
htrder my observation-disclosures determined
was to master them. / suppose there
must be 9 certain bull dog obs tinacy in
my character l.. WelL IT. tEthought for a
moment, and looked over at the picture
OF the poor old Clergyman. I declare,
it seemed to. smile at my ,,indecision.
That settled1t. =. / IL III
~ Nothing will hurt you here, Hale,'
1said, with the fire. on one side and the
Fred Gray had lighted the candles 1t
the fire, and he followed mo >tntoth
study. The glazing lights showed
books everywhere, an open closet, in
which hung two Of three ghostly-look-
ing, white SUPPLIES, stove, small
cabinet organ, and the large desk at
which the minister wrote his sermons
every Saturday. Il I remember noting for
the first time q small statuette that
stood on the back of the desk, and
thinking that l. had never seen, it there
before The door 81 the study opened
directly on ths chancel, but as we, were
passing through, > puff 54fg Wind blew
the candle out Thoroughly excited by
this time, and not . little frightened,
we groped our way back to the den,
clinging toeeach other. After knocking
down qhsirs, stumbling against the
stove, and giving ourselves several
slight fbrniae4, we came at length to the
room weshadsjust left. Jack had been
piliug light wood on the, fire, and the
interior was one grand illumination.
Never was Sigh { more welcome, Il o 8kaS's
"'Ah, hal knocked out were you?'
jeered jack Hale. 7 thought Your
courage would oose'out at your finger
ends. AS for me I'm of to the re sto-