Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-01-03

gusted with its work, and resolved no longer
to prosecute the inquiry. Buta minute later
it came apparently to a better mind; the
fame became steadier, it recommended its
gyrations, described loop, and suddenly be-
came stationary at spot little short of half
way across the canal
The strange conduct of the loaf was, in re-
atty, caused by the currents and revolutions
of the water, but as these were unperceived
by those who looked on, they became i'm
pressed with the conviction that the loaf was
really animated by a mysterious occult power
that impelled it to fulfill the task allotted
to it,
All now stood hushed for fully five min
utes, almost breathless, none stirring, every
eye directed to the light to see whether it
would remain where it was or recommence
its wanderings.
Then the night watch exclaimed: 'sThe
moon!"
All turned to the east and saw the orb rise
red above wooded hill The darkness was
at once relieved.
SHAW, thenl" shouted Bill Sin wit irons,
just at place wheer t. can1 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 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 (coaD barge sunk.
Sho's sac heavy"
'sStay," said the night watch ssT' water
for sewer amt deep here, nobbut up to t.
armpits. WHATEVER it be, tits this at ha'
and ha16 ooEo + oi%
concearn is just belaw t. surface. If soma
O. you chaps IL help, I'll get in, and together
we'll hug it out"
Two or three volunteered, and after much
wading and splashing a cumbrous article was
heaved out of the water, but not by three or
four men; for several more, tainted by the
mill lasses, went in to the assistance of the
first few volunteers.
''Why Gin general exclamation, sho's pi-
anol"
This discovery provoked laugh, in which
all shared
'How liver could piano ha' got therea"
was asked
''That beats a." shouted another, 'that
t. loaf and can't shud tell where 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 commotion 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 ita
Then there rushed by along the line a train,
with the whistle shrieking continuously, to
give warning to workers on the embankment
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 81
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 itq'
It must now be put, "Who is its'
Yes-whos For the body just recovered
was defaced almost past recognition
"Whoever he may be-" said the policeman,
tive 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 a feature to recognize"
"And the clothing is queer" observed the
night watch. Itwasso. The body recovered
was partially naked, with bare feet, and
wore nothing more than torn shirt and a
great coat.
'sStand bach, !" 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," she
said; ''he was in black suit. He had been
out to dinner"
81 beg your pardon" said Mrs. Sidebot-
tom, who had pushed forward; che was no:
dressed. went into the bedroom as soon as
knew he was lost, and found that his dress
clothes were there and the bed disturbed"
The policeman, kneeli:ag, examined the
pockets. From that in the breast of the over
coat he drew fOfGh q caro- case, ana held IL
close to the lantern.
Salome looked at it and said Immediately,
ssThat is Mr.. Pennycomequicks card case"
''And his cards are in it, }" added the police
man.
Salome looked again attentively at the
body.
''That is Mr.. Pennycomequick's overcoat.
know it-but that cannot be Mr.. Penny
eompouicx wearing if u
The policeman had now extracted letter
from the pocket; the address was blotted, but
after little examination could be made outs
81. Penrycomequick, Esq, Manf'r, Merga-
troyd."
SIT is strange that he should be without
his boots" said the policeman, refectively.
mot at all" said Mrs Sidebottom. "Any
one but fool, as soon as he is in the water,
kicks them off, as they fill and drag him
down. l can swear to the identity-that is
my brother. Remove the body to the house"
From The Pennycornequicks; A story Of
thu English floods, by S. Barring Gould.
The Wrong Hat,