The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-07-20

hills that inspired BGgdr Poss borish I'M
aginasten with esYe. and wers recalled by
him matter Yea3 as the. scene Of one Of
his most thrilling tales.
| The enthusiasm Of the hvsosone stu
dents gradually evaporabed as they dragged
the heavy coach along the dusty and grew
some road.
Finally Tom Ryer, the humorist Of the
party called out from behind,
Say, fellows, soma one OF us ought to be
riding up there on the drfTsrs seat, or else
inside. Let's take turns-Fn be the frst.
A general howl of protest greeted this
proposition
mo, sir You can't shirk in that way.
There are only six Of as, and it's all we can
! do to propel the old hearse now"
Look ahead yonder," " cried Zach Blakey;
we're almost there"
! It was not precisely cheering object TO-
| ward which he pointed-the white shaft of
a monument cleaning among the funereal
cedars-but it indicated that their goal was
at hand.
We've got no time to waste, either"
| grumbled the pgrspiftag lad on Zaeh's left
at the shafts. ''1t's coming On big thun-
der storm, or something else"
The something else sounded remarkably
ominous for some reason or another.
The sky was indeed threatening. Fitful
flashes of lightning began to play in the
overcast heavens and the rising wind
soughed dolefuuy among the pines. As
the boys ratified their puxloined vehicle
along with renewed energy they could al
most fancy that Ichabod Cranes headless
horseman or Tam O'Shanter specters were
frantica1ly pursuing. Guilty consciences
had SO sharpened every sense that they
thought they heard above the ratthng Of
the rickety coach weird, cracked voice
chuckling and urging them on
They passed through the yawning gate
way into the cemetery. 10 was as dark as
Egypt. The intruders paused with their
coach short distance within the walls
close by the receiving vault, as they now
observed, with anything but an agreeable
sensation. They stood about in silence. The
fun had all oozed out Of their adventure
1t Is possible that the boys, or at any
rate their leader, had some definite plan
for the disposal of the vehicle that they
had rolled all the way out there from the
university, but whatever their intentions
may have been. they were never carried
ont.
AS they stood huddled together in front
Of the receiving vault, more than one Of
them secretly quaking with fear, the query
was ventured:
"Well, what had we better do?''
Turn around and go back"
This was the response that electrified
them, yet none of the six boys had utter
ed it.
The muffled voice had proceeded either
from the interior of the coach or from the
granite vault-they couldn't tell which.
II say, you had better turn the carriage
around and take it back to the university"
repeated the voice, in harsh, dry accents,
which now the young scapegraces could
not fail to recognize.
1t was Professor W, and none other,
that spoke.
Could it be possible that
For answer to this unuttered question
the glass window panel of the coach door
sid aside with a vicious slam and gut
popped head. A vivid flash of lightning
revealed for an instant the features of the
professor of mathematics countenance
not benign at best and now looking posi-
lively baleful in the electric glare.
The thought came to Zach Blakey, and
doubtless to his comrades, to make bolt
and escape in the darkness; but there was
and the gate. Then the professor turned a
dark lantern upon them, and their hopes of
avoiding recognition were abruptly ended.
Professor" " stanmered Zach, desperate
ly, ''we had no intention Of
"Oh, of course not. You had not the
least intention of bringing me out here,
and still less of carrying me back. But it's
a poor rule that won't work both ways
A storm is about breaking, so it will be
necessary for you to make the best time
possible back to the university Gomez
insist"
The weary, crestfallen lads doggedly
picked up the shafts, backed the lumber
ing coach out of the cemetery gate and
started on their homewaFd march.
The road was slightly down hill now or
they could scarcely have BONE the fatigue.
The thunder storm got ahead of them de-
spite their best efforts, and bursting with
terrific fury drenched them to the skin as
they came down the homestretch.
When they had finally got the coach safe
" housed back of the row the professor
stepped out quite gayly and said:
young gentlemen, thank you all for |
the trouble you have taken on my account. |
You had better hurry TO your rooms and |
get into dry clothing as soon as possible. |
Good night"
The next day the six were in mortal ter
ror of being called before the faculty, but /
the summons never came. Things went |!
on quite as usual. and Professor W-never |
said anything about his night ride, though /
certain problems that he gave out to his |
classes in algebra and geometry contained .
suspicious illusions to revolutions of a /
coach wheel, . "a triangle having for its !
base the mile of road from the university
to the cemetery gate" etc.
1t has been surnised since that the why /
professor purposely kept thesix upon the /
ragged edge Of anxiety during the days .
subsequent to the esespade, instead Of re-
porting them and having done with the /
affair
But at any rate he never told the story,
and it was through the boys themselves I
that it finally leaked out.
Professor W rode in his coach for /
many a day after, but was never again .
drawn by students The historical vehicle, /
being somewhat akin to the deacon's mas
terpiecs immortaliged by Holmes, may be
cutting ruts in the red clay roads Of Abe
marie county 30 this day for aught know.
Henry Turner IN Philadelphia Times.
Al