Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-04-16

=
after them-indeed, my mouth was open
to do so when I thought better of it
We were left alone with the dead
l made an effort TO raise the lid from
my box, but did not succeed The mar
row space would not allow a man to
bring anything like his full strength 70
bear on the subject
One thing was fortunate, thought.
A small corner OF the lid near my head
had been broken of
This left an opening large enough for
a full supply of air TO come through
When l remembered this my spirits
arose, for realized that I was not 10 be
sutfOcated just yet, at any rate.
@Joslynl"
That was the Colonel hafling me. His
voice sounded from the depths of the
earth, and seemed sepulehral enough TO
fully suit the occasion.
@Halloa! Colonel, how goes it?" I an
swered, thinking that the occasion might
be helped by little levity, for my spirits
were very near the zero point.
This is a nice pickle"
@How the deuce are we TO get out?"
lid?s
Not an inch.%
THAT'S bad. If I could only get
grip on the thing I'd bulge it.
his words gave me an idea
I managed to twist my arm around so
that my hand passed TO the end Of the
box
Here was the hole spoken of before.
My fingers went through, and I got
something OF a clutch on the thing.
Could 1 succeed in moving it?
There was nothing like trying IT, and
defeat would not leave me any worse off
than 1 had been before.
1 strained every muscle, and made one
heroic effort.
- The result was not wholly satisfactory,
and yet felt the lid move.
Changing my tactics I attempted TO
shove it to one side, meeting with better
success.
There was now room enough to get
hold with both hands, and felt that the
matter was really settled.
Colonel, I'm working it out. Have
patience for a little while, and be sur
prised at nothing"
"Hurrahl" he family cried, and I be-
gan to believe he was feeling the lack or
air.
This made me work faster, for al
though my own immunity was secured. I
did not wish my companion to suffer, for
he was of value to me.
l pushed the obstinate cover of the
box slowly to one side, until at length
was able TO sit up.
Then you may be sure 1 crawled out
of that place in a hurry.
had not been able TO see any of the
men who brought the coffin in, and yet
it had struck me that the voice of one
was familiar even when heard so indis-
tinctly.
I could not place him, and at this time
could not bother thinking over the mat
ter.
When crawled out of the box, my
first duty was to strike match. 1 had
piece of candle in my pocket that the
craftsman had given me, and this
lighted.
Colonel, are you all right stiIl?"
a groan answered me. The man
was slowly suffocating, the lid OF the
box fitting closer than he had ever
dreamed.
sprang to his relief. 1t was the work
of a few seconds TO pull the lid to one
side and allow the air to enter.
Before this had shifted the musty at
mOsphere of the tomb with positive dis
gust, but my opinion of it had undergone
something Of a change.
1t was precious now.
Colonel Cain Immediately revived, and
in two minutes was sitting up.
helped him out of the box that had
almost been his coffin.
He sat on it, holding his head between
his hands.
THAT was a close call, Joslyn.B
@FOr you it certainly was. Did you
ever see such luck we have for getting
into peculiar scrapes?"
~And luckily getting out again
@That is true"
@But 1 don't understand how you man
aged to escape"
This explains it. I got a purchase
on the lid by means of this hole. The
rest was easy enough"
~Then we owe a good deal TO the small
fact of there being u hole at the end of
your coffin, Joslyn."
at looks that way, Colonel. When
could move the lid little, I came to a
knowledge of the fact that you were
suffering for want of air.
This hurried me up somewhat, and I
made n grand effort that resulted in the
liberation Of both.
lie had about recovered himself now,
and yet there was 4 trembling about his
knees as he arose, by which l realized
what shock his nerves had sustained.
Perhaps this would be a good time TO
open my line of attack.
The thought came TO me with an alb
ruptness that was rather paralyZing, and
yet 1 could readily comprehend that it
meant more than appeared on the sur
face.
While the idea was yet floating before
my mind, not having then positive shape
l saw my companion bend over the head
of the coffin that had just been
brought in.
1t was a plain, heavy, substantial
affair. had seen many like it for use
in a crypt.
Al tba head ,.yas n sbaaf Of THAI vIa 20
glass, showing the face of the deceased.
This glass was about a foot square,
and fitted into the lid so that it was pos
itively alright.
When I saw the Colonel bend over.
holding the piece of candle in his hand
1 did not think it was the hand of fate
that beckoned him on, but an idle curl
osity who among the city's old inhab-
itants had expressed a desiEe to be
buried in the walled-in cemetery.
l supposed the dead person belonged
TO some old family like thu Astors or
Bleeckers, and that it was desired to lay
the body beside those who had been dear
in life.
Hence, although my eyes followed
Colonel Cain, il was with the same idle
curiosity that I believed him guilty Of
Had a shock of electricity been hurled
upon US we could not have sprung into
more active life
l was Influenced. of course, by the
action of the Colonel.
He uttered a sharp cry, and I saw a
look of intense surprise and horror leap
into his face, as his eyes became glued
upon the object in the coffin.
l sprang TO my feet, interested by his
action, for he seemed to e-WaYing or
some spirit hand that was trying 10 grasp
his throat.
"Great pOwersi 1t is hei"
AS a sudden thought flashed into my
L L.