Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-05-14

treStlcs in the center OF the room. Inc cOlnh
was closed and ST idded with silver nails; on
the lid was silver plate bearing these words
written: Hannibal Tingcomb, MDcxLH,
vita n text Of Scripture below.
''why have you nailed him DOWN. asked.
''SoE where be thy bowels, young man, to
talk 50 unfeelin'l An where BE- thy expert
ence, not 10 know the ways o the blessed
dead in summer timer
when do you bury himF
Tomorrow forenoon. The spot is two
mile from here" He blinked at me, and hes
itated for minute us it your purpose,
sirs, to attendf
"Be sure Of that l said, grimly. $50
have beds ready tonight for all our con-
pany."
''All thy! Dear sir, consider; where "a
beds to be found! Sure, thy mariners ca2
pass the night aboard their own shipf
$50 then" thought l. you have beez on
the lookout but Della replied for me:
Il am Della Killigrew, and mistress Of this
houso. You will prepare the beds As you are
told Whereupon what does that decrepit
old sinner but drop upon his knees.
Mistress Della oh. goodly feast for this
one poor eyel Oh, that Master Tingcomb
had seen this day"
noe; but Della marrhe,l out, cutting short
his hypocrisy.
In the passage she whispere--
''Villainy, Jack
"Hush, - answered, land listen Master
Tingcnmb Is 20 rrcro in that coffin thai d"
Then where . her
'That is lust what we are to discover" As
said this q light broke on me. By the
Lord | cr,ed, d" It's the very same!"
Della opened her eyes wide.
WHIT, 1 said; i begin to touch ground.
We returned to the great hall The straight
haire,i man was still eating, and opposite ST.
Billy, that had not budged, but now beckon-
ing to mo, very mysterious, whispered in
voice that made the plates rattle:
That's damned-rogue!'
Twas discomposing, but the truth. n
fact, had just solved puzzle. This holy
speaking minister was no other than the
groom | had seen at BOdmiu fair hOldiL
Master Tingcombs horses.
BY this time the sun was down, ard DeliG
son made an excuse to Withdraw to her CHa
POom. Nor was it long before the rest To-
lowsl her example. found our chambers
prepared, near together, in a wing of the
house at some distance from the hail Delias
was next to mine, as | made sure by knock
ins nj her door; and on the other side of me
slept Billy with two of his crew. Ny own
bed was in IA great room sparely furnished,
aud the linen Indifferent white. There was a
plenty of clean straw, though, on the foOr,
hal INTENDED 10 sleep-which did not
Instead, having blown out my light, I sat
uu the beds edge, listening to the big clock
over yin" hall as il chimei the quarters and
waiting till the fellows below should be ut
their caSr That Master TingcCu5 rested
under the coffin lid did not BELIEF IN spite
of the terrifying fit that l could y1dch for
But this. il driven 10 it, we could discover al
the grave The main business was to catch
him; and to this end l meant to Iatrol the
buildings. and especially watch the entrance,
Oh the likely chance # his creeping back to
the house Gf not Gl,eady inside. D confer
with his fellow rascalS
As II O'Clock sounded, Therefore ! tapped
on Blly's wall, and finding that Matt SCamss
was keeping watch Cas w had agreed uuou),
Slipped of my boots. Our rooms were on
the first floor, over "A straw yard and the dis
tance Ia the ground an easy drop for "A man.
But wishing To- h. silent possible. knotted
two blankets together and, strappug the end
round the window mullion. swung mvse5
down by one hand, holding my boots IN the
other.
dropped very lightly, and looked about.
There was faint moon up and glimmering
on the straw: but under the house was deep
shadow, and along this I cEcpt. The straw
yard led into the court before the stable and
50 into the main court. 81 this way heard
no sound, nor spiel 80 much Is a specl of
light in any window. The house door was
closed, and the bar fastened on the great
gate across the yard. turned the corner to
explore the third side of the house
Here was group Of Outbuildings juttfng
out ami between them ana the high outer
wall n narrow alley. Twas with difficulty
CROPPED my way here, for the passage was
dark as pitch, and rendered the straighter
by line Of ragged laurels planted under the
house; 50 that at every other step / would
stumble, and run my head into a bush.
had done this for the eighth time, and
was cursing under my BREATH when on a sud
den heard a stealthy football coming down
the alley behind me.
Master Tingcomb, for CROWN thought
], and crouchcvi 10 one side under a bush
Tho footsteps drew nearer. 4 dark form
parted the laurelS; another moment, and
had it by the throat.
"Uugh-ugh-grr! For the LordlA&ake
sirr'-
I loosei my hold; twas Matt. Soames
''Your pardon" whispered I; but why have
you left your pOsti'
"BlacI Sampson is watchin, 50 I took the
freedom-ugh! my poor vindpipe!-to-to'-
He broke of TO catch me by the sleeve aud
pull me down behind the bush. About twelve
PAGES ahead heard door softly opened and
saw a shaft Of light flung across the path
between the glistening laurels. As the ray
touched the outer wall marked a small pos
tern gate there, standing open.
Covering lower, we waited while man
might count fifty. Then came footsteps
crunching the gravel, and a couple Of men
crossed the path, bearing a large chest be
tween them. In the light 1 saw the handle
of spade Sticking out from it; and by his
gait knew the second man to be my one
eyed friend.
WOES my old bones!' he was muttering;
there's fardel for man o my years."
"Hold thy breath for the next load!''
growled the other voice, which as surely was
the good ministers
They passed out at the small gate, and by
the sounds that followed we guessed they
were hosting their burden into a cart. Pres
emily they recrOssed the path and entered
the house, shutting the door after them.
NOW for it," said in Matt ear. Gliding
sSrvsrd, peePed out at the postern gate,
but drew back like a shot.
I had almost run my head into a great
black hearse, that stood there with the door
open, backed against the gate, the heavy
plunes nOdding above it in the night wind
Who held the horses had not time 10 see;
but, whispering to Matt to give me leg up.
I 1