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


was Uns InIIesJ man OF my acquaintance,
| twas the work of the world To stow ourselves
/ in such compass as TO be hidden. BY coll
ing up our limbs we managed II: but only
! Just before / caught the glimmer of light
and heard the pair of rascalS returning.
They came very slow, grumblinG all the
way; and, Of course, l knew they carried the
coffin.
Albright, Sing asked the minister.
'Ay." piped a squeaky voice 10y the horses
heads was the shUtiiing stable bOyl-ray,
Iut hook sharp! Lord, what sounds I've
herd! The devils i the hearSe, for sure.'
snow, Simmy.7 the OneseySd gaffer expos
tnlatesi- ''tl,on doesn't think the smoky king
Is a-took in, same as they poor iolke- = stai.al
Tee-heei Lord, what a trich.-to come foc
Master Tingeomb, an find-aw dear. aw,
bless my old ribs, what q thing is humOr."
'Shut up gTunted the minister. The end
Of the coffin was tilted up into the hearse.
Push, old varmint.'
"Ay-push! push! Where be my young,
active sinews' What a shriveied garment IS
all my comelinessl The devil inside says
Simmy-haw, haw!'
Burn the thing! 'twon't 90 in for the tool
box. Push, thou cackling old wOrmSm
/ Now 50 I he, but my natural strength Is
abated 'YO-heaye ho.' like the salted sea-
fardingers up stairs. Pushi push.'
'Oh, my inwardsin groans poor Matt.
squeezing sOrely.
/ Right mt Iast!' says the minister. Now,
/ Simmy, my lad, hand the reins an jump up.
! There's room, an you'll he wanted
The door was clapped to, the three rOgues
climbed upon the seat in front, and We
started.
! | hope | may never he called to pass such
another half hour rs that which followed.
: as soon rs the wheels left turf for the hard
road, twas jolt, jolt, all the way; and this
wing mainly down hill, the chest and coffin
came grinding into our ribs and pressing till
We could scarcely breathe. And dared not
climb Out over them, for fear the fellows
snOuld hear Us; their chuckling voices COM
ing quite plain to lis frrm the other side OF
the Tanel. | held out and comfOrted Matt. as
well | could, feeling sure we should find
Master Tingcomb at our journey end. Soon
we climbed n hill, which eaSed us a little, but
shortly after were humping down again, and
suffering worse than ever.
Save us" mOaned Matt; where will this
/ end!"
/ The words were scarce out when we turned
/ sharp to the right, with jolt that shook our
( teeth together, rolled for a little while over
smooth grass, and drew up.
heard the fellows climbing down, and got
my pistols ont -
I the lanternf'
I There was n minute or 50 of silence, and
then the swapping Of flint and steel and tine
: sound of pulling.
Lit, SImmy!'
'Ay. here lis"
Fetch il along then
The handle of the door was turned, ard
Eight flashed into the hearSe.
Here, hold the lantern steady! Come
hither old Squeaks. and help WI the end. "
surely will. Well was L called Young
Louk-alive when a gay, flretinS boy. Simmy,
INV SDm thourt sadly drunken. o youth,
youth! Thou wine bibber hold the light
steady, or III tell thy mammy"
"Oh, sir, I do mOrtally dread the devil an
all his works.
NOW, if everi 'The devil says he-an'
Master Tingcomb still Twin, an in his own
house awaiJin u.s.
BE sure, bis words were as good as a slap
i'm the face To me For 1 had counted the
hearse 10 lead me straight to Master Ting
comb himself In his own house tool \
fright seized me for Della. But first | must
deal with these scoundrels, who were already
dragging out the coffin.
Steady there,n calls the minister. The
coffin was more than half way outside |
lcvelcl my pistol over the edge of the tool
chest and fetched yell fit TO wake ghost
at the same time letting fly straight for the
minister.
In the flash of the discharge l saw him, half
turned, his eyes staring and mouth agape
He clapped his hand to MS shoulder. On top
of his wild shrek broke out a chorus Of
screams and OathS, in the middle of which
/ the-cofliu tilted up and went over with a
! crash ''Satanl SATAN" bawed Simmy, and,
dropping the lantern, took to his heels for
dear life. At the same moment the horses
| took fright, and before l could scramble out
we were tearing madly away over the turf
and into the darkness. | had made sad
mess of il.
1t must have been a full minute before the
hedge turned them, and gave me time TO drop
Z out at the back and run To their heads Matt.
( SOameS was after me, quick as thought, and
very soon we mastered them and gathering
up the reins from between their legs, led
them back. As luck would have 1t, the Ian
tern had not been quenched by the fall, but
I Law fiaring, and so guided us. Also Il curious
bright radiance seemed growing on the sky,
( for which l could not account The three
/ knaves were nowhere To be Seen but heard
their footsteps scamperinS in the distance,
and Simmy still yelling 'SatanE L knew
my bullet had hit the minister; but he got
/ away, and l never set eyes on any OF the
| three again.
! Leaving Matt to mind the horses, caught
/ up the lantern and looked about me. As
/ well as could he seen, we were in a narrow
meadow between two hills, whereof the black
! slopes rose high above Us. Some PAGES TO the
/ right my ear caught the noise of a stream
/ running.
l turned the lantern OH the coffin, which
/ lay face dOwnwarriS, and with gasp took III
/ the game those precious rogueS h",l been
| playing. For with the fall Of it, the boards
/ (being but thin were burst clean asunder;
/ and ON both sides had tumbled out silver
cups, silver saltcellars silver plates and dishes,
! that, in the lanterns rays, sparkled prettily
! ON the turf. The coffin, in short, was stuffed
with Delia's Silverware.
/ 1 had picked up a great fagon, and was
! turning it over TO read the inscription when
! Matt. SOames called TO me and pointed over
the hill in front. Above it the whole sky was
red and glowing
Sure said he, '''tis fire out yondef!"
God help us, Matt-'tis the House of
/ Gleys!n
1t took but two minutes to toss the silver
back into the hearse. Iclapped to the door,
and, snatching the reins, sprang upon -the
| drivers seat.
CHAPTER Xxx
THE ADVENTURE OF THE LEDGE
We had some ado to find the gate; but no
sooner were through, and upon the high
road, than dashed the horses up the hill at a