The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-04-07

'
~Ain't none, said Sam. Its a lad
der"
Up with you. then" said Logan,
! but Sam shrUnk back.
Il wouldn't. not for SO" said Sam.
"Old John Kendrick hanged himself
| from the middle beam fourteen Years
ago, and folks say he stands up there
with a rope round his neck every
| moonlight night
stuff and nonsense" cried the cap
| tain, in accents of contempt. You
cowardly lout, stay where you are,
| then, and I'll go myself"
He sprung lightly up the rounds of
the ladder and disappeared through
the trap door.
where is it?7 he called.
The ghost? Right under the mid
die beam by The windy was the place
where"
''Blockhead! / mean the string OF
bells"
"Look for 'em yourself said Sam,
sulkily. 81 don't know where they be,
and, what's more, ! don't care"
I'll settle with you, my fine fellow,
when | come down." said the captain
threateningIy. as he groped about in
the dim light which came through a
cobweb-draped window at either end
of the barn chamber.
Don't hurry yourself, cap'n," re-
joined Sam, il jeering tone.
As the captain plunged into a dark
corner there was a jingle. and the
string of bells, suspended from nail,
hit him directly on the neck, 50 like
the grasp of death-cold fingers that he
could not but start.
Oh said the captain, neryously.
Here they are. Catch EN-. sam.
Halo! Where's the trap door?"
And it took the worthy captain fully
sixty seconds or more to realize that
the trap-door was closed and fastened
on the lower side. He rushed to the
window and threw it up only to see
sam speeding up the hill.
"Hal-lo-o-a" yelled Capt. Logan.
Come back, YOU scoundrel. You i'll
conditioned lout, You imp OF evil"
sam turned around and executed
that peculiar gyration of the fingers in
connection with the nasal organ which
is supposed to express the extremity
OF scorn.
You'll find the ladder on the barn
floor. cap'n." hooted this young rebel,
AN don't be afraid O. the ghost; it's
very harmless if you let it alone"
But. Sam-Sam. come back! I'm
to be at Mr.. Browns at 7:30."
Don't worry" bawled Sam. "Miss
Carrie won't wait long afore Mr..
Frcd'li be on hand"
The captain danced up and down on
the floor in an ecstasy of rage as Sam
disappeared over the crest of the hill.
He knew very well if he possessed the
lungs of Boreas he could make no one
hear.
He sat shivering down on the hay,
starting nervously at the sound of
horses feet below, and thinking how
disagrceably q bar of moonlight, which
streamed down from a crack III the
roof, resembled tall, white figure
standing under the center beam. He
could almost fancy the rope round its
neck. Pshaw, And the captain jumped
up again, with starting dew on his
temples. even in the freezing atmos-
phere of the barn chamber.
What is to be done?" he asked him
self. And echo, if echo had had any
common sense, would have answered:
Just nothing at atl"'
Sam had outwitted him. And pretty
Carrie, and Fred Jones. with his red
cutter and great chestnut-colored
horse! The captain was wild at the
thought; surely he was vanquished.
Il won't wait another minute for
him. said Carrie Brown, coloring up,
IL Il ~, IN, 81 -
on, girls, shall spend the evening at
home"
There's plenty of room for you in
our sleigh, Carrie" coaXed her brother.
Bessie Andrews will be glad to have
you along"
NO. she won't. either" pouted Car
rie. AS if | would spoil all her fun!
No; if | can't have an escort of my
own I'll stay at home and mend stock
in@s; and | never, never will speak to
Capt. Logan again"
Charlie Brown was on the point of
arguing the matter with his sister,
when the door opened and in walked
Fred Jones.
Not gone yet, Carriee Where is
the captain9"
Il don't know" said Carrie, tartly,
"and don't care. Am Capt. Logan's 5
keeper
"Will You 90 with mc?"
Yes. | will" said Carrie. her eyes
lighting and shy smiles dimpling her
face.
"Of course" said Fred, 4 can't ex-
pect to make myself as agreeable as
the city captain. but"
The captain. the captain." cried
Carrie. little irritably. I'm sick of
the sound of his name. never want
to see him again. What a ..ice new
cutter this is. and how easy the wolf
robes are.'
Carrie" whispered Fred rs he
touched up the horse and felt her nest
ling close to him. is it for always?"
Yes. always" she answered.
"Jerusalem,' said Farmer Kendrick.
1t was past u O'Clock at night, and the
old gentleman had come out as usual
before retiring to rest. II see that the
dumb members of his family were all
safe and comfortable Il do believe
that's old John Hendricks ghost come
to life again, poundin' like all pos
SeSSed on the barn chamber floor!
Its NEE, Its me-e." bawled the
captain. "Unfasten the trap door and
let me QUIT"
Slowly the farmer lifted the ladder
to its place. With rheumatic awk-
wardness he climbed the crcakin9
rounds and undid the hook from its
| hasp.
How in all creation came YOU here?'
he demanded. why, | thought you
was out a-sleighridin' with the gals" J"
1t was all the doing of that villain,
I Sam" gasped the infuriated captain,
his teeth chattering with mingled rage
( and cold. Il won't stand this sort of
| thing. III leave the place tomorrow" 5"
As You please" said the farmer, to
whom the prospect of losing his guest
was not unpleasant. I'm dreadful
/ sorry this should have happened.