Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-03-03

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?" he called.
"The ghost? Right under the mid
die beam by the windy was the place
~Blocl>head! 1 mean the string of
bells"
Look for 'em yourself" said Sam.
sulkily. Il don't know where they be,
and, what's more, l don't care"
I'll settle with you, my fine fellow,
when come down." said the captain.
threateningly, as he CROPPED 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, in jeering tone.
As the captain plunged into a dark
corner there was a jingle, and the
string of bells, suspended from a nail,
hit him directly on the neck, so like
the grasp of death-cold fingers that he
could not but start.
Oh' 0e'i' oh0 captain, hol NouoIy.
Here they are. Catch 'em, 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 1880"
Don't worry" bawled Sam. Miss
Carrie won't wait long afore Mr..
Fredfl 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
disagreeably bar of moonligh which
streamed down from crack in the
roof, resembled a 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 ALL"
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.
81 won't wait another minute for
him." said Carrie Brown, coloring up,
with the tears in her blue eyes. go
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
RE. CAS- if would spoil all her fun!
No; if | can't have an escort of my
own I'll stay at home and mend stock
ings; and | never, never will speak to
Can't LOGAN AGAIN"
Charlie Brown was on the point of
arguing the matter with his sister,
when the door opened and in walked
Not gone yet, Carrie? Where is
the captain?"
Il don't know" said Carrie, tartly,
land don't care. Am Capt. Logan's
keeper"
"Will you 90 with me?"
Eyes, | will" said Carrie, her eyes
lighting and shy smiles dimpling her
face.
"Of course" said Fred, 81 can't ex-
pect to make myself as agreeable as
the city captain, but"
"The captain, the captainw cried
Carrie, little irritably. I'm sick of
the sound of his name. | never want
to see him again. What nice new
cutter this is, and how easy the wolf
robes arel"
Carrie" whispered Fred as he
touched up the horse and felt her nest
ling close to him, lis it for always?"
Yes, always" she answered,
"Jerusalem.' said Farmer Kendrick.
1t was past 10 o'clock atnight, and the
old gentleman had come out as usual
before retiring to rest, to see that the
dumb members of his family were all
safe and comfortable. Il do believe
that's oil john Hendricks ghost come
to life again, poundin' like all pos
sessed on the barn chamber floor"
It's NEE! It's me-e!" bawled the
captain. "Unfasten the trap door and
let me Out!"
Slowly the farmer lifted the ladder
to its place. With rheumatic awk-
wardness he climbed the creaking
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"
1T was all the doing of that villain,
SAM" gasped the Infatuated captain,
his teeth chattering with mingled rage
and cold. Il won't stand this sort Of |
thing. III leave the place tomorrow"
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,
though, and I'll talk seriously to Sam"
$50 viii l." CRASHED the captain. |
Gil hrnaL nrnr.c hnno In Liz hndE .