River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-02-25

I Gtit1 StOuE Will dSlltS-
"Pshaw.' said the captain. do you
take me for Rip Van Wrinkle? There's
a pretty little string somewhere, for
saw them when Mrs. KendriclS went
out day before yesterday"
Il hain't seen nothin' on en-" said
Sam. stolidly
Come, come, sam, don't make your
self out any stupider than you be by
nature" said the farmer. laughing,
nevertheless, for the captains airs
were fast wearing out his welcome.
and he secretly sympathized with the
much-abused sam.
Il guess they're out in the barn
amber. You better go with him,
captain, if you expect to find 'em-our
Sans dreadful thick-headed when he
chooses to be
Come along, my fine fellow" said
the captain. collaring Sam and march
ing him off in the direction of the old
red barn. I'VE don't need any lantern
in this moonlight that is one com
fort"
Where are the stairs?" demanded
the captain. as they entered the barn.
"Ain't none, /" said Sam. Its lad
der
Up with you, then" said Logan,
but sam shrunk back.
Il wouldn't, not for fifty dollars, $
said Sam. odd John Kendrick hanged
himself from the middle beam four
teen years ago, and folks say he stands
up there with rope around his neck
every moonlight night"
Al
tain. in accents of contempt. You
cowaIdly lout, stay where you are,
then, and I'll go myself.
lie sprang lightly up the rounds of
the ladder and disappeared through
the trap door.
Where is ito" he called
The ghost? Right under the mid
die beam by the windy was the place
/ where"
''Blockhead. I mean the string of
bells"
I sulkily. Il don't know where they
be. and. what's more, don't care"
I'm settle with you, my fine fellow,
| when / come down" said the captain,
Overwhelmingly. as he CROPPED about in
| the dim light which came through a
cobweb-craped 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
I 4 L 4
could not but start.
OH said the captain. nervousiy.
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-ar' yelled Capt Logan
Come back. you scoundrel, You ill
conditioned lout. You imp of evil"'
sam turned around and executed that
peculiar gvratiOn of the fingers in con-
nection with the nasal organ which is
/ supposed to express the extremity of
scOrn-
You'll find the ladder on the barn
floor. cap'n," booted 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 half-past seven. ="
Don't worry" bawled Sam. Miss
Carrie won't wait long afore Mr.. Fredll
I 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
lie knew very well if he possessed the
/ lungs of Boreas lac could make no one
/ hear
lie sat shivering down on the hay,
| starting nervously at the sound of
horses feet below, and thinking how
disagreeably bar of moonlight, which
streamed down from a crack in the
roof, resembled a tall. white figure
standing under the center1beam. lie
could almost fancy the rope round its
neck. Pshawl And the captain jumped
up again, with starting dew ON his tenn
pies. even in the freezing atmosphere
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-cOloredh 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,
with he 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. LAS IL l would spoil all her fun
No; il ! can't have an escort of my
own I'll stay at home and mend stock
/ ings: and l never, never will speak to
Capt Logan again
Charlie Brown was on the point of
arguing the matter with his sister.
when ire door opened and in walked
Fred Jones
Not gone vet, Carrie? Where is the
captain
Il don't know said Carrie. tartly,
land don't care Am Capt Logan's
keeper"
"will YOU 60 with me?"
Yes. 4 will" said Carrie. her ewes
lighting and shy smiles dimpling her
face.
"Of course" said Fred. II 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 nice new
cutter this is. and how easy the wolf
robes are
Carrie" whispered Fred. as he
touched up the horse and felt her nest
ling close TO him, lis il for always?"
Yes, always" she answered.
"Jerusalem,' said Farmer Kendrick
II was past ten o'clock at night, and
the old gentleman had come out as
usual before retiring TO re {, to see