Evening capital., 1892-01-22

hloCAnedu 4 mean the Attlug os
bells.
Look for 'em yourself, said sam
sulkily. II don't know where they I've,
and, what's more, don't care
I'm settle with you, my fine fellow.
when come down." said the captain
tlreateningly, as he CROPPED shout in the
dim light which came through cob
web draped window at either end OF the
barn chamber.
Don't hurry yourself. cap'n, reioined
Sam, in jeering tone.
As the captain plunged into dark cor
ner there was jingle and the string OF
bells, suspended from a nail, hit him
on the neck, SO like the grasp of death
cold fingers that he could not but start.
-Oh!n said the captain nervously.
"Here they are. Catch 'em. Sami
Hal-lol where's the trapdoor?"
And it took the worthy captain fully
60 seconds or more to realize that the
trapdoor 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-aln yelled Captain Logan.
"Come back, you scoundreli you i'll con.
ditioned loutl you imp of evil"
Sam turned around and executed that
peculiar gyration of the fingers in con.
nection with the nasal organ which is
supposed to execute the extremity Of
scorn.
you'll find the ladder on the barn
floor, cap'n," hooted the young rebel,
~an' don't be afraid o the ghost its
very harmless il you let it alone.
But. Sam-Sam, come backl I'm to
be at Mr.. Browns at 1901"
Don't worryl" hawled Sam. Miss
Carrie won't wait long afore Mr. Fredll
be on hand"
The captain danced up down on the
floor in an. .ecstacy of rage as Sam dis.
appeared over the crest of the hill He
knew very well il he possessed the lungs
OF Boreas he could make no one hear.
He sat shiveriHg down on the hay,
starting nervously at the sound of horses
feet below, and thinking how disagree
ably bar of moonlight. which streamed
down from crack in the roof, resem.
bled tall. white figure standing under
the center beam. Hecould almost fancy
the rope round its neck Pshawl And
the captain jumped up again, with start
ing dew on his temples, even in the freez-
ing atmosphere of the barn chamber.
What was to be done he asked him
self. An echo,if echo had any common
sense. would have answered: Just moth
ing at ALI"
Sam had outwitted him. And pretty
Carrie, and Fred Jones, with his red cut
ter and great chestnut.coloredh horse! The
captain was wild at the thought; surely
he was vanquishcd.
II 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 Brown will be glad to have you
along.
"No, she won't. either, pouted Carrie.
"As if would spoil all her funl No; IL
can't have an escort of my own I'll stay
at home and mend stockings; and
never, never will speak to Captain Logan
again.
Charlie Brown was on the point of ar.
guing the matter with his sister when the
door opened and in walked Fred Jones.
"Not gone yet, Carrier Where is the
captain2"
Il don't know" said Carrie tartly,
aand ! don't care. Am Captain Logan's
keeper?"
aWiIl you go with mein
"Yes, ! will," said Carrie, her eyes
lighting and shy smiles dimpling her lips
"Of course, said Fred, II can't expect
to make myself as agreeable as the city
captain, but"
"The captain, the captain" cried
Carrie, little irritably, sim 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, ais it for always?"
"Yes, always, she answered.
Jerusalem I" said Farmer Kendrick.
1t was past 10 o'clock at night, 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. II do believe
that's old John Hendricks ghost come to
life again, poundin' like all possessed on
the barn chamber floor -
ats meet It's NEE I" bawled the
captain. Unfasten the trapdoor and LEI
me out |"
Slowly the farmer lifted the ladder to
its place. With inaticawkwardnes
he climbed the creaking rounds and un.
did the hook from its hasp.
How in all creation came you here p
he demanded. "Why, / thought you
was out sleighridin' with the gals 7"
1t was all the doing of that villain,
Saml" gaspsd the infuriated captain,
his teeth chattering with mingled rage
and cold. Il won't stand this sort Of
thing. I'll leave the place tomorrow. >
As you please, said the farmer, to
whom the prospect of losing his guess
was not unpleasant. @Pm dreadful sorry
this should have happened, though, aud
III talk seriously TO Sam.
So win I. gnashed the captain "rn
break every bone in his body.
But Sam had taken particular care to
go over to his grandmother's, six miles
across the snowy fields, to spend the
night. and the only person the captain
saw was old Mrs. Kendrick sitting by the
kitchen fire.