The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-09-05

corner there was a jingle, and the
string of bells, suspended from a nail,
hit him exactly on the neck, so like
the grasp Of death cold fingers that he
could not but start.
"Oh!" said the captain, nervous|y.
Here they are. Catch 'em, Sam
Halo! where's the trap door2'
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 ran to the win
dow and threw it up, only to see Sam
speeding up the hill.
"Hal-lo 0 ap yelled Captain Logan.
Come back, you scoundrel! you i'll
conditional 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 will find the ladder on the
barn floor, cap'n," shouted 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 have to wait long before
Mr.. FredU be on hand"
The captain danced up and down on
the floor IN an ecstacy 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 q bar of moon light, which
streamed down from a crack in the
roof, resembled a tall, white figure
standing under the center beam. He
could almost fancy the rope around
its neck. P8haw! And the captain
jumped up again, with starting dew
on his brow, even i'll the freezing
atmosphere Of the barn chamber.
What was to be done?" he asked
himself. and echo, if echo had any
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 olored horse!
The captain was wild at the thought;
surely he was vanquished.
x x X X X
Il won't wait another minute for
him." said Carrie Brown, Coloring up,
with the tears in her blue eyes. Go
on, girls, I ehall spend the evening at
home"
There's plenty of room for you in
our sleigh, Carrie, "coaxed her brother.
Bessie Brown would be glad to have
you along"
mo she won't, either, "pouted Carrie.
las if I would spoil all her fun! No;
if I can't have an escort of my own,
I'll stay at home and mend stockings,
and I never, never will speak to Cap
tain 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, Carrie?" Where is
the c~aptain?"
'I don't know" said Carrie, tartly,
"and I do not care. Am 1 Captain
Logan's keeper?"
"WiI you go with me?"
Eyes, I will" said Carrie, her eyes
lighting and shy smiles dimpling her
lips.
"Of course" said Fred, Il can't ex-
pect to make myself as agreeable as
the city captain, but
'The captain, the captain" cried
Carrie, a littly irritably, Il am sick of
the sound of his name. Inever 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, sis it for always?'
Eyes" always" she answered.
X i x x = *
Jerusalem - said Farmer Kendrick.
1t was past ten 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. II do believe that's old
John Hendricks ghost came to life
again, poundin' like all possessed on
the barn-chamber fOOr!"
Its me e! It's me eI" yelled the
captain. "Unfasten the trap door and