Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-11-21

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CHAPTER III.
I roesEss NysELY OF THE AsHHs OF NJ
ANcEsroRs.
Having decided upon the "transfer-
ence" Of Sir Archibald and Lady Flea
nor, made careful measurements Of
their tombstones and had boxes made
for their reception and transportation.
The only real work In connection with
the business was the elimination Of the
remains, and even this was no great task
for man from q mining region. The
churchyard being half mile from any
village, and the graves being hidden In .
thicket Of brambles and thorn bushes.
one might have worked there q week
without any one appearing to ask ques-
tions. Had any questions been asked !
was prepared with Q plausible story
which I had concocted.
After mature deliberation and care
ful survey OF the ground, I decided to do
all the work of elimination myself and
In daylight. in order that might be able
70 carefully inspect the contents Of the
coffins. As the coffins themselves would
be too much decayed for removal, pur.
chased two neat and strong trunks OF
small size In which to place whatever I
night find In the way Of remains.
This done had only to find means Of
conveying the tombstones to the depot.
I must secure q trusty drayInan. Dis
guising myself rs workingman one
morning sauntered down to the iron
bridge which spans the Ouse, uniting the
Norfolk and Suffolk sides Of the town Of
Thetford. The town-we would call II
Q city-is situated at the influx Of the
little river Thet, and the 0use, thus
strengthened. Is navigable rs far up ~
the point where 1t Is spanned by the
bridge.
Some small vessels were discharging
cargo at the wharf, and drays were haul.
ing the goods mp into the town. ! pres
emily went down upon the wharf and
studied the faces Of the draymen.
Among them was 4 young fellow about
my own age, whose looks and manner !
liked. soon engaged him In converse
ton. and pretending to DO interested In
something he told me appointed meet
ing with him for that evening ut tav.
ern he named.
Ifound Tom Dell. my draymsn. await
ing me ut the tavern. Af.cr u long talk
about the The,iord business outlook, Ia
the course of which Tom complained
bitterly Of hard times. l suddenly cx-
claimed; by JOvc, Lr. Dell. cal do
something for you! can put small
Job In your way in day or two. Ii !;
not much-naybe G5 IN H."
OF course Tom Bell was all attention
when hs heard me mention e5 as o sum
he might easily earn.
Ithen told him I was an undertakers
man sent down from London to remove
q couple of bodies, aud that had all In
readiness except the mere taking up OF
the remains.
"rd like the Eve pun" said Tom. "but
I don't much fancy handlin OF dead
bodies"
laughed and said: "Why. my friend,
these have been In the ground q hundred
years. There will be nothing left but q
few bones. and those you'll not even see,
for I'll have them In two small boxes,
all ready for you. The only work about
the job is the removal Of the tombstones.
You see the family. care as much about
the tombstones as about the bodies, a.
the remains to be removed are those Of q
baron and his lady. 1t Is an affair OF
family pride. The relatives, at least one
wealthy family among them, want the
remains and the two tombstones to give
a sort Of tone. dye see. to their family
burial plot mp where they now live, near
London"
"Oh, was afeerd they was fresh uns
hke-that is. not 30 old but they'd be
bad uns to handle" said Tom Bell.
"You'll have the handling Of nothing
but the tombstones," said I. "Ill take
care Of the small boxes"
Tom was satisfied and declared him
self ready to take tho job.
"Are there any Johnsons In this town
asked.
"Lots and lots on 'em," said Tom.
Ithen told Tom that 1t appeared from
what my master had told me that there
was some disagreement between two
branches of the johnson family as to
which had tho best right to the remains
Of the ancient and titled Johnsons.
Therefore 1t would be best for NJ to say
nothing Of what we were about.
"Some Of tho Johnsons here In Thet-
ford may be Of the same family" said
I, land may put In protest against the
removal of the bones Of their ancestors.
therefore let us earn our money and say
nothing. Wcll leave the Johnsons to
fight the matter out In the law courts
II they like. Heretofore the graves seem
to have been sadly neglected. Now, II
these Johnsons up Lun'un way want to
take proper care Of the bones Of their an
cestors, why let 'em have 'em is what i
say, particularly a. they've got the mon.
ey and are willing to pay well for all
trouble"
II don't want to git into no law
courts" said Tom.
"Poohr' cried !. mighty little you
and I would have to do with It. It's