Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-11-10

their tombstones and had boxes made
for their reception and transportation.
The only real work in connection with
the business was the exhumation of the
remains, and even this was no great task
for q man from a mining region. The
churchyard being half a mile from any
village, and the graves being hidden in
thicket of brambles and thorn bushes,
one might have worked there a week
without any one appearing to ask Ques-
tons. Had any questions been asked l
was prepared with q plausible story
which had concocted.
After mature elaboration and care
full survey of the ground, I decided to do
all the work of elimination myself and
in daylight, in order that might be able
to carefully inspect the contents of the
collins. 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
might find in the way of remains.
This done had only to find means of
conveying the tombstones to the depot.
must secure a trusty drayman. Dis
guising myself as workingman l 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 it
a city-is situated at the influx of the
little river Thet, and the Ouse, thus
strengthened, is navigable as far up as
the point where it is spanned by the
bridge.
Some small vessels We're discharging
cargo at the wharf, and drays were haul
ing the goods up into the town. l pres
emily went down upon the wharf and
studied the faces of the draymen.
Among them was young fellow about
my own age, whose looks and manner |
liked. l soon engaged him in CONVERSE
ton, and pretending TO be interested in
something he told me appointed meet
ing with him for that evening at tav-
ern he named.
found Tom Bell, my draymau, await
ing me at the tavern. After long talk
about the Thetford business outlook, in
the course of which Tom complained
bitterly of hard times, l suddenly ex-
claimed: by Jove, Mr.. Bell, can do
something for you. can put a small
job in Your way il day or two. 1t is
not much-maybo e5 in it,"
OF course Tom Bell was all attention
when he heard me mention 60 as sum
he might easily earn.
then told him l was an undertaker's
man sent down from London to remove
couple of bodies, and that had all in
readiness except the mere taking up of
the remains.
I'D like the five pun" said Tom, but
l don't much fancy handin of dead
bodies"
laughed and said Why, my friend
these have been in the ground hundred
years. There will be nothing left but a
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 az about the bodies, as
the remains to be removed are those of
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
sort of tone, dye see, to their family
burial plot up where they now live near
London
"Oh, was afeerd they was fresh uns
ike-that is, not SO old but they'd be
bad uns to handle" said Tom Bell.
You'll have the handling of nothing
! out the tombstones," said I. I'll take
care of the small boxes
Tom was satisfied and declared him
self ready to take the job.
Are there any Johnsons in this town."
I asked.
Lots and lots on en-" said Tom.
I then told Tom that it appeared from
what my master had told me that there
was some disagreement between two
branches of the johnson family as to
which had the best right to the remains
of the ancient and titled Johnsons.
Therefore it would be best for us TO say
nothing of what we were about.
Some of the Johnsons here in Thet-
ford may be of the same family" said
l, land may put in a protest against the
removal of the bones of their ancestors
therefore let us earn our money and say
nothing. Well leave the Johrsons to
fight the matter out in the law courts
if they like. Heretofore the graves seem
to have been sadly neglected. Now, if
these Johnsons up Lun'un way want to
| take proper care of the bones of their an
! cestors, why let EN- have 'em is what l
say, particularly as they've got the mon
| ey and are willing to pay we'll for all
/ trouble
Il don't want TO git into no law
courts" said Tom.
''Pooh!' cried l. Mighty little you
and l would have to do with it. It's a
matter between my master and the John