The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1893-04-14
MUSIC AT MIDNIGHT.
"oerTiNo OLD BEETHOVEN
DOWN FINE"


"Gosh!" and Jonathan rubbed his
eyes and sat up in bed. "Gosh!
what's got into Sarah Jano to he
humping away on that old nervc-
twitcher at this time OF night.
I'll"
"rwang, Twang! 1hump 1t ia
thump! Bang" interrupted tho
piano, as though dozen imps were
up and down Its keyboard.
jonathan" and Selma planted n
trembling hand between her hus-
bands shoulder blades, Jonathan.
that amt Sarah jane playing. It's
midnight's holy hour and ghosts"
"Ghosts be-fiddlesticks! Selma,
don't you suppose l know my own
style OF thumping" and
with an impatient jerk Jonathan
slipped his brooches on and stood
upright. Ghosts! 1t takes real bono
and muscle to make that sort OF
racket. Listen!"
"Rattlo to bang! Thumpit Ia thump!'
Twang lang twang! Bang" like
bed'am broke loose came rush OF
sounds from the piano Il
"She must be getting old Beethoven
down fnc," muttcred Jonathan, rs he
scratched match on the seat OF his
pants and lighted the tallow candle
which stood on chair at the head Of
the bed. "But can't stand this sort
Of thing. even II its midnight's holy
hour I'll stop it right here and
now" and, with the tallow candle in
his right hand and q hard. set look
upon his face, he started for the
parlor
..Jonathan!n and Selma bobbed out
Of bed and seized her husband by the
arm. THAT amt Sarah Jane playing,
tell you. It's something or some
body else. You'd better take your
gum
Jonathan gave n snort of disgust;
but, nevertheless, paused long
enough to extract from under his
pillow large, old fashioned fivo-shot
revolver. Then, with the revolver
in one hand, the candle in tho other,
and Selma following close behind
he again started for the parlor. where
the piano still continued to make
night hideous with Its unearthly
thumpings.
Just as he laid his hand on the
knob OF the parlor door there was
rush Of hurrying feet from behind,
and Sarah Jane. selling him by the
shoulder, whispered cxcitcdly: "Oh
pop! what can IL be?"
"Gosh! 1t amt your and in his
alarm Jonathan's arm twitchcd so
that the old revolver. which he had
cooked just before reaching the door,
went of with q dcafening roar; so
did the end OF Jonathan's big toe.
Jonathan was mad.
''lf it's that little imp. Jake. I'll
thrash him till he can't stand. III
here, Selma, take the candle and I'll
see what that internal racket means. "
Jonathan handed his wife the light
and, with great show OF courage.
threw open the parlor door; but he
didn't step over the thrcshold-at
least. not just then.
Straight across the room from the
door stood the piano. TWAS playing
AS madly as ever. but not human
being was near 1t. The case was
closed. and there was no visible
means by which the music might b,
produced.
Jonathan's hair began to rise. and
his chin whiskers stood out straight
and still, like q red shoc-brush
Music. and not mortal hand touch
ing the keys! Goshm and his lower
'aw began to fall.
Its GHOSTS Selma whispered.
lille her hand, which held the candle
YER Jonathan's shoulder, trembled
that drop Il hot ,allow fell upon
ais bare neck.
The tallow seemed to stimulate
Jonathan's courage. for no suddenly
lifted his revolver, and "bang! bang!
bang! bang.n four times rang out the
deafcning report. Tho room was
filled with tho smoke, but tho plano
had stopped playing.
GOSH | reckon ! plugged that
ghost, or whatever the tarnal thing
was Jonathan spoke In an awsd
voice. Cautiously tiptocing across
the room. followed by his wife holding
the candle and Sarah Jane holding
tight on to her heart with both
hands. he stopped before the piano.
From the keyboard n little stream
of blood was slowly oozlng and fall
ing In n little pool Of red on sclina's
new rag carpet.
Blood Selma. blood. aud from n
ghost"' he gasped. Us he struggled 10
recover his equilibrium.
Blood My new cnrpct'M and Civ
ing Jonathan vigorous push to ono
side Selma sprana to the front She
saw the little stream OF blood AZ
the sight an awful thought came into
her head,
"It's Jake! know It's Jake. Oh.
my son jacob" And. forgotful of
the blood on the carpet. she throw
herself upon tho plano and began
frantically cndcavorlng TO tear open
the cover.
Every muscle In Jona,han's body
quakcd. What II ho hnd shot HIS
only sou. JaoohP
The cover gave way; and there
upon the white koys. with u great
hole bored through Its body. lay
huge rat
Jonathan saw the rat The look Of
horror left his fuac.
"Gorh' What 'tarnnl fools you
women folks are, To think Of your
making Nil this fuss over rat Go
to bed Aud he strobe out Of the
room with the look Of man whom
nothing short OF cyclone could up.
sct.-Samucl HsMzy In the Chicago
Inter Ocean.
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