Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-04-12

old fool. and giving up the attempt saio
to Wright:
'You can go Leave the lantern there
I will come back by the warehouse"
Wright went back and fired up his kiln
wondering how the governor, always sc
spick and span, had fallen into that bat
tered condition, and what on earth he had
come to the Office for at that hour. What.
ever did he want there?
He had just banked up the last fire hole
when he thought he heard voice calling
family in the distance, wright Wrightl'
He stood quite still to listen, and heard be
yond doubt the cry repeated-"Wright!
| Wrightp'-in shrek of supplication and
terror, and it was the governors voice.
/ He answered and ran up stairs.
! As he was crossing the throwing room
| Kavanagh rushed out of the darkness from
| the warehouse and came to his side pant
ing for breath. He had stone jar in his
| hand which he had caught up for defense,
and he looked back into the darkness and
round him with wild terror, his face white
as sheet of paper.
DO you see HIM" he gasped.
"Who, sirgn asked Wright
"A man with red beard and BALD
head
mo, sir"
Lay hold of that jar. If you see him,
brain him. He's mailman"
Wright armed himself with jar from an
instinct of self defense, but not being
strong man he determined to bolt if he
found himself in danger and got the
chance.
You must have passed him in the ware
house" whispered Kavanagh hoarsely. Il
heard bottle knocked over soon after you
went. / thought il was you prying about.
When ] went up and turned round, found
him just behind me. He knocked the Ian
tern out of my hand / don't know where
he went He was behind me one moment
in front of me the next What's that" he
exclaimed, suddenly dropping the jar and
clutching Wright's arm.
Then, gaping with fear, he shrank back,
nodding and glaring at the hopper through
which Wright had come up.
Wright looked that way. too but saw
nothing. He thought the governor must be
gone off, or seized with the jumps" or
something 1t made him feel shaky and
queer TO see a man usually so self composed
so completely unnerved and panic stricken.
$50 down and look if he's there whis-
pered Kavanagh, laying his hand on the rail
of the upper stairs, ready TO fly at mo-
ments warning. lyon shall have $40
if you stun him with that jar. II he's not
there, run TO the door and scream for help
! left cab round the corner-the man will
hear you-but come back here quick
Reluctantly and with care Wright pro-
ceeded TO obey these orders He descended
three stairs, and then, crouching down,
looked round the stocking floor, lit only in
patches by the light from the FIRE holes
Right in the farther corner there were two
twinkling points of light; probably it was
nothing but a piece of coal rejecting a |
Pickering ray from the kiln, but il looked |
like pair of fiendish eyes, and that was |
enough for Wright. He ran back to the |
governor.
Hes down there" said he, only less APP
prehensive than the shaking wretch he 4
spoke to.
"Wheref'
AT the back of the kir, 'twixt the steps
and the door,
Without a word Kavanagh crept swiftly
up the stairs 10 the floor above Wright
was about to follow, when some one brushed
past him and ran up the stairs like cat.
1t was the impish foreigner who had gone
over the works earlier in the night, only
noY he wore neither boots nor hat, and his
head was bald and shining.
Wright stood there breathless, at a loss
10 know what to do between duty to his
master and duty to himself. He would