The record-union., 1894-04-21

She handed them to the bishop, who held
them in his hand while he regarded her
with look of puzzled inquiry.
Then the phynnodderee told me to lift
the letter am taxi what was under it.
did as bid, an there were two shining
sovereigns. TAX 'em T. th' bishop, Dem
sic, T. prove your words true. Tell him
if he'll Iayt tn oath on Johnny Bill Cronk,
this night week, he'll know th' phynnod-
deree is in st. Maughold Kirkyard by
seein' two o. their shinin' mates lynn
atop tn headstan o. your fawther's grave,
an that if old Cronk takes false oath
when th' Book lies on his breast, he'LI
speyk words that'll make him mend his
waysp
Bishop Powys could scarcely believe
the evidence OF his ears and eyes. 1t was
beyond comprehension that this girl had
been the victim OF some form of halluci-
nation resultant from her own and Gran
ny Quillian's suffering and helplessness.
The pnynnodderee's letter and the imp's
coin were certainly in his possession.
He decided at once to follow his merciful
impulses and unravel the strange mys-
Sery.
well, Densie, cannot promise what
you ask to-day. Go home now. Speak
no word OF this to any human being.
Cheer up your old granny. | may have
a good word for you very soon."
She could not speak further, her heart
and eyes were so full. Grasping his skirts
she kissed them with almost savage joy
BUSINESS, and in a moment more was
bounding bravely through the cutting
sleet and storm toward the mountains
and laundering Maughold Head.
He watched her until the storm had
hidden her from view. Then he paced
the room for little time, jingling the
coins absentmindedly in his hand. He
read and reread the weird missive which
asked him, in the name of outraged help
lessness and every good fairy known to
Mainland, to test the old coffin maker
with the ancient oath of the island upon
the grave of the dead whom his infamy
had wronged, and endeavored to form
some rational judgment of it's real source.
He turned to his pastoral letter which
held new and profound significance in
the light of his last hours experience.
No. He could write no further upon
that.
II will put this aside until know
more" he said. He touched his bell and
gray old Kermode, the servant, inmedi
ately appeared.
'kermode," asked the bishop, ''do you
know Johnny Bill Cronk of st. Maugh-
old village?"
"oh, aye, sir. Th' world'd be far bet
ter if he would slip into one O. th' graves
aw digs an bide there. SIR"
Never mind now about his character,
Kermode."
Jaw has none, SIR"
''Well, Kermode, if it is pleasant day
tomorrow l wish you to ride over TO St.
Maughold and make an opportunity to
speak to him privately without attracting
attention. Tell him | wish to see him at
once, and that it may be to his inter-
est not to mention to any one his coming
here"
Full of wise wonder and visions of
honor and preferment the old coffin ma
ker was ushered into the library of Bish-
ops court at noon of the second day after
the visit of Densie Quillian. The bishop
stood over him, against the fireplace, as
he had done when the storm-beaten girl
had sat in the same chair.
"Cronk," he began quietly and almost
ruminatively. hardly knowing himself
IN what direction his questionings should
lead, Ibid you ever get letter from
phynnodderee?"
The coffin maker was no more as
founded by the nature of the question
than was the bishop at its extraordinary
effect
The cunning wariness and lurking
eager bravado of his hard old face left it
as quickly as though he had received
blow. He tried to answer, but he could
not. His hands clutched the arms of his
chair, and he seemed to have aged a score
OF years while the bishops question was
being asked.
About Ballakilley, Cronk?" The
good bishop knew just where to prod
him now.
"Oh, aye, sir" he stammered hoarsely
at last. Then, with desperate burst of
dogged assertion, tits minei Th' place
be mine. Galley Quillian had my good
fend it from mel"
Here he struck the chair arm so say.
agely that drop OF blood spurted from
finger end.
''Will you make a solemn oath that the
debt is just?
81 ha' done it already" he whined
petulantly, ''in Deemster's Court"
"Cronk, there is another oath you
must take before you can have Ballakil-
leyI"
The old man scrambled out of his chair
and made for the door as if pursued.
''Come back here instantly" COM
manded the bishop sternIy.
He returned warily for a few feet and
stood there weaving his head from side to
side as wild beast will stand and pant
ingly swing its head behind the bars of
its cage.
''Y on know the oath mean?"
The head swayed more rapidly. Its jaws
fell apart. Though he spoke no word, the
bishop knew he was understood.
II will be at your shop at midnight on
the fourth night from this. will come
and go so that no one in St. Maughold's
shall know of what you are to do. We
will go together to Galley Quillian's
grave. Cronk, you know the restr'
"pll not dot! Ill not dot! It's ma
longer Manx law. Ballakilley be mine!''
he doggedly and detiantly retorted, his
quivering claw of hand instinctively
seeking the door.
Bishop Powys advanced upon him
gravely. grandly, with open, upraised
hand.
Down upon your knees, wretch and
pray" He tumbled upon all fours grow
elingly. Promise me instantly that you
will do this thing l command, OF, l swear
it upon my holy office will make those
helpless women's cause my ownp
The bishop lifted the cringing miser to
his feet, turned his face to the uoor and
bade him remember the night and the
hour and to go.
Towards midnight of the fourth sue
ceeding night the village ours of St.
Maughold fell into clamorous frenzy at
the approach of slowly-driven carriage
wheels, but shortly all was still. It was
soundful, sobbing night by fits and
starts; night when the tree boughs,
whispering for time, of sudden lash
and sough and cry, and as suddenly sink
away to quavering plants and then
to tremu1ous hush and softly restless si-
lence.
Two figures soon emerged from John
ny Bill Cronk's lightless shop. One car
ried darkened lantern and the other q
parcel shaped like a book. The figures
moved cautiously along the struggling
village street to st. Maughold's church
yard gate. Its bolt was softly drawn.
when the two entered the forbidding
place, leaving the gate slightly ajar.
They picked their way under the great
a~ooo of MonohO11 r,ocf +o,,, he old