The Forrest City times., 1895-02-15

young lady gifted with ordinary sense could hesitate for moment between the captain and Fred Jones' The night came, perfect night for slelghing expeditions and rustic love- | making, the roads hard and well packed, and a glorio us moon shining down whitely, as if rain of silver were deluging the whole world. Couldn't be better weather" said | the captain. 'Sam, where are the | sleigh-bells?"
 Dunno" said Sam. There's them | old jingles in the garret that used to 1 belong to Deacon John Kendrick. that was in the revolutionary war, and there is the two cowbells that Mary Jane might SCOUT up with ashes" "PshawW said the captain Do you take me for Rip Van Wrinkle? There's pretty little string somewhere, for I | saw them when Mrs. Kendrich went out day before yesterday" "l hain't seen nothin' on 'em," said | Sam, stolidly.
 Come, come, Sam, don't make your self out any stupider than you be by nature" said the farmer, laughing nevertheless, for the captains airs were fast wearing out his welcome, ,.and he secretly sympathized with the much abused Sam.
 Il guess they're out out in the barn. You had better go with him, captain, | if you expect to find 'em; our Sam is dreadful thick headed when he chooses to be-"
 Come along, my fine fellow" said the captain, collaring Sam and march ing him off in the direction of the old l red barn. "We don't need any lantern in this moonlight, that is one comfort" !"
 Where are the stairs?" demanded the captain, as they entered the barn.
 'Ain't none," said Sam Its lad der"
 Up with you, then" said Logan, but Sam shrunk back.
 II wouldn't, not for fifty dollars" :" said Sam. ''Old John Kendrick hanged himself from the middle beam fourteen years ago, and folks say he stands up there with a rope around his neck every moonlight night"
 Stuff and nonsense." cried the cap- tain in accents of contempt. You cow ardly lout, stay where you are, then, and I'll go myself" He sprang lightly up the rounds of the ladder and disappeared through the trap-door.
 Where is it?" he called
 ''The ghost? Right under the mid dle beam by the windy was the place where"
 'Blockhead! I mean the string of bells"
 Look for em yourself" said Sam, sulkily ''l don't know where they be, and what's more, don't care'
 "Pl settle with you, my fine fellow, when I come down." said the captain, threateningly, as he groped about in the dim light, which came through cob web-draped window at either end of the barn chamber.
 Don't hurry yourself, cap'n," re- joined Sam, in jeering tone. As the captain plunged into dark corner there was jingle and string of bells, suspended from nail, hit him directly on the neck, so like the grasp of death-cold fingers that he could but start.
 "Oh!' said the captain, nervously Here they are. Catch 'em, Sam. Hell To! Where's the trap door?"
 And it took the worthy captain fully sixty seconds more to realize that the trap door was closed and fastened on the lower side. He rushed to the win dow and threw it up, only to see Sam speeding up the hill.
 'Hal-lo-oa!" yelled Capt. Logan. Come back, you scoundrel-you ill-con- ditioned lout-you imp of evil!"
 You'll find the ladder on the barn floor. cap'n," hooted the young rebel, ''an' dOl't be afraid of the ghost; it's very harmless if you let it alone.''
 But Sam, Sam, come back! I'm to be at MT. Browns at 7:a0 o'clock"
 Don't worry" bawled Sam. 'Miss Carrie won't wait long before Mir. Fred II be on hand"
 The captain danced up and down on the floor in an ecstasy of rage as Sam disappeared over the crest of the hill He knew very well if he possessed the lungs of Boreas he could make no one hear.
 He sat shivering down on the hay, starting nervously at the sound of horses feet below and thinking how disagreeable bar of moonlight which streamed down crack in the roof re- sembled tall white figure standing under the center beam. He could al- most fancy the rope around his neck. Pshawl And the captain jumped up again, with starting dew on his tenn ples, even in the freezing atmosphere of the barn chamber.
 What is to be done?' he asked him.