Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-29
THE BLUE LIGHTS.

 leaned forward he struck his head against Q board The place was so dark that he couldn't sec his hand before his face. He glanced in the direction of the littlo garrett window It seemed to be thero, but 1t was no longer small and was aglow with all tho hucs of tho rainbow.
 "Abnor, where arc yor?" he asked, feel ing about him md addressing his youn- ger brother, who generally slept with him.
 His brother didn't answer, but voices from every direction mocked him by re- beating "Abner where are youi'
 Then followed changing noise, so deaf ening that he sprang forward and again bumped his head against the board, which it seemed to him somebody had pokcd Into his bod.
 "Oh, know now, ' he thought, and the cold chills crcpt mp his back. That is tho clock in tho stccple. l fell asleep in one of tho rows of tho church, and tho sexton locked mo il.
 Though Joe was but 16 years old, he was no coward, and yet his sensations were not tho most pleasant. He had solved the mystery, but it didn't bring him much comfort. Tho atmosphere was stilling, the stiffness was profound and the darkness dense, save just where tie oriel caught  nearest house was Q mile away. White figures had often been seen fitting about in tho graveyard bluo lights said to be carried by ghosts, had sometimes appeared in the tower windows. The sexton would not open the church until the next Sab bcth and tho doors and windows wero us strong as those of a prison.
 This is.a nice pickle to be in, !" he thought II wonder what hour tho clock just struck? They must Do awfully un easy about mo at home. That doesn't worry mo- however It is the boz ;o get ont of hero that worries n,a.
 He sat still in tho softly cushioned pew and thoagiit of tho various possibilities. z "Ill ring tho bell, " he said to himself. "That will bring some one to my rescue" It wasn't Q bad conclusion and ho at once proceeded to put it into effect. Ilo was familiar with tho interior of the church and was not long in groping his way to the tower.
 He stopped on one of tho floors and looked out of tho lance shaped window. A bowlder strcwn waste stretched away, and far beyond white wall of mist indicated the shore limo of the ocean. It was u Scot tish coast, and smuggling was then in vogue
 
 thpco bright stars fell slowly downward
 ''Hellol'' thought Joe. That looks like signal, and it's just the night for smugglers. I bet thcrc'll be a cargo brought ashore"
 A minute later Joo met with another surprise A bright slow burning bluo flame appeared in the window just above him.
 That's signal in reply to the rocket" reasoned Joe, with repressed excitement. I'm going to get good look at the ghost that burns blue lights in the tower in the dark of the moon."
 Hc heard some ono descending from the floor above, and ho crouched behind tho spiral stairway. A man passed him with out seeing him-a heavy man, with a scared face and lantern in his hand.
 Stakes alive' thought Joe. Ut is Leonard Boothby, the postmaster. A faith full government official he is! I'vo made discovery, and I've notion there's money in it for me-" .eE He swiftly yet noiselcssly hurried down the stairway. The door leading into the towor from the outside was open, and the postmaster was in a stepping posture, fumbling to extinguish the light in tho lantern. Joe upset him with violent pusll, spfuHB oi tho doot oiN N's"p peared in the darkness.
 Instead of running home, he ran down toward tho beach. He did not go down to the beach entirely, but hid himself behind big powder, daring thing for him to do, for had the smugglers discovered him they would have killed him.
 In little while some one passed his hid ing place. Ho did not see the man, but know ho was the postmaster on his way to help land the cargo. He waited for long while The clock in the church tower struck 12, and then the wagons came creaking up from the beach.
 He recognized some of the smugglers by their forms and voices, and they were men who had never been suspected of violating the law. He dodged the wagons and saw where tho goods were hidden away.
 When he reached home, he orcpt quietly into bed with his brother Abner and ex- plained his absence to his mother in the morning by simply saying that he had been locked in the church.
 A few days later Joe met coast guard on his rounds. He was intimate with him, for he often came to the house.
 Well, sergeant they were too sharp for you the other night, Joo mystcriously said.
 "Yes, drat emp' replied the sergeant, with frown
 II could name dozen of them, inti- mated Joe
 ''Oh, any smart boy could say that" re- piled tho sergeant.
 And tell where the goods are hid," added Joe.
 'Ahl' exclaimed the sergeant, w,
 -ith Q fling of his head, Joe, you have informa- tion of some kind"
 Maybe there's nothing in it," Joe said, with grin.