Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-03-19
THE BLUE LIGHTS.

'Abner, where arc your he asked, feel
ing about him and addressing his youn-
ger brother, who generally slept with him.
His brother didn't answer, but voices
from every direction Knocked him by re-
peating 'Abner, where are your
Then followed changing noise, SO deaf
ening that he sprang forward and again
bumped his head against tho board, which
it seemed to him somebody had poked into
his bed.
sob, know now, he thought, and the
cold chills crept up his back. THAT is
the clock in the steeple. fell asleep In
ono of the pews of the church, and the
sexton locked mo in. -
Though Joe was but IS years old, he
was no coward, and yet his sensations
were not the most pleasant. He had solved
the mystery, but it didn't bring him much
comfort. The atmosphere was sitting, the
stiffness was profound and the darkness
dense, save just where the orlel caught
what little light there was outside. Inc
nearest house was mile away Whlte
figures had often been seen iiitting about
in the graveyard; blue 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
bath, and the doors and windows were as
strong as those Of prison.
This is a nice pickle to be ill.,, he
thought. II wonder what hour the clock
Just struck? They must be awfully I'M
easy about me at home. That aoesn t
worry me, however. 1t is the how to get
out of here that worries me.
He sat still in the softly cushioned pew
and thought of the various possibilities.
t'I'll ring the bell !" he said to himself.
'nThat will bring some one to my rescue
1t wasn't bad conclusion, and he at
once proceeded to put it into effect. He
was familiar with the interior of the
church and was not long in cropping his
way to the tower.
He stopped on one of the floors and
looked out of the lance shaped window. A
bowlder strewn waste stretched away, and
far beyond white wall of mist indicated
the shore line of the ocean. 1t was Scot
fish coast, and smuggling was then In
vogue.
A rocket shot up through the mist, and
three bright stars fell slowly downward:
"Hello'' thought Joe. "That looks
like signal, and it's just the night for
smugglers l bet there'll be a cargo
brought ashore.
A minute later Joe met with another
surprise. A bright, slow burning blue
flame appeared in the window just above
him.
'Thats signal in reply to the rocket, :"
reasoned Joe, with depressed excitement.
"I'm going to get good look at tho ghost
that burns blue lights in the tower in the
dark of the MOON"
He heard some one descending from tho
floor above, and he crouched behind the
spiral stairway. A man passed him with
out seeing him-a heavy man, with a
Scared face and lantern in his hand.
"Sakes alive!' thought Joe. ut is
Leonard Boothby, the postmaster. A faith
full government official he is! I've made
discovery, and I've a notion there's money
in it for me-"
He swiftly yet noiselessly hurried down
the stairway. The door leading into the
tower from the outside was open, and the
postmaster was in STOPPING posture,
fumbling to cxtinguish the light In the
lantern. Joe upset him with a violent
push, sprung out Of the door and disap-
peared In the darkness.
Instead of running home, he ran down
toward the beach. He did not go down to
the beach entirely, but hid himself behind
a big bowlder, daring thing for him to
do, for had the smugglcrs discovered him
they would have killed him.
In little whilo some one passed his hid
ing place. He did not sec the man, but
knew he was the postmaster on his way
to help land the cargo Ho waited for
long while. The clock in the church tower
struck H. and then the wagons came
creaking up from the beach.
their forms and voices, and they were men
who had never been suspected OF violating
the law. He lodged the wagons and saw
where tho goods were hidden away.
When he reached home, he crept quietly
into bed with his brother Abner and ex-
planned 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 tho other night Joe mystcriously
said.
''Yes, drat emf replied the sergeant,
with frown.
II could name dozen Of then," init
mated Joe.
ooh, any smart boy could say that, re-
piled the sergeant.
"And tell where the goods are hid, >
added Joe.
"Ah' exclaimed the sergeant, with 6
fling of his head, Joe, you have informa
ton of some kind. !"
Maybe there's nothing in It," Joo said
with grin.
Nothing in the information or moth
ing in it for you? You must 60 with mi
to tho captain, replied the sergeant.
II don't mind" relied Joe.
The captain was gruff fellow, and HI
questioned Joe sharply, but Joe cunningly
evadcd.
captain, said the sergeant, II know
| the boy, and he's an honest lad. He ough
| to be paid for his Information whatever i
! Is worth.
"Why, yes" assented the captain. IN.
lad, III arrange that with the govern
ment. Not hair Of your head shall b.
harmed. 1t means, my boy, FL, 900 ant
q government position for lifa''
A search for the contraband good
proved Joe's statement true. Most Of tin
smugglers were arrested, tried, convicted
and punished. Two of them turned In
formers, in order to secure light sen
tence, and go Joe's agency In the breaking
up of the gang was not made public.
| He received the reward, was given
position under the government when III
| raachsrl manhoOtl and ALWAYS felt crat.,f,l