The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-12-12


quickly, heard the tale of his adven-
lures during the time of this last alb
sence. and, in conclusion, told her
own tale.
at looked to me-" she added, "lile
as il the man wanted me to tell all
know, and offered to make me Mrs.
Coffin in reward. Now, Jim, don't
zee go an do anything foolish. Per-
haps he never meant it after ALL"
Jim laughed grimly.
"Perhaps not" he said. Cali the
same. fancy lit OF q lesson would
do him no harm. He can't have
thought You was bad hearted, so he
must hs' fancied you could be fooled
easy. And he must be cured of oil
such fancies as that"
Maggie flushed.
81 never thought O. that" she said.
"Jim' you can do just what you like
with him."
And Jim went off to his breakfast
full OF thought as to how the end in
! view was to be obtained.
That afternoon he went through the
village with friend, carrying stout
post some ten or twelve feet in length.
They made off in the direction of q
small and secluded cove, about n mile
to the west of Trewarue.
Later in the day John Coffin CHANGED
upon little girl who was idly wan
dering by the roadside. He was about
to pass on, when the child spoke.
"Do zee know the lane leadin' to
Pentrize Cove?" said the child.
Eyes" said Coffin.
"Well, said the child, got mess
age for zee. You mast be at the top
of the lane by half-past seven, to meet
friend"
Coffin inspected the messenger sus.
piciously.
"Who sent you?" he asked.
"Aw," said the child, "said i mustn't
mention no name"
Coffin laughed.
"Well, he said, al don't know that
you need. Here, this will buy you
some lollipops."
He gave the child some coppers and
passed on. And he was perfectly
right in the impression he carried with
him, for the little girl waited until he
was out of sight, and then went of as
speedily as might be to Maggie Opie's
home, where she reported progress
and showed Collins gift.
"Well DONE" said Maggie. "Spoil
the Egyptians where and when you
can. There's good examples for that. |"
But at 7.30 she was talking at the
cottage gate with tho daughter of n
neighbor, nor did she quit her home
until more than an hour later, when
Jim Penlerrick turned up and sug.
gested brief stroll. He had mani
festly some jest to share with her.
as to .ie IS Identity y ]. IL sA.lsr ais Sftho
message. At 7.30 precisely he began
to mount the hilly lane, and when he
had reached the appointed place he lit
a pipe and waited. For long time
no one came. He began to grow more
and more impatient, knowing that the
girl could have nothing on earth to
keep her Mt this hour. And slowly
there dwelt upon him dreadful doubt /;
could it be that she had fooled him,
and was not coming at all? He put
the thought from him, but only for a
time. In the end he swore vehem-
emily, and would have turned away,
had not roar of laughter suddenly
arrested him. Before he could re-
cover from his surprise he was strug
Cling in the midst of half dozen men,
and moment later they had over.
powered and bound him, putting a
gag between his teeth.
All this time they had not spoken n
word, and it was still in utter silence
that he was compelled to march, n man
ut either arm, in the direction of the
Cove. Coffin did not doubt that he
had fallen into the hands OF smugglers
resolved to revenge on him the recent
injuries to the traffic they had carried
on. He remembered hundred horrid
tales of violence, and his heart quailed
within him.
They led him onward until the
sound of the sea broke on his ears,
and soon he was being led by wild
and dangerous path down to the little
yellow beach, His captors dealt none
too gently with him when they came
to the cross space of tumbled bowl
ders ut the foot of the cliff. And when
they had gained the heath they LED
him to where tall wooden post hat
been fixed in nm upright position il
the sand. One of the men advanced
and kicked it. 1t quivered, but other
wise was firm, being deeply sunk, ant
having big stones buried about it
base. And John Coffin would hav
cried aloud for mercy had he beer
able.
For he realized what they wer
going TO do with him. They raise,
him and bound HIM about the woodei
post, and he looked desperately out t.
sea-gagged, so that he still could no
speak-and wondered how long i
would be before the advancing It'd
would reach him. The men move,
about in silence, testing all the knot