Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-09

And frlgnten the cnap OUT OF WnaU
little wits he has got, objected the
driver
sPooh! he'll not know it, said one
ssHold bit, there's a good fellow,
till we get him down; my legs ache fit
to drop" said Toby's supporter.
"Well," said Laxity, sIackening his
pace all the time, "see you now, I'll
have nothing to do with it, nothing at
ALL then if you do go soaring the man
out of his senses, you'll hold me free"
Gree, ah!.I should say SO" said
one fellow; ''free of anything SO long
as we get free of this numbering car
case; he's as void O. sense and life just
now, for the matter O. that, as any
corpse ever went in the hearse."
The vehicle was stopped. Laxity,
raised upon his box, leaned over to
watch the proceedings; two Of the men
descended, and two others, having
lowered, in not the most gentle man
ner, their sleeping comrade into their
arms, also got down to assist.
The door of the hearse was already
opened, disclosing the gloomy interior,
when 1t was flung to with a loud ex-
clamation from the one whose hand
thrust it from him, and was echoed
by the two others.
'"Theres something in there!'
~ heard a cry"
cts nought human''
Down went in heap the insensible
form Of Toby Lipkins-away ran his
valiant supporters-the men still on
the roof, their brains yet muddled by
liquor, knowing not what had scared
their fellows, under the influence of
self preservation followed their exam
pie; and ere Club Laxity could make
out what had alarmed his fellows. he
foundhimself alone. savefor the drunk
en- sleeper, who, halfroused by the shock
of his fall grumbled out an oath, rolled
an inch or two, and then composed
himself just between the hind wheels
of the hearse.
'sWhat ails the men?' cried Lax1ty
are they all gone stark staring mad?
or has that fellows liquor been work
ing in 'em all this time gone off with
a bang? It had an extra queer flavor
to me. I say Galley! Ben, Ben Cru
dies! The more I holloa the faster they
run! what S that? it was childs voice
i
too, I'd take my OATH"
With more agility than might have
been expected from his size and rotun-
dity, Chob Laxity decended, from his
elevated post aad quickly approached
the back OF the hearse.
The door had swung back on it's
hinges he threw it open to the fullest
extent and the faint light Of early day
glimmered into the obscurity within.
''Oh mercy on us! thepalls are NOV
ing," cried Laxity; what on earthl
it's a face, flesh and blood, tool"
He dived head foremost into the
vehicle as he spoke, and dragged forth
the clothes and other appurtenances
of his trade, which had been thrown
promiscuously to the other end.
AS he did so, a child's voice burst
out in a pitiful wall, and a light mass
at the other end began to move.
"Come forth, whoever We are,
cried Laxity, adopting something Of
the solemn adjuration style he had
heard at the Kerseley theatre years
gone by.
"Come forth yecan't beat any good,
burrowing and hiding among the dwell
ings of the Departed
A slight movement, and few mutt
tered words made answer; but thelight
heap advanced slowly towards the
light.
mercy on u.s." cried Laxity startled
into his natural tone. '"Tis wom-
an, and a child! Heaven preserve us!
What on earth do we do in here?"
The intruders had by this time
reached the opening OF the hearse,
where Laxity stood guard.
Crouching and terrified, holding with
firm grasp to her breast the little
child, who was sobbing piteously, the
woman turned a pallid, terror-strick-
en- face up to the jolly one OF the I'M
dertaker.
"Speak! tell me, woman what do
you here?' Laxity began again, IN
tragedy tones, but it would not do.
''There, there, don't trenable and
shiver don't cry, little one! | won't
harm you; come out, do, OF this dis
NAL machine! So, SO, that sit stand
easy now"
He assisted the stranger TO the
ground she still clinging to the child,
dllu Sldl1ClIi9 1eoIllliiy oIOUaAnt ADOh 3A
all directions.
''You must have been hard up for a
ride; my word, you must, !" he said, as
he returned to tAe recelA acle the var
ious ct ceteras he had Withdrawn, yet
still keeping his hold upon the tremb-
ling fugitive.
dts mercy you weren't smother
ed in that old black box, and the rate
I've been rattling along att Ell, sakes!
little dreaming who was, shaking and
jumbling Of inside.
Glow far-how far" gasped the
pale-faced woman, in anxious tone.
GLOW far we got to go2"
s'No, from there-we. have come
since"
'sWell, you see, NOT knowing how
far I've had the pleasure OF driving
you, mistress, | can't say"
s'The cross roads, shesaid, hurried
ly; ooh, pray forgive me! | did not
know what to do, was pursued"
ooh, at the cross roads,, said Laxi-