The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-28
THE BLUE LIGHTS.

couldn't see his hand before his face. he
glanced in the direction of the little garrett
window. 1t seemed to be there, but it was
no longer small and was aglow with all
the hues of the rainbow.
'tAbner, where are you?'' 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 youf''
Then followed changing noise, so deaf
ening that he sprang forward and again
bumped his head against tho board, which
1t seemed to him somebody had poked into
his bed
''Oh, know now, he thought, and the
cold chills crept up his back. THAT is
the clock in the steeple. ! fell asleep in
one of the pews of the church, and the
sexton locked me i'm
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 oriel caught
what little light there was outside. The
nearest house was mile away. White
figures had often been seen fitting about
in the graveyard; blue lights, said to be
carried by ghosts, had sometimes appeared
not open the church until the next Sab
BATH and the doors and windows were as
strong as those of a. prison.
This is a nice pickle to be in, - he
thought. II wonder what hour the clock
just struck? They must be awfully I'M
easy about me at home. That doesn'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 th00 hit of the variOuS n0SSihili6ipS
''I'Il ring the bell, he said to himself.
'That will bring some one to my rescue"
1t wasn't a 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 I bet there'u be a cargo
brought ashore
A minute later Joe met with another
surprise. A bright, slow burning blue
fame 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
He heard some one descending from the
floor above, and he crouched behind she
spiral stairway. A man passed him with
out seeing him-a heavy man, with
SCARED face and a lantern in his hand.
'Sakes aliveI'' thought Joe. 1T is
Leonard Boothby, the postmaster. A faith
full government official he isl I've made
discovery, and I've notion there's money
in it for me-
He swiftly yet noiseIessly hurried down
the stairway. The door leading into the
tower from the outside was open, and the
postmaster was in a STOPPING posture,
fumbling to extinguish 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
big bowlder, a 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. He did not see the man, but
knew he 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 tn e 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 lodged the wagons and saw
where the 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.
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, - Joe nysteriously
said.
.'Yes, drat emi'' replied the sergeant,
with frown.
II could name dozen of them, init
mated joe
''Oh, any smart boy could say that re-
piled the sergeant.
"And tell where the goods are hid,'
added Joe.
..Ahp' exclaimed the sergeant, with a
fling of his head, Joe, you have informa-
ton of some kind"
May be there's nothing in it, Joe said,
with grin.
Nothing in the information or moth
ing in it for you? You must go with me
to the captain, +" replied the sergeant.
81 don t mind" relied Joe.
The captain was gruf fellow, and he
questioned Joe sharply, butJoe cunningly
eVaded.
Captain, said the sergeant, Il know
| the boy, and he's an honest lad He ought
to be paid for his Information whatever it
is worth. -
Why, yes, - assented the captain. My
lad, III arrange that with the govern
ment. Not hair of your head shall be
harmed. It means, my boy, 81, 600 and
| a government position for life. y
A search for the contraband goods
| nrnved .Ina's statement true. Most of the