The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1896-10-30

IatrlcA OMaliey."
lhis last sentence was given with n
toss " the head and an emphasis that
showed Paddy ia something like his
usual form, and ! saw he WAS gradually
/ getting back his heart again. Paddy's
temporary f0rgetfulness OF his ambition
Was the best Indication of his intense
lear. Tor not once before had he left il
out Of his mind since lie started on his
quest"
i slipped 70 the door. saying soothing
y as unlocked t:"Well. Paddy. tmust
De the boys. and well 20 out and catch
them AZ their tricks"
sure We viii that" he said, rather
doubtfuily.
When the door shut after us. for few
moments could see nothing; but when
my eyes became accustomed to the dark
ness, we started across the field 10 the
other side Of the track. where was the
straightaway over which Paddy had
seen the spook "a-hurllin'"
When we reached il. for "A few seconds
we could see nothing unusual. but lit
tie later we suddenly could discover at
the same time white figure near the
finish came toward us where we stood,
perhaps 80 yards from the start.
Now, | VIII confess | was bit sur
prised and startled. for | thought that
the only ghost was probably in Paddy's
brain. When saw the tall. white fig
ire loom up in the darkness. / did feel
little queer, and remembered some
blood -curdling stories with which a lazy
nurse once kept me in bounds when I
was a little lad OF seven summers.
l could see the ghost plainly enough
as il came toward US in the gloom, fol-
lowing along the other side of the track.
walking as a hurdler would when the
sticks were up and he was going TO the
start. quoted Paddy as best could,
and kept a good grip on his arm. The
moon just now coming out of the clouds,
we could see the tall. white figure plain
~. the white robe ghastly in the light.
lie was quie; but few seconds. and
Paddy gave my arm grip when the
ghostly hurdler got on the mark. set
himself for the start. put out long
spectral arm. ard then suddenly, as if at
the sound If the pistol. be was off.
Three strides he took. then up he came.
lifting in the air as over an imaginary
hurdle. and as he rose could hear
Paddy's breath as if drawn by sue
iion-pump-
The spOCk landed with great flutter,
she white robe making a tremendous
and the steps sounding crunch,
crunch. crunch on the cinders. Al
though there was not the sign Of stick
up. he hurdled sure enough, and so
naturally that | strained my eyes TO
discovered something more than the
Empty wind As he approached the
second imaginary hurdle the moon came
out clear. and | could see him tuck
bare foot under him, rise clunsily. and
come down with an amazing display OF
skeleton legs. \ great noise he made.
and il treasured me. was sure one OF
the boys was acting the role, and dis
covered something strangely familiar
in the peculiar gait of the ghostly hur-
der.
As il came close to us, Paddy began to
irembIe. and was gathering himself 10
break away and run, when a sudden
fancy took me. and said Tackle the
CHEST. Paddy. and the job is yours" al
the same time letting go my hold on his
arm
lie hesitated but a second. just long
enough TO realize what l had said. and
then he was at the spook like a flash,
and of all the ''mix-ups" ever saw. that
which followed was the worst.
You have seen a Punch and Judy
show. and remember the wonderful
struggle between Punch and the devila
Well. that between Paddy and the
ghost hGrdler'' was just such another.
Iirst Paddy's black coat was upper
most, and tnen the spook's white robe;
d which would have stayed there |
eaanot tell. for | pulled them apart be-
fore either had won out. When they
got on their feet. and gave a good look
at them. gave a shout, for they were
eilgics sure enough.
on one side was Paddy. a ragged piece
Of white cloth IN his right hand. his left
ciinchcd and held in front Of him, in
case there should be a renewal of hostil-
iiics. His coat was split open in the
back. also one knee Of his trousers. and
his cheek was scratched as if a giant
torncat had clawed him.
ON the other side of me, and facing
Paddy. with a look Of inquiry on his pale
face. was. of all men. Two Pieces" HIM
self. His nose was bleeding freely,
where Pats big fist had got in blow,
and he was clad only in his night-shirt,
most OF which had been torn off in the
struggle.
After determinations. explanations
and apologies. foundthat Two Pieces"
had undoubtedly been SO excited by his
dreams Of success on the cinder-path
that they had brought back an
attack Of sleep-waIking TO which
he had been addicted when
boy He remembered nothing be-
tween his going to bed and the waking
up in a life and death struggle with
Paddy. and we got him back into his
room not much worse for wear. After
we had tucked him safely in bed. we
started back across the field to the gym