The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-01-28

window early and inspected the har-
Dor which 1T overlooked. The Dream
was there; even while she looked Mt it
she heard n whistle, and, glancing up
the road, she saw Jim Penlerrick com
ing to call on her. So she descended
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, "like
rs if 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. "All the
same, / fancy lit of lesson would
do him no harm. He can't have
thought You was bad hearted, so he
must ha' fancicd You could DO fooled
easy. And he must be cured of all
such fancies as that.
Maggie flushed.
''I 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 n friend, carrying stout
post some ten or twelve feet in length.
They made off in tho direction of
small and secluded cove, about mile
to the west of Trewarnc
Later in the day John Coffin CHANGED
upon little girl who was idly wan
dcring by the roadside. Ho was about
to pass on, when the child spoke.
do 'ee know the lane loadIn' to
Pentrizo Cove?" said the child.
eyes" said Coffin.
'Well, said the child, got mess
age for ZEE You must be at the top
of the lane by half-past seven, to meet
II friend"
Coffin inspected the messenger sus-
piciously.
"Who sent vou?" he asked.
"Aw,' said the child, "said mustn't
mention no name"
Coffin laughed.
"Well,," he said, 81 don't know that
you need. Here, this will buy you
some lollipops."
He gave the child some coppors 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 off ms
speedily as might bo to Maggie Optics
home, where she reported progress
and showed Collins gift
'Well done, snid Maggie. "Spoil
the Egyptians whore and whom You
can. There's good examples for that.
But Mt 100 she was talking ut the
cottage gate with tho daughter of n
neighbor, nor did she quit her homo
until more than an hour later, when
Jim Penlerrick turned up and sug-
gested brief stroll He had mani
testify some jest to share with her.
Now, John Coffin had never doubted
AS to the identity of the sender of the
message, At 100 precisely he began
to mount the billy lane. and when he
had reached the appointed place he lit
pipe and waited For long time
no one came. He began to grow more
and moro impatient, knowing that tho
girl could have nothing on earth 90
keep her at this hour. Aud slowly
there dwelt upon him dreadful doubt
could 1T he that she Ind fooled him.
and was not coming Mt all? Ho nut
the thought from him, but only for n
time. In the ond he swore vehem
emily, and would have turned away.
had not roar of laughter suddenly
arrested him. Before no could re-
cover from his surprise ne was strug-
CLING IN the midst of half dozen men,
and moment later they had over
powered and bound him, putting n
gag between his teeth.
All this time they had not spoken n
word, and 1T was still in utter silence
that he was compelled to march, n man
Mt 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. lie remembered hundred horrid
tales of violence, and his henrt uuailed
within him.
They led him onward until the
sound of the sen broke on his enrs.
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 tumbed bowl
ders Mt the foot Of the cliff. And when
thy had gained tho heath they lod
him TO whore a tall wooden post had
been fixed in nm upright position in
tho sand. One OF the men advanced
and kicked it. 1t quivcrcd, but other
wise was firm, being deeply sunk, and
having big stones buried about its
bnsc. And John Coffin would have
cried aloud for mercy had he been
able.
For no realized what they wore
going TO do with him. They raised
him and bound hum about the wooden
post, and he looked desperately out to
soa-g gagged, so that he still could not
speak and wondered how long it
would DO before tho advancing tide
would reach him Tho mon moved
about IN silence, testing all tho knots
with tremendous vigilance before they
moved away in band and vanished
IN tho blackncss Of the cliffs shadow.
There was no moon Tho clear
starlight quivcrod in silver lines on
the dark plain Of the sea. John COT.