Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1897-10-28

was oycr,s heimed with dreadful aniict-
pations Of events to transpire during
tn. coming night. The third night.
The third night was the additionally
fated night,
was tempted to unbo-om myself 10 n
friend and get him to go asd sleep with
me. but was too much ashamed ~ my
pusillanimousness Better suffer any
thing at the hands II spook than have
self the laughing stock % all my
friends
This time was determined 20 see Il
cut wou,d III up an night 20 watch
that clock and srr with my own eyes
bow IL was managed aud hy what
ueans
accordingly m1fic Arrange mcut for
big lire TO be kept Up ail night. Sew
e-al extra ligats. something 20 eat and
drink. my pipe and plenty Of books
Then I shut ms windows. dragged
Down the shades 50 that the light would
not be conspicuous from the outside.
aud prepared myself for the ghosiiy ou-
slaught
That should have lived to encounter
real ghost. / must have been born
under the necessarily peculiar circum-
stances qualifying me for supernatural
encounters. devoutly wished other
circumstances had been employed.
BY this time was ill-phy sicaiiy i'll.
could neither eat. drink nor smoke.
could only think. aud my mind was ia
perfect whirligig Of confusion.
How the hours dragged, as hours will
that are unemployed. almost thought
time loitrred with malice aforcthought.
When ones head j. on the block they
say it is relief for the aN to fall. be-
lievc could have anticipated aud SUI
fered decapitation less disagreeabiy.
At ten O'Clock wound and set by my
watch my precious alarm, aud placed Il
in its customary place upon the mautel.
II was 4 capricious little affair nj best.
and lately had to be laid upon its back
in order To keep proper time -in fact,
70 run az all; 80 turned il ON Us back
as usual. aud sat down 10 watch b. The
rain had cleared up. bat the wind cen
tinued 10 howl around in a hidcuusiy
unpleasant manner don't think
have ever heard wind blow as il dill
upon that particular night. Imagined
it to be thick with inky devils that bel
lowed and groangd and laughed and
shrieked all IN i breath. The branches
Of a sycamore tree scraping against the
roof made my flesh creep. while the
wind surging through the Wild orange
trees created a queer whi>tling sound
which I never heard before or since.
oh. the interminabie time | sat there.
sick az heart. worn out in mind and
body watching and waiting for-I knew
not what-I,uck Andersou's ghost to
come and take it ont of me. \ sweet
state | had worked myself into. truly.
How would it end3 What would he do
TO me! Fall upon aud belabor meg
\ small matter. was not afraid Of
what any human could do to me;
could yield up my life with as much
grace as the next man; but ghost,
what means would he employ? Icould
not anticipate it. | would have to see
it, have to experience il.
glanced up at the little clock. and
If knife had been plunged into my
heart the emotion could not have been
otherwise than it was when saw that
it had moved. The clock had moved.
\ certain ornamental point which had
noted matched with a certain figure in
the mantel lambrequin upon which
had rested my eyes had Enthusiastically
moved. broke into a cold sweat. My
throat hurt me horribly, and felt my
hair rise upon my head. was power
less to change the position of q finger.
IL had moved. There was no chanc=
for doubt. II was fact
| gazed spellbound, all my senses abb
sorbed into that Of seeing. For hours
and hours sat in state of half con-
seriousness watching the clocI move.
Slowly, slowly, to the left. almost too
slowly to be perceptible. until it bad
turned entirely round. Then slowly,
slowly. round again Round and round.
again and again, winding my poor brain
into a very Gordian knot. while the Sow
hours dragged BY, and the fire burnt
lower and lower and went out; and the
wind subsidized, and the cold crept in and
numbed my corresponding body Then
all at once | saw the clock tip over the
edge of the mantel. and come crashing
to my feet. / had just strength enough
left TO examine the position of the
hands. Twenty minutes after three
O'Clock. | fell back into my chair in a
deep swoon.
| had spell of serious sickness after
that. | think | was in a condition for
it anyway. and that nights vigil
| brought II TO n climax | WAS III for
several weeks. But was not GONZALES
cent many days before I solved the
clock mystery. | got the idea one day
while lying upon my bed. and later,
putting it TO the test. found was
right in my calculation BY placing
the clock upon its back, the thumb
piece (for windingl was brought in con-
tact with the mautel shelf. and. natural
| ~, the clock uHwinding turned itself to-
ward the left. round and round. each
time coming little nearer the edge
until it toppled over
| And being set every night at ten
o'clock. and put in the same place. il
took just five hours and twenty min
utes TO work itself OFF. \ tame denou-
ment after all my frightfuI experience.
| But, | tell you. Buck Anderson was
avenged 10 his souls content.-Detroit
Free Press.
/ Gamblers Trick
Many years ago. during Derby race.
old CrockfOFd, the founder and propri-
otor of the famous London gambling
house, who had been ailiug. actually
died. He had thousands of pounds
sterling upon this Derby race. and his
Il L.