The Portland daily press., 1898-03-03

6iSG Ill a COLL LOW iA0SAS>~ -
Olivia drew in her breath Win
gasp when they had safely passed the
last questioner.
81 felt as if one more question would
SET me to screaming right there on the
street."
az feel exactly the same way" said
Miss Melanie in a solemn voice. 81
CAM conceive why they suppose we
can give them any information.
"Oh, it isn't that We just happened
TO be the last faces to come along. We
are all like frightened lot of children,
reaching out blindly for comfort.
s'I think your comparison very poor
one. nv dear. What on earth is that?"
They had come in sight Of the store.
Miss Melanie had been the first one to
catch a glimpse of dark object filling
one of the serrated benches.
"It's man," said Julia, stretching
her eyes wide with establishment.
"He's asleep or dead, - said Olivia,
with conviction.
"For mercy sake, girls, you are
enough to give one Mysteries. Nobody
ever has sat on those benches since the
store was closed.
ST wish I knew where old Timothy
was to be found at this time of day.
Somebody is certainly occupying one
now"
s'Or Mr.. Brownell.
They had been advancing cautiously
toward the object that had aroused such
a turmoil among their nerves The
''thing,' as Miss Melanie called it, lay
very still, quite still enough to war
rant Julia's theory Of death. An old ar
my blanket was thrown over it, to the
utter extinction of any clew to its iden
tity. The three women, who were not
constitutional towards, walked around
it several times without extracting any
more information on the subject. Miss
Melanie waxed bold enough to. cough
very emphatically. Then Ollie sent this
request in direction Of the bundle:
81 say, whatever you are, wish you
would wake up and explain yourself. F"
The situation and the old army blan-
ket remained unmoved by her call. They
mounted the steps to obtain closer
view of the intruder.
II should advise shaking him, if any
one else will take the job, - said Ollie.
laughing nervously. "I'm sure it is
man. I can hear him snoring under
there"
Julia reooiled with a disguised face.
Nothing on earth would induce me to
touch him. F"
Miss Melanie advanced with her par
asol pointed aggressively.
81 don't suppose he is really danger
GUS. One might venture with this. If
it is man, it must be some one from
the seat of war with something to tell
us. We just must make him wake up"
She prodded the bundle gently with the
ferrule Of her parasoL ooh, if you
please, we would like to have you wake
up at once, pleasep'
Olivia was eircumnavigating the
bench at respectful distance.
''Try the other end, auntie. I'm sure
you are poking him where there isn't
anything but blanket, and you might
sacrifice politeness to force this time. -
"Aunt Nellie never forgets her man
ners, said Julia sweetly.
Miss Nellie offered to resign in their
favor. She extended her weapon to each
in turn.
"Try him yourselves, then, if you
think it is so easy to waken the dead y
'Hello, what the matter over there:'
This question sent in quaverlng
voice from the other side of the street
made three women turn their faces full
of welcome upon old Timothy Drew,
who was shutting across to their aid at
his very best pace.
Miss Melanie explained the situation,
observing discreet reticence touching
the flutter she and her nieces had been IL.
''Some one has taken possession OF
Mr.. Lester Potts store gallery, limo
thy, and wish you would assist us to
arouse him so that I can order him to
move on, unless, indeed, as is just pos
sible, it may prove to be some one from
the seat Of war. He seems very sound
asleep"
Timothy advanced to the attack val
orously, armed with the bludgeon ne
used persuasively on his unwilling dray
mules.
Drunk, I reckon. ="
Drunk? Why, Timothy, don T sup
pose you could find a quart of liquor IN
all Apologize county"
81 believe you. mum. More's the pity
too I say, you there, come out OF this /!
None Of your fooling with me. You am t
got lot G. scary women folks to deal
with this lime"
AS an appropriate climax to this in
eantatio,, bawled in his most vigorous
voice c}5se to the blanket, Timothy
gave th1t grimy article violent twlteh'
which sent it Into the middle OF the
street and left it's wearer completely re-
vealed.
"Nothing but darby said Miss
Melanie, with distinct note OF dlsap-
pointment in her voice
By this time the wearer of the blan-
ket had risen to sitting posture and
was staring at his prosecutors ruefully.
He was but half awake. He was in tat
ters and the flesh hung as loosely on