Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-02-23

them a potent renaedr. arr ~ sell them.
the question. While thinking the mat
ter over ] wondered if the padre had
investigated Fray Ignacio's box. A
scrap of conversation with Bartolo-
meo which / had overheard implied
that he had; it indicated considerable
displeasure with the resident padre
for some reason or other. If such were
really the case it might be months
before anyone connected with the
church would have occasion to visit
either the crypt or the room contain
ing the votive offerings again, and this
gave me an idea.
The islanders are intensely supersti-
tious, and it has always been policy
of the church to foster this character.
istic. So that, if / could add to the al.
ready bad reputation of Tarofofo bay,
neither threats, brides nor persuasion
would avail to get a native within
miles of the place. In view of this fact,
my friend with the diseased wishbone
seemed particularly fitted for the pur-
pose, if | could only spirit him away
Sebastiano had partaken heartily OF
his late supper that evening, and, be-
tween them, the padres had punished
vast quantity of wine. Aside from
this, they were thoroughly tired out
by their day upon the water, and in
all probability would sleep like logs,
So. an hour or so after they had re.
tired, cautiously slipped INTO the
church through the little postern. as
| had done before.
Not a soul appeared to be stirring
The fact of the door being unlocked
was suspicious had expected 10 pick
il with a piece of wire-but. as there
was no time for investigation, stole
into the cloisters and through the pas
sage which led to the chamber contain
ing the horrible images. The figure /
was after lad been well put together
and was heavier than it should have
been, besides; but. though the CHASTITY
thing gave me cold shiyers, pulled il
from the fastenings with little cere-
mony.
Holding the dummy upright before
me, ! quietly returned. and was about
TO open the postern. when the door
suddenly swung wide, revealing burly
form in the moonlight outside. 1t was
Sebastiano; but, fortunately for me
his head was not as clear as usual. Be
ing an inyeterate smoker, his nerves
often went back upon him; and no
mortal digestion could stand the abuse
he had given his chat evening without
protesting Altogether, he was in a
bad way. Nothing but an object Of
y - 1 r y 4
to venture upon nocturnal prowl in
such condition. The moonlight must
have given hat wax figure an aspect of
blood-curdiing horror, for, with a gasp
Of surprise and mortal terror, the
padre turned ANA ran across the little
square. around The tribunal. through
the plaza. then over the bridge TO the
leach. | had seen my advantage in an
instant. and. holding he figure SO that
i. covered me entirely. glided rapidly
after him. When we struck he beach
me lodged around proa which lay
hauled up on the sand. and, with a
screech Of fright, doubled back over
the lower bridge. Picking up a good
sized lump Of coral, threw ii with all
my might and struck him fairly he
tween the shoulders. That settled it;
he ran as iC the devil were after him,
not daring O look round.
Since arriving at Agana | had be
come acquainted with the islander
I Miguel. Who had presented the church
with His ctligy in wax after recovering
from his strange and Terrible disease
well enough to remember the proa ir
which lie ALWAYS sailed. This NV r0'