The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-08-18
CHATTER IX.-Continued.


Ascending to the image chamber,
my hand trembled so that l couldn't
hold the light steady; and this err
ratio illumination gave the figures a
CHASTITY appearance of life. l was
hastily crossing toward the narrow
entrance which led to the cloisters,
when the murmur of voice in the
chancel on the other side of the wall
made me shut off the current in my
lamp and gasp for breath. In an in
slant l was in darkness so thick
could feel it, though very faint re-
Election from the waning moon made
a sort of grayness up where the win
dows were; but, looking toward the
ehancel wall. l noticed a faint lumi-
nousness in one particular spot, and
it was from this quarter that the
voice seemed to come.
It took but moment to figure out
that this spot must be approximately
in the rear of the crucifX head over
the altar. There was pile of boxes
just under it, on my side, SO cautious
ly climbed to where i could look
through. Then my nervousness left
me. For on his knees before the altar
was lay brother Felipe, pattering out
prayers for the repose of the good
dead fathers below. 1t afterward came
out that he had been asleep in his cell,
and, awaking suddenly. had heard
footsteps and echoes in the catacomb
which fairly curdled his blood; SO,
by the light of the only candle he
could find. he was doing his best to lay
the restless spirits.
How recklessness got the upper
hand of me would be hard to say; but,
without giving the danger a second
thought. lifted my lantern to the
aperture and turned Oh the current.
would have given a large sum to have
seen the effect from the church side;
it must have been more than startling.
l could tell the exact instant when the
lay brother raised his eyes to the top
muring stopped short. There was a
gasp of establishment too great for
louder articulation, a SILVER of ecstat-
ic fear; and when l squinted through
the hole, after shutting off the cur
rent, he was groveling. face down,
upon the chancel floor.
This was my opportunity. Caiculat-
ing that he wouldn't dare raise his
eyes for several moments. no matter
what strange noises echoed through
the church. l slipped around through
the postern and succeeded in restor-
ing to Padre Bartolomeo's snoring
torso his bunch of keys without being
seen. Once back in my room, locked
ho nd =. ohos
for ] was considerably shaken up, and
looked as though l had spent a week
in the infe rnal regions.
Breakfast was fortunately late, so
] had time to battle and make myself
q little more presentable, but l must
have looked seedy even then. This.
however, was naturally laid to the
dinner party of the previous evening.
none of the gentlemen feeling very
positive as to when or just how he had
parted from the others. I thought
that when the padres got thoroughly
walked up and had time to get the lay
brothers experience through their
heals there was likely to be more of
sensation than the little town had
known in many moons; so, complain
ing of a severe headache. invited the
colonel and his daughter to sail with
me in the new proa. Having to hear a
few cases at the tribunal that morn
ing. he politely declined. but assured
me that Dorotea would be pleased
TO go.
This was better than had bargained
for. Knowing the strict ideas in re-