Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-02-02

| him-she's only daZZled like.
Max Crossley frowned slightly; hon
est Job was not exactly the kind of
| Ganvmede he cared to have meddle
with his love affairs.
"Miss Harrington must choose for
herself, job" he said, and Job went
back to his work, secretly wondering
how young lady gifted with ordinary
common sense could hesitate for a mo-
ment between the captain and Mr.. Max
Crossley.
The next night came-a night of all
nights propitious for sleiehing expedi-
tions and rustic love making, the roads
delightfully."- hard and we'll packed and
glorious full moon shining down as
Whitley as if rain of silver were del.
uging the whole world!
| Couldn't be better weather." said
the captain. "Job, where are the
sleighbells?"
Dunno" quoth Job, indifferently.
''There's them old iinglers in the gar
ret that used to belong to Deacon Joe
Westerbrook that was in the revolu-
tionary war. and there's the two cow
bells that Mary Ann might scour up
with ashes"
"Pshaw!' said the captain, edo you
take me for Rip Van Winkle? There's
pretty little string somewhere, for
saw them when Mrs. WesterArook
went out day before yesterday"
81 hain't seen nothin' on 'em," said
Job.
Come, come, don't make yourself
out any stupider than you be by ma
ture, job" said the farmer, laughing,
nevertheless, for the captains airs
and graces were fast wearing out his
welcome, and he secretly sympathized
with the much afflicted Job. II guess
they's out in the barn chamber. You
better go with him, captain, if you ex-
poet to find 'em-our jobs dreadful
thick headed when he chooses to be. !"
"Come along, my fine fellow" said
the captain iocosely, collaring Job and
marching him off in the direction of
the old red barn under the hill. eve
don't need any lantern in this bright
moonlight, that is one comfort.
Old Billy, renowned for his kicking
qualifications. blinked sagely around
at them from his stall, and Tom, the
little gray pony, who was destined to
| figure in the cutter shafts that night,
set up low, friendly whinny as they
entered the big, frosty, fragrant barn.
''Where are the stairs?' demanded
the captain.
"There amt none," said Job. "It's
ladder"
''Up with you, then, said Meredith.
but Job shrank steadfastly back.
81 wouldn't for $780," said Job.
"Old Michael Westerbrook hung him
self from the middle beam IA years
ago, and folks say he stands up there
with a rope around his neck every
moonlight night"
''Stutf and nonsensew calculated the
captain in accents Of supreme con-
tempt. "You great cowardly lout,
stay where you are, then, and Ill go
myself
He sprang nimbly up the rounds of
ladder and disappeared through the
trap-door.
where is it?" he called.
"TLe ghost? Right under the mid
die beam by the windy was the place
where
"Blockhead! I mean the string of
BELLS"
Look for 'em yourself" said Job,
sulking. 81 don't know where they
be, and what's more. L don't care"
''I'll settle with you, my fine fellow,
when l come down. said the captain
threateningly. as he groped about in the
dim light which was admitted by a
cobweb window at either end of the
barn chamber.
''Don't hurry yourself, cap'n," re-
joined Job, in a jeering mood.
AS the captain plunged into dark
corner, there was a jingle, and the
string of bells suspended from nail
hit him directly on the neck, so like
the grasp of death-cold fingers that he
could not but start.
"Oh'' said the captain, nervously.
"Here they are. Catch 'em, Job
Halo! Where's the trap-door?"
And it took the militia man fully &C
seconds or more to realize that the
trap-door was closed and fastened or
the lower side. He rushed to the
: window and threw it up. only to see
Job speeding up the hill.
"Hal-lo-o-oa" yelled Captain Mere
dith. "Come back, YOU scoundrel
you ill-conditioned loutl you imp o
evilp'
Job turned round and executed tha
[ peculiar gyration of the fingers in con
, nection with the nasal protuberanc,
t which is supposed to express the ex
tremity of scorn.
4 "You'll find the ladder on the barr
floor. cap'n," hooted this young rebel
"And don't be afeard O. the ghost. IT.
very harmless if you let it alone.
, ''But, Job job. come back - I'm t