The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-09-06
The Story Of On AITICQn Form.
By OLIVE soHREIEER.
CONFINED.

tlc now Wnlked about the room, div.
ing his fingers In everywhere. sticking
them into the great crevices I'm the wall
anu frightening out the spiders. rap
ping them against the old plaster till IL
cracked and fell In pieces. peering mp
the chimney till the SCOT dropped on
MS bald head and blackened II. He
1eit IN little blue bags: he tried TO
raise the kearthstone: he shook each
book till the old leaves fell down In
showers on the floor
IL was getting dark. and Bonaparte
stood with his finger on his nose re-
necting. Finally he walked 10 the
door behind which hung the trousers
and waistcoat the dead man had last
worn. He had felt in them, but hur-
riedly. just after the funeral the day
before. He would examine them again
sticking his fingers into the waistcoat
pockets. he found In one corner hole
Pressing his hand through IL, between
the. llninN and the cloth. he presently
came into contact with something
Bonaparte drew II forth-a small
square parcel. sewed mp in sailcloth
He gaZed at IL. squeezed H. II crack
ed. as though full OF bank notes. lie
put II quickly into his own walstcoat
pocket and peeped over the half door
to see IL there was any one coming
There was nothing 70 be seen but the
last rays OF yellow sunset light paint.
Ing the "karroo' bushes In the plain
and shining on the ash heap. where the
fowls were pecking He turned md
\ sat down'on the nearest chair and. tax
y Ing out his penknfe, ripped the parcel
open. The first thing that fell was a
shower of yellow. faded papers. Bona,
parte opened them carefully one by
one and smoothed them out on liis
knee. There was something very val
liable 20 be hidden so carefully. though
thu German characters he could not
decipher. When he came 10 the last
one, he felt there was something hard
In IL.
You've got H. Bon, my boy; you've
got IT. he cried. slapping his leg hard
Edglng nearer TO the door. FOR the
light was fading he opened the paper
carefully. There was nothing inside
bur plain gold wedding ring.
Better than nothing said Bona
ger, which, however. proved TOO fat.
He took II OF and set il down on the
table before him and looked at IL with
his crosswise eyes.
when that suspicious hour. San
ME-" he said, "shall have arrived
when. painting. shall lead thee. light
ed by Hymen's torch. TO the connublll
altar. then upon thy fair amaranthlne
finger. my joyous bride, shall this ring
repose.
''rhy fair body. oh. my girl.
Shall Bonaparte possess;
His fingers In thy moneybags
lie therein too shall mess"
Having given utternnce 20 this food
of poesy. he sat lost In joyous refiec
ton.
Gle therein. too. shall mess" he re-
peated meditatively.
At this instant. as Bonaparte sworc.
and swore truly TO the end OF his life,
n slow and distinct rap was given on
the crown OF his bald head.
Bonaparte started and looked up. No
"relm" or strap hung down from the
rafters above and not human crea-
ture was near the door. IL was grow
ing dark. lie did not like IL. He he
gan 10 fold mp the papers expeditions
ly. He stretched out his hand for the
ring. The ring was gone-gone, al
though no human creature had entered
the room: gone although no form had
crossed the doorway Gonel
lie would not sleep there, that was
certain.
lie stuffed the papers into his pocket
AS he did so three slow and distinct
taps were given on the crown 81 his
head Bonaparte's jaw fell Each
joint lost It's power lie could not
move, he dared not rise Ills tongue
lay loose in his mouth
"Take all, take all9 he gurgled in
his throat. IL do not want them
Take
Here a resolute tug a tho gray curls
Mt the back OF bis head cnused him to
leap up, yelling wildly Was he 60 Sit
still paralyzed, TO be dragged away
bodily TO the devll2 With terrific
shrieks he hed, casting no glance be.
hind.
When the dew was falling and the
evening was dark. a small figure
moves toward the gate OF the farthest
ostrich camp. driving bird before H.
When the gate was opened and the
bird driven In and the gate fastened. II
turned away. but then suddenly paus.
ed near the stone wall
us that you. WaldoY' said Lyndall.
hearing n sound.
The boy was sitting on the damp
ground. with his back 10 the wall. lie
gave her no answer.
Come" she said. bending over him.
81 have been looking for you sill day
He mumbled something.
"You have had nothing TO eat /
have put some supper In your room.