Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1902-10-15


we travelled through the country and
stopped on lonely road, the coffin
lid was raised, and with some little
hesitation / stepped in and lay down
AS the lid was closed and the
wagon proceeded / felt creepy, for a
coffin is an uncanny resting place for
the living. How heartless were my
pals! How merrily they ratified
along oyer. the rough roads!
Finally they stopped, and after
some parley the people consented to
allow the corpse CD to remain in
the house, the travellers to camp
near by. felt the coffin roughly
lifted out of the wagon and carried
into the house; then 1 heard them
all leave the room, and everything
became quiet. How quiet and OPP
pressive! / almost held my breath
Time passed slowly, during which
time 1 had ample time for refec-
ton.
Finally the conclusion forced itself
upon my conception that the wrong
man was in the coffin. This conclu-
sion was adduced from a variety of
reasons. First, knew nothing of
the large house to which they had
carried me, except what the boys had
told me that day, and as i had al
ways been accustomed to backwoods
cottages or cabins, I knew it would
be mere accident if I should ever
discover any valuables there. I dis
covered also that I was not that
quality of which daring burglars are
made, and 1 sincerely wished myself
at home.
At length I heard voices, then two
or three persons, whom I judged to
be members of the family, entered
the room, and one, seemingly a boy
of about my own age, said: 'Well,
1 would like to look at that corpse
and see what it is like-why, hello!'
he continued, "the careless fellows
failed to screw down the lid" AS he
finished speaking the lid was raised.
! Oh, the horror of that moment.
held my breath until it seemed that
| should burst, while I felt that he was
| looking at me intently.
The lid closed with a bang, while he
repeated: This looks curious. 1t will
not hurt sure-enough corpse to have
| the lid screwed down, and if this is
not one it ought to be. Hand me a
screwdriver, please"
Great horrors! That would never
do! So the next moment I dashed off
| the coffin lid and leaped to the floor.
| AS l did so the young man gave me
blow that came near knocking, me
| Int T nd
on the veranda when l heard someone
running around the corner Of the
! house.
| must not meet my second antag-
onist, and yet / saw no earthly means
of avoiding him; but suddenly 1 be-
held we'll curb and determined to lea
into it. No one would think of so dar-
ing a feat and l would completely baf-
file my pursuers.
In a moment I had leaped upon it,
but as 1 began letting myself into the
curb 1 lost my hold and fell with a
splash 40 feet into water up to my
shoulders.
"Stay there, YOU fake corpse!" cried
my tormentor. "When you come out
of there you will be ready to remain
in your coffin"
''Do let me out" pleaded. "This is
my first attempt, and can assure you
it is my last"
81 don't doubt that in the least" he
retorted. but when we bring you out
of there we will carry you the remain
der of the way to the graveyard our
selves, since the cowardly poltroons
who brought you here have deserted
you"
Then he left me, and although
: groaned and prayed and implored al
through the night, no one came.
The next morning my tormento1
came again, and, after imploring hin
for a long while, he let the bucket
down and told me to grab hold.
The rope was small and old and
told him that | feared it would break
: But he jeeringly told me to let it breal
he didn't care. When 1 was half way
up he said he believed he would TURF
loose and let me back. l implorec
: him to finish drawing me, and he final
ly complied with my request.
! When he landed me on terra frms
an old gentleman and an old lady
: whom l at once perceived to be my
young rescuer's father and mother
were also present, and last, but no
of least consequence, his sister, a:
pretty girl as 1 had ever seen. Jus
L u =