The Monticellonian., 1904-04-28

cuse for poor shot. With a bullet from the Springfield through his brain. bruin 1 leaped, or rather fell, down the ravine j Over and over he tumbed until his l clumsy bulk was wedged between gran ite powder and big basswood tree. 'I guess you'll be safe there until morning. and itll take the oxen to pull your carcass out of there then,' said Todd.
 Returning to the sugar-house he i passed through corner of the S0-acre l clearing.
 The Tompkins Folly, indeed!" he ex- claimed. 'It will take two years more to finish this monumental piece of fool l ishness. But We promised father, and there is an end of it" | Once more he performed his regular round of duties at the sugar-house and tried to snatch a little rest. He was very tired. and soon, without intending to do so. he fell asleep.
 Presently a hand touched his shoulder Before him stood the grenadier, who beckoned him to follow. The moon was now we'll to the westward, and but little of it's light struggled through the tree tops. But Todd kept in sight of the scarlet uniform, and followed the figure which cast no shadow and left no foot prints. Soon they stood at the foot on Pulpit Rock, which the srenadier bed, and then bent down to reach underneath a shelf which jutted out from the main rock. He reached upward, and seemed to find a secret niche, from which he drew a parcel, which he ex- amined and then replaced Day was just breaking when Todd awoke, frightened at finding that he had dropped asleep The maple-sirup was perilously near burning. From its nall by the sugar-house door he took down the dinner horn which he used to signal his brother at the farm house. One long blast was blown, then three short ones, which meant to Judd. Bring the oxen.
 Do you want me to gather the sap?N asked a voice at the door few moments later.
 "No. Judd; thought you would all like some bearsteak for breakfast, that's why l called so early" was the reply.
 Half an hour later, with their game loaded. they were passing Pulpit Rock, when Todd called halt.
 What! Have you more game here?" asked Judd
 Nothing only a hint which I got from dreaming of your scarlet ghost last night" replied Todd. who was now ex- amining the rock.
 At first he could find no opening; then, crouching down under the rocky shelf, and feeling every inch of surface, he found a small opening upward. barely large enough to admit his hand but dark as a pocket and suggestive of snakes and other vile things. and enlarging above into cavity foot or more in di- ameter. From this. after a few mo- ments. he withdrew a moldy and un- clean object, which he brought to his brother. and they examined it together
 The outer wrapping. of leather fell apart almost at their touch; a second wrapping also of leather. was in better condition; the kernel of all a number of e100 Bank of England notes, was per fectly preserved.
 Not drop of water could reach that little natural vault" said Todd. "else these would have been destroyed half a century ago"
 At breakfast Grandfather Tompkins, whose faculties were wonderfully alert in spite of his 90 odd years. surprised the family by his comment on Todd dis covery.
 This seems to be the proper time" he said, flor me to give the history of the scarlet ghost On the night when a portion of Burgoyne's captured army, on the march eastward, was quartered in a barn not far from here. a party was hunting in the woods below. Daniel Tompkins. then only boy. was sure that he caught a glimpse of figure in scarlet and bearing spade beyond Pull pit Rock When he told his companions later they only laughed at him. as the British were well guarded. although it is notorious that many of the patriot guard had partaken SO freely of New England rum that prisoner might easily have eluded them. When Daniel came into possession of the farm. few years latter, he staked out the S0-acre tract within whose limits he believed treasure had been hidden. As the object of the clearing has been accomplished. you boys are excused from further work upon it."
 I make this extract from letter speeding from the farm to nearby city:
 Now, my dear. see no reason why you may not set the date. Meanwhile be kind enough to visit us as l cannot rightly leave Judd in 'sugaring,' the busiest time of the year. There was nothing ghostly about those notes. We have received s12000 in exchange for them. and Judd and have made set tlement. He takes the farm and s2 000; receive 10000. TODD. Farm and Preside
 JUSTICE FOR A USURER.