The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-13
IIES


Naggin. He had been so meek
HrWM in life and took henpecking so
- naturally that there wasn't a
men. woman or child in Dozeville he didn't
owe a grudge. Now that he was dead. it is
safe 10 say that more aGgravating specter
never wore a shroud or clanked a chain.
The very night after the funeral Mrs. Nag
gin was sitting by the kitchen fire, going
over what a grand. good man Jonas had
been and thinking how she would have a
little peace and be able TO keep the house
clean now, anyhow, when all at once she
heard the bucket go down in the well.
lickety split. humping against the stones
all the way down. like Jonas always did ii
ii she didn't watch him.
"JonasI' she yelled. Air you bound and
determined to bust that there we'll bucket?
The bucket went tumbling down again,
with more noise than ever, as Mrs. Naggin
caught her breath and realized that Jonas
was more. She would have sat down to
weep a little over this, maybe, if she hadn't
been so much put out over the abuse of the
well bucket.
Its them drafted Benson youngunsr'
she exclaimed. and threw open the kitchen
door.
Not soul was in sight! The we'll stood
out in the open. and there was no place
for any one to hide. The moon was shining
brightly, she went out to the curb, ex-
pecting to find Freckles Benson hidden
on the other side of IL. He was not there.
She went slowly back into the house.
rubbing her nose. She had no more than
closed the door when. with a clang and a
clat,er. a succession of bumps and a loud
splash, 'she heard the bucket go down
again. She ran back out and peered into the
black depths of the well.
81 see you down there, you Freckles
Bensoni' she cried You come right out
O. there or you'll ketch your death o. cold
an you'll fall down an break your neck
an drownd yourself, an I'll tell yer mother
on We an she'll most skin ye alive!'
There was no answer. She hurried into
the house and out with a candle
She held il over the mouth of the we'll to
peer down in, when puff, out it went There
was not so much as breath of air stirring
She went into the house, relit the candle
and came back out. Puffl 1t out
again, Three times she tried it.
DRAFTED If 1 don't see down in that there
well or know tn" reason why" she ex-
claimed. This time she brought out a Ian
tern on the end of string and let II
down into the black dripping hole without
hindrance. 1t was as clear as a whistle
all the way down.
'.Mebby 1 been Worried so Z day that
kind OF imagine things" she finally con-
cluded. 81 guess better go to bed"
She went back to the kitchen fire and
began TO prepare for bed. Bumpi Bump
SPLASH The bucket was tumbling dowI
the we'll again. She serenely went on plat
Ing up her hair. Bump Bump Splash
Mrs. Naggin paid no attention. The din be-
came something terrific. but Mrs. Naggir
never let on, until after one final crasf
something heavy came rolling and rafting
and banging against the kitchen door. Mrs
Naggin got down Jonas's old rifle and wen
out. The we'll bucket lay on the sill, bu
she strobe over IL and made a circle of tn,
house
IT seen We. whoever ye air." she called
IAN I'll have the law on We t'morry.
know We pesky well, an don't you think
don.tr'
With this threat she took the bucket bacl
10 the well. The rope swayed idly there
but the chain that had connected the rop'
10 the bucket was gone. 1t was a problem
too deep TO solve just then. so she rubbe,
her nose, locked all the doors and went t,
bed.
Clank, Clanki Clank! There was tn
sound of a heavy chain out in the kitchen
rafting and pounding away at the floor
Mrs. Naggin sat up in bed with her rifle il
Ler hands and tried to peer through tn
gloom. Through the sitting room an,
straight TO the bedroom door came TIL
cIanking and stomping noise. with all tn
Il.
.sWho's there?" she demanded, her finge
on the trigger.
There was no answer. The noise stopped
but a light. filmy cloud gathered on tn
inside of the door 1t slowly assumed form
and shape until at last Jonas himself stoo
luminously revealed TO her astonished an
indignant eyes. He deliberately unlocke
the door from the inside, stopped down an
got his chain from the other side of tn
threshold, came over close to the bed an
stood there clanking his chain up and dow
with all his might.
"YOu jonas she screamed. above tn
racket. You git right out an let a bod
go to sleep. tn idea o. you actin up Xix
a passel O. fool younguns at your time {
life."
I'm a-goin' TO do as l dun please" an
swered the ghost OF Jonas. 81 took yor
sass. Mary Jane Naggin, fer nigh on I
thirty year. an l hain't a-goin' L take n
more OF it," Here he slammed his chat
on the floor by way OF emphasis did
scrape my boots before come in tn house
No. didn't scrape my boots before / com
In tn housei What's more. hain't a-golr
10 no more. I'll leave tracks. from Il
kitchen 70 tn spare bedroom. all bIam
pleasei' More clanking OF the chain Iva
IL me that socked that bucket down I'm Il
well? Yes IL was me that socked thu
bucket down in the WE'LL I'm a-goin'
come aroun' an do II every time / dad
burned feel like it. too Slam. bang. wer
the chain. did / shet tn kitchen doc
when / come in? No, didn't shet tn kitci
en- door when / come in! Am / burnin
Dustin. bilin'. rarin'. tearin'. cussin'. PAWN
roarin', rip-snortin' mad? Mary Jane Mas
gin. / be- I'm a-goin' L liant you till &
GOOD an even CT 1t takes-ul = hundr.