The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-08-10
BY ARTHUR T. QUILLER COUCH:

know not who Of us was most taken
aback. But, noting Delia's sad, won
dering face, as her eyes wandered
round the neglected room and rested
on the tattered portraits. I lost pa
tience.
Our business is with Master Han
nibal Tingcomb," said I sharply.
The straight-haired man looked up
again, his mouth full. of ham.
"Hushv-he held his fork up, and
shook his head sorrowfully, and l won
dered where I had seen him before
Hast thou an angels wings" he
asked.
"Why, no., sir: but the devils own
boots-as you shall find if I be not
answered.
Young man-young man." broke IN
the one-eyed butler, "our minister IS
a good minister, and speaks round
about as such, but the short is that
my master is dead and in his coffin"
1.-THE mortal part" corrected the min
lSlCI, CullluS dLObhSA o'AS
"Aye, the immortal is a-trippin' it I
the New ~Jeroosalem, but the mortal
was very lamentably took VIZ a ut
three days back-the same day, young
man, as thou earnest wi thy bloody
threats"
"a ft?"
AYE. sir-an' verify, such a fit as
thou thysel' witnessed. Twas the third
a~ttack-an' he cried, oh! he did. an
.Ahr-just like that. oh? an then
ABR Such were" his last dyin' speech.
Dear Master says 1, there's no call
to die so hard;' but might so well ha'
whistled. for he was dead as nails. \
beautiful corpse, sirs, dang my but
tonsn!
~Show him to u.s."
"Willingly, young man. He led the
way to the very room where Master
Tingcomb and I had held our inter
We'd. AS before, six candles were burn
ing there, but the table was pushed
into a corner, and now their light fell
on q long black coffin resting on tres
ties in the centre Of the room. The
coffin was closed, and studded with
silver nails; on the lid was a silver
plate bearing these words, written:
Hannibal Tingcomb, MDCNLlll,'
with a text Of Scripture below.
"Why have you nailed him down"
I asked.
"Now where be thy bowels, young
man, to talk so unfeelin'? An where
be thy experience, not to know the
ways O. thy blessed bed in summer
time?"
when do you bury him."
Tomorrow forenoon. The spot is
two miles from here" He blinked
at me, and hesitated for a minute. us
it your purpose, sirs, to attends"
"Be sure Of that" I said, grimly. $50
have beds ready tonight for all u
company"
"All thy! Dear Sir, consider;
where are beds to be found? Sure,
thy mariners can pass the night aboard
their own SNIP!
$50, then" thought I, "you have been
on the lookout" but Della replied for
ne:
II am Della Killigrew and mistress
of this house. You will prepare the
beds as you are told" Whereupon
what does that decrepit old sinner but
1ron ,,pon hic EDoaso
Mistress Della! Oh, goodly feast
for this one poor eye! Oh, that Mas
ter Tingcomb had seen this day"
I declare the tears were running
down his nose; but Della marched out,
cutting short his hypocrisy.
In the passage She whispered:
"Villainy, Jack"
"Hushr' 1 answered, "and listen:
Master Tingcomb is no more in that
coffin than l."
"Then where is heT"
THAT is just what we are to dis
cover"
About IL o'clock that same night l
crept out of the house, and, finding,
rs I suspected, a hearse in front of
the door, crept into it, along with
Matt Soames, whom had summoned
to help me.
By coiling up limbs we managed
it, but only just before I caught the
glimmer of q light and heard two per-
m approaching. They were my one
eyed friend and the good. minister.
They came very slow, grumbling all
the way, and of course I knew they
carried the coffin.
"All right, Sim?" asked the minister.
AYE" piped a squeaky voice by the
horses heads Ctwas the shutting sta
BILE boy, 'aye, but look sharp! Lord.
what sounds I've heerd! The devils i
the hearse for sure.w
They raised the coffin and pushed it
into the hearse. 1t was a close squeeze
for Matt. The door was clapped to,
and the three rogues climbed upon the
seat in front, and we started.
I hope I may never be called to pass
such another half hour as that which
followed. AS soon as the wheels left
turf for the hard road twas jolt, jolt
all the way. Finally we turned sharp
to the right with a jolt that shook our
teeth together, rolled for a little while
ove smooth grass and drew up.
I heard the fellows climbing down
and got my pistols out.
SKINNY" growled the minister.
"where's the lantern?'
There was a moment or 50 Of silence,
and then the swapping Of flint and steel
and the sound Of putting.
Lit, Simmy"
AYE, here it's"