The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-05-25
. SILVER SPUR
CHAPTER xxI11.-(continued.,

Ing face, as her eyes wandered round the
neglected room and rested on the tattered
portraits. 1 lost patience.
Our business is with Master Hanni-
bal Tingcomb," said / 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 / had seen him before.
Hast thou an angels wings?' he asked.
"Why, no, sir; but the heavy boots
as you shall find if ! be not answered.
young man-youag man." broke in
the one-eyed butler, "our minister Is a
good minister and speaks roundabout as
such; but the short is that my master is
dead and in his coffin"
"Show him to u.s."
Willingly, young man." BE led the
way to the very room where Master Ting
comb and had held our interview. AS
before, six candles were burning there,
but the table was pushed into corner,
and now their light fell on long black
coffin, resting on trestles in the center
Of the room. The coffin was closed, and
studded with silver nails; on the lid was
a silver plate bearing these words writ
ten: Hannibal Tingcomb, MDCXLIII.,"
with text Of Scripture below.
when do you bury him?"
Tomorrow forenoon. The spot is two
mile from here" He blinked at me, and
hesitated for a minute. SIS it your pur-
pose, sirs. to attendf"
BE sure Of that" I said grimly. $50
have beds ready tonight for all our COM
pany."
"All thy! Dear sir, consider; where
are beds to be found? Sure, thy mari
ners can pass the night aboard their own
ship?"
$50 them" thought 1. "you have been
on the lookout" but Della replied for
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 drop upon
his knees?
Mistress Della, Oh, goodly feast for
this one poor eyei Oh, that Master Ting
comb had seen this day"
1 declare the tears were running down
his nose; but Della marched out, cutting
short his hypocrisy. In the passage she
whispered:
"Villainy, Jackv'
."Hushp' answered, "and listen: Mas
ter Tingcomb is no more in that coffin
than l."
"Then where is he?"
THAT is just what we are to discover"
About IL o'clock that same night
crept out Of the house, and finding, as
susI ected, hearse in front of the door,
crepe into it, along with Matt Soames,
whom had summoned to help me.
By coiling out limbs we managed it,
but only just before caught the glimmer
Of light and heard two persons ap-
preaching. They were my one-eyed friend
| and the good minister. They came very
slow, grumbling all the way, and of
course knew they carried the coffin.
"All right, Sim?" asked the minister.
aye" piped a squeaky voice by the
horses heads Ctwas the shutting stable
boy). faye, but look sharp! What sounds
I've heerd! The evil ones i the hearse
for sure"
They raised the coffin and pushed it
into the hearse. 1t was a close squeeze
for Matt. The door was clapped to. the
three rogues climbed upon the seat in
front, and we started.
/ hope l may never be called to pass
such another half hour as that which fol-
lowed. AS soon as the wheels left turf
for the hard road twas jolt, jolt all the
way. Finally we turn'd sharp to the
right with jolt that shook our teeth to-
gether, roll'd for little while over
| smooth grass and drew up.
l heard the fellows climbing down and
got my pistols out.
SKINNY" growld the minister,
where's the lantern?"
} There was a moment or so of silence.
and then the swapping of flint and steel
and the sound of putting.
The handle Of the door was turn'd,
and a light flashed into the hearse.
Here, hold the lantern steady! Come
hither, old Squeaks, and help WI the
end. Master Tingcomb is still livin' and
In his own house awaitin' usv'
Be sure, his words were as good as a
slap in the face to me. For had count
cd the hearse to lead us straight to Mas
! ter Tingcomb himself. "In his own
house," too! A fright seiz'd me for Della.
But first 1 must deal with these scoun-
drels, who already were dragging out the
coffin.
STEADY therew calls the minister. The
coffin was more than half way outside. I
levell'd my pistol and fetch'd yell fit
! to wake a ghost-at the same time let
ting fly straight for the minister.
In the fash of the discharge / saw
him, half turn'd, his eyes starting and
mouth agape. He clapp'd his hand to
his shoulder. On top Of his wild shrek
broke out a chorus Of screams, in the
middle Of which the coffin tilted up and
went over with q crash. ''Satan-Sa-
tan" bawled Simmy, and, dropping the
lantern, took to his heels for dear life.
At the same moment the horses took
fright, and before l could scramble out
we were tearing .madly away over the
turf and into the darkness. had made
q sad mess OF it.
/ Leaving Matt to mind the horses,
caught up the lantern and looked about
me. As well as could be seen, we were
In a narrow meadow between two hills,
whereof the black slopes rose high above
as. Some PAGES to the right my ear
caught the noise Of a stream running.
turned the lantern on the coffin.
which lay face downward. and with a
gasp took In the game those precious
rogues had been playing. For, with the
fall OF It, the boards were burst clean
asunder; and on both sides had tumbled
out silver cups, silver salt cellars, silver
plates and dishes, that in the lanterns
rays sparkled prettily on the turf. The
coffin, in short. was stuffed with Delia's
dlverware.
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