Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-01-11


eye, and led us to large, bare hall, hung
round with portraits; where was a table
spread with plenty of vietuals, and horn
handled knives and forks laid beside
plates of pewter; and at the table man
IN black, eating. He had straight hair
and sallow face. and look'd up as we
enterd, but, grooming, in moment fell
To again.
Eat sirs,' the old servitor exhorted
us; alas. that man may take nothing
out o the world!''
know not who of us was most taken
aback. But noting Delias sad, wonder
ing face. as her eyes wandered round the
neglected room and rested on the tattered
portraits, j lost patience.
Our business is with Master Hanni-
bal Iingcomb," said sharply.
The straight-haired man looked nm
again, his mouth full of ham.
Hush! he held his fork M. and
shook his head sOrrowfully. and | won
dered where l had seen him before.
Hast thou an angels wings z" he asked.
why, no, sir; but the heavy boots
as you shall find if be not answered
Young man-young man." broke in
the one-eyed butler, ''our minister is y
good minister, and speaks roundabout as
such. but the short is that my master is
dead and in his coffin"
SHOW him TO us"
Willingly, Young man." lie led the
way 10 the very room where Master Ting
comb and l had held our interview. AS
before, six candles were burning there.
but the table was pushed into a corner.
and now their light fell on a 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
silver plate bearing these words writ
ten: Hannibal Tingcomb, MDCNLIII.,"
with text of Scripture below.
When do you bury him.
Tomorrow forenoon. The spot is two
mile from here" He binked al me. and
hesitated for a minute. is it your pur-
pose. sirs. to attend?"
BE sure Of that" l said grmly so
have beds ready tonight for all our com
pany."
IAN thy, Dear sir, consider: where
are beds to be found? Sure. thy mari
ners can pass the night aboard their own
ship?"
so then" thought l, won have been
on the lookout" hut Della replied for
Il 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 eye. Oh, that Master Ting
comb had seen this day.
| declare the tears were running down
his nose; but Della marched out, cutting
short his hypocrisy. In the passage she
whispered:
"Vfflainy, jack"
Hush l 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 |
suspected, a heapse in front of the door,
crept into it. along with Matt Soames.
whom | had summoned to help me.
BY coiling ont limbs we managed it,
but only just before | caught the glimmer
of a light and card two persons APP
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
boyl, AYE. but look sharp! What sounds
I've heerd, The evil ones i the hearse
for surer'
They raised the coffin and pushed it
;p+n tbn boa,.-o u.ac elasa Sruaaza
for Matt The door was clapped to, the
three rogues climbed upon the seat in
front, and we started.
| hope / 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.
| heard the fellows climbing down and
got my pistols out.
'Simmy," growl'd the minister,
where's the lanternf"
There was a moment or so of silence.
and then the swapping of flint and steel
and the sound of pulling.
The handle of the door was turnd,
and light flashed into the hearSe.
Here. hold the lantern steady, Come
hither. old Squeaks. and help wi the
end. Master TingcOmb is still Twin and
in his own house awaitin' u.s."
Be sure. his words were rs good IS Il
slap in the face to me. For had count
ed the hearse to lead us straight to Mas
ter Tingcomb himself. In his own
house." too. a fright seizd me for Della.
But first | must deal with these scoun-
drels. who already were dragging out the
coffin.
"Steady there" calls the minister. The
coffin was more than half way outside. ]
leyeIpd my pistol and fctch'd yell fit
to wake Il 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 cut chorus of screams. in the
middle of which the coffin tilted up and
went over with a crash. 'Satan-Sa-
TAM bavMed Simmy, and dropping the
lantern. took to his heels for dear life.
At the same moment the horses took
fright. and before / could scramble out
we were tearing mady away over the
turf and into the darkness. | had made
a 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
N a narrow meadow between tWn hills.
whereof the black slopes rose high above