The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1905-04-12
CHAPTER XXIII.-fCaatinued.,

SNA NACAANSN ~ W. %A&NGFA III
bal Tingcomb," said l sharply.
The strsight-haired man looked up
again, his mouth full OF ham
"Hush!'-he held his fork up. and
shook his head sorrowfully. aud | won
dered where 1 had seen him before.
Hast thou an angels wings" he asked.
Why. no, sir; but the heavy boots
as you shall find il l be not answered.
Young man-young 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 us"
Willingly. young man" He led the
way 10 the very room where Master Ting
comb and I had held our interview. AS
before. six candles were burning there,
but the table was pushed into a corner.
and now their light fell IN a long black
coffin, resting on ~trestleS III 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. MDCNLIII.,"
with a text of Scripture below.
When do you bury him."
Tomorrow forenoon. The spot is two
mile from here" He blinked az me. and
hesitated for a minute. rs il your pur-
pose, sirs, TO attend:"
BE sure OF that" | said grimly. so
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 then" thought I. you nave oeen
on the lookout but 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.
l declare the tears were running down
his nose; but Della marched out. cutting
short his hypocrisy. In the passage she
whispered:
"Villainy, jack
Hush | answered. land 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 /
erept out of the house, and finding, as /
suspected. a hearse in front of the door.
crept into it. along with Matt Soames.
whom | had summoned TO help me.
By coiling out limbs we managed it,
but only just before l caught the glimmer
OF a hight and heard 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
boy, AYE. 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. II was a close squeeze
for Matt. The door was clapped to. the
three rogues climbed upon the seat in
front, and we started.
l 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 a jolt that shook our teeth to-
gether. rolI'd for a little while over
smooth grass and drew up.
/ heard the fellows climbing down and
got my pistols out.
'Sinlmy." grOwrd the minister,
where's the lanternT'
r. 1000 - - - ~,fN-aa
and then the swapping Of tiint 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' u.s."
Be sure, his words were as good as a
slap in the face to me. For l had count
ed 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 I must deal with these scoun-
dFe.s. vino already were dragging out the
coffin.
STEADY there calls the minister. The
eotin was more than half way outside. I
levelrd my pistol and fetrh'd a yell fit
to wake a ghost-at the same time let
ting fly straight for the minister.
In the fash of the discharge l saw
him. half turn'd. his eyes starting and
mouth agape. He clapp'd his hand to
IS 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 a crash -Satan-Sa-
TAM bawled Simmy, and. dropping the
lantern. took 10 his heels for dear life.
At the same moment the horses took
fright, and before / could scramble out
we were tearing madlJ away over the
turf and into the darkness. | had made
a sad mess OF IL
Leaving Matt TO mind the horses, /
caught up the lantern and looked about