The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-11-21

the spot, his hair bristIIng, his flesh
creeping, and his knees shifting to-
gether
About this time the stubs, on the
points Of which Stobe was so grace
fully though somewhat uncomforta-
bly,, reclining, were beginning to give
color to his dreams He dreamed that
he was in the internal regions, and,
while engaged in the discussion of
some grave theological subject with
his satanic majesty, a little demon
came at him with red hot pitchfork.
Springing to his feet with an unearth-
ly yell, that sundered the bonds Of
Jim Peters enchantment and uprooted
his feet from the ground, the terrified
pedagogue wheeled TO the right-about,
and broke for home with the speed Of
the wind.
Shobe, smarting from the wounds Of
the imaginary pitchfork, and, fearing
another thrust, started hastily in the
same direction. Catching sight of the
sheet which, fastened around his neck,
was streaming in the wind behind,
and, forgetful of the fact of his hav-
ing arrayed himself as h ghost pre-
vious to his descent to the regions be-
low, the aspiration lent additional fear
to the already terror stricken Shobe,
and he fairly few
Away went Peters, with the unearth-
ly creature OF some sort in his wake;
and on came Shobe, with legion Of
demons as he imagined in his rear.
Peters, in going down the slant of
HILL stubbed his toe and, falling for
ward, tainted as he struck the ground.
Shobe, blowing like a porpoise, lum'
bered past with slightly diminished
speed, and with fright aggravated, If
possible, by the persistence of his i'm.
aginary pursuers. Presently his speed
having diminished to such a degree
that the sheet no longer retaining its
horizontal position caught on limb Of
a fallen tree in such way as not only
to arrest his onward course, but to
jerk him around with his face in the
direction of his imaginary pursuers.
On being thus brought face to face
with the sheet, the recollection flashed
upon his mind at once as to how it
came to be attached to him, and the
righteousness of the idea of his get
ting so badly scared at what he had
intended to brighten another with,
caused him to explode in volley of up
roarous laughter.
Wrapping the sheet around him, he
started homeward, and had proceed
ed but a short distance, when Jim Pc
ters, having recovered from his swoon,
hove in sight
Catching sight of the queer looking
object approaching in the opposite di-
rection, Peters took to the woods, when
Shobe, with demoniac yell, dashed
after him But, while fear lent wings
TO Peters heels, the want of that slim
illus on Shobe's part enabled the fright
ened pedagogue to distance his pur-
suer, who presently gave up the chase
and went home not forgetting to Wis
it the hollow stump en- the way in or
der to satisfy himself that the jug
hadn't been disturbed in his absence.
Sunrise next morning found Peters,
with his worldly possessions done up
in a handkerchief, vending his way in
the direction Of the setting sun. The
most authentic accounts we have of
him since then are to the effect that,
after serving session or two in the
Legislature in one Of the Western
States he was sent to the penitentiary
for stealing horses After serving out
his time in the penitentiary, he prac-
ticed medicine q while: then drove
stage; and at the present time is resi-
dent of Utah, where, with three slab
sided, lantern-jawed women attached
TO him as wives, he has every reason
in the world for wishing himself back
in the penitentiary again. New York
Weekly.