The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-09-04
Cbe Picture Cbdt
 Game to Life

a ner. causing the girl to crfnge ana cling closer to the strong arm or the
 The corpulent and big hearted nurse thing about ghosts ana young folks foolishness, yowing that they would be certain to get murdered soon for con- cealihg a spy in the house.
 But she was very necessary to the scheme as someone must keep constant guard while Mistress Prudence busied herself with the work.
 Soon locating a huge picture frame some ten feet in height by about five feet wide. the girl with the assistance of the lad. lifted it from its fiat posi- ton on. the floor and stood 1t against
 Then draping some curtains from the top in graceful manner, and placing the one candle at the base of the frame, stand upon the low window sill. Next procuring a sheet, she covered his fig ure and posing him With one hand ex- with a little shudder as her. hand came In contact with the grewsome object; then stepped back to view her picture of Death"
 She. was surprised as well as pleased with her effort, for in the dim light to one entering the room from the farther end at the trap door. the effect was F*rnfhy rhe ygr fha went en oTer verge to he peure
 What think thee of the scheme 7'' she enquired enthusiastically.
 The lad reached out his hands and 1I1 d t o. is Is the Ssilseverest one I have eyer ever hear any of the redcoats coming" for with a gasp the quick ear of tlLe girl had detected footsteps on the porch. Then followed by a loud, heavy knocks,ing at the front fo,nts door pnd the
 Mistress Prudence, followed by the nurse, hastily climbed down the rick ety ladder; shutting the trap door be- ly woman in the kitchen at her work, she walked with a brave tread to the door and opened 1t.
 Excuse us, Madam" said the leader. big stout Englishman, who peered at her closely, being somewhat nearsight- ed. thus giving her an opportunity to detect upon his breath the ;on Sdor of there Is concealed In this house an American spy and it Is my duty to inch an American girl.
 My words would not be believed il I contradieted you-search to thy
 Going over and seating herself in her big chair, she began calmly to work upon her sampler, taking each stitch slowly, and deliberately. The but found nothing more than. quiet smile and a devilish pretty complexion not unlike one of tho big red roses that bloomed outside.
 As they disappeared from sight into the dining room, the girl could locate them at every point Of the search Tor Tor the big heavy boots of sn.iIn the Captain he blundered here and there.
 In the kitchen the old nurse, was put through a cross examination. but from her they could probe nothing.
 Meanwhile the search went on unln- terrupted, while outside the night was fast coming on. The father might re- turn at any moment.
 The girl rather hoped he would not for he was quick tempered and would resent the insult.
 The captain had heard Of the fame O. the old man as an artist and paused now and then to secretly admire some painting on the wall.
 Well" he said to the men at length There remains but one place to search the attic I presume the house has one By gad. come 10 think about 1t every house has here" iers, S and they looked around for a stairway leading up to 1t. At last the captain stumbled into
 the adder m his w6eS nSse forth an oath as a barometer or ms feelings. play of anger. When he was half way iip the rickity affair suddenly gave way and he was pereipitated violently mt at the top of his voice. that the spy ! had shot him. ..- Unfortunately, no bones were broken so he arose, again and once more piac- ing the ladder in its former position they ascended one by one. very eau tiolsly. however Miss Ys PrudenIee d,,IS uoIs eag- followed by the nurse, made some ex- cuse and asked to be allowed to go in- to the attic for moment. They were permitted to come. life like picture representing Death he suddenly uttered an exclamation ol surprise. and his teeth began to chat
 To his half drunken and SStupified gaze the apparition was appalling;
 But he wished to appear calm before
 While he knew t was a picture, ths 't thing was So lifelike that he could ''@s Perhaps it was only his fancifuI imagination, but he was intensely Isu' perstitious and had had had . too too oric much ha- For moment he stood perfectly still as though. debating something while the men fell back awaiting his dim iight-the two women watching every. muscle of his face with bateo breath 7~ :,.=~.
 And then -
 It could not be helpcd-it had to
 "Death" sneezed.
 With an unearthly scream, the ghost suddenly come to life, sprang from the " and kicked over the one light plunging the dim room in to utter darKness.
 ',' Ill was confusion. The wom en screamed; the captain fell flat up I:on the floor, cold beads of perspira- tion upon his forehead; the. soldiers fell over one another 'not daring to fire lest they hit q comrade or one oi late late TH9' iiVing picture taking advsntags of the situation, crept on hands and knees to the girl whom he. located by her screams, and seizipg her by the hnPH Finding MpsPfF'u Phe trap p0 door he quickly climbed on the steps and taking the girl in his arms lifted her to the floor. not neglecting to slam to the door and tumbled into his arms Then noisely they gnded out into the yard where the captain'e horse awaited, hitched to the fence.
 Unhttching every .otner horse they and putting spur to the one they had mounted. rode away In the darkness.
 on they dashed straight for the vil' lage, as they emerged from the trees at the fork of the roads. The inhabi- tnnts were evidently startled as they crancl their necks from window now and then as they flew madly past, and they probably remembered for a long time the unusual spectacle of q figure clad in white flowing sheet thavine been unable to extricatc himself from its folds, as 1t had been tied at the neck. by stout string to prevent the intruders pulling 1t oft), carrying of the wind. In truth it seemed for all the world like another Tam O. ShanteI