New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-18

same time unwinding from his waist
a rope hidden under his coat. Then
we must get out of this"
But he was an instant too late. Before they
could bend their strength sway again the heavy
bell, some one was heard fumbling at the trap in
the floor, and streak of light appeared as it was
slowly lifted
Get into the rafters quck!" whispered Clarke,
and all three, reaching for the braces overhead
hoisted themselves up with astonishing alacritv
just the head and shoulders of Dennis Murphy
the sexton and college jantor, rose above the floor
Il have We now, We SpapeenSl" shouted the
irascible old man, he held a lantern over his
head You'll get away this time, and well
be after having We safe in jail for it tool Breakin
into churches and gettin' folks out O. their beds
in TIE middle of a night like this, bad cess to We!
Come Iown from your roosts there and gi me your
names now! The prsidentT be here in a minute
and he'll fix we. Arrah! come down wild We now
and face the musiC!"
But not boy moved nor made sound. Murphy
kept on shouting into the shadows but it did him
no good Then he suddenly changed his tune and
called down the hatchway:
q" Yis, sor, they're here. I've got EN- fast enough.
Wait minute, if you phase, sor, till | light
you. It's dark down there-Ah! bad cess to it,"
A puff of wind had darted up the hatchway and
the lantern.
What's the matter?" the voice of the
president heard asking from somewhere
below.
The lights out, sor. Just stop minute,
ifyOu phase, Murphy explained as he fumbed
with the lamp and made vain attempts to
open 1t and to strike matches
" Bechune the rain and the wind, sor, the
howly saints-aXin your pardon, sor-
couldn't light lantern here"
Come below then, out of the wind"
=" | will that, sor. They're safe enough as
long as we're the stairs" and he clumsily
retreated down toward the gallery door,
dropping the hatch over his head.
moment later the trap-dOor again lifted
and a lantern thrust up into the dusty
gloom of the belfry, startling the bats again
and making queer ghostly forms out of the
CrissCrOss of timbers; and it was followed by
the president old white hat, which everybody
knew we'll as they knew the chapel itself.
Come, young gentlemen" he called out
more kindly than he really meant to, while he
tried to send the rays of his lantern far up
among the shadows and cobwebS of the spire
GOMEZ 1t is useless for you stay up there
You have been detected in an infraction of a
well-known regulation and l must know your
names 1t will only go harder with you if you
make difficulties"
Nothing but the echo answered, and that
family. Then the president waxed sterner
in his commands; but even this had no effect
upon the Obdurate silence; and when he and
Dennis together lifted the lantern and searched
until every Granny was exposed they saw
that the place absolutely empty
The Divil fly away wild 'em" muttered
Dennis in his vexation.
1t looks as though he had" said the
president, with a twinkle in his eye-nobody
was able to see it.
Nor was he greatly astOnished next morning
when told that stout rope had been found
hanging from chimney to the roof of
extension, and a second from its cutters to
the ground. 1t was long time before the
"SOphS" heard the last of 1t.