Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-12-05
CHAPTER VIII.

1t was two CLOCK when L got into
the doctors gig with the new will. My
house was just on the outskirts of the
town Flexmore's was two or three miles
beyond on the other side of Beagle Woods.
The mist had been thick all the morn
ing; but it was thicker than ever when
| started, so that | could not see three
yards ahead with my glasses on. How
ever, | knew | could trust to the intelli-
gence of the doctors nag, who took that
road every day in the week, and nights as
we'll sometimes and with my collar well
I'D, and my nose well down in a comfort
err, off | started.
I logged along pretty comfortably un-
til we got into the Beagle Woods; there
the mist seemed to have settled down into
a solid block, and the big trees that skirt
the road on either side increased the OBJ
security. However, the nag kept on her
ambling trot-till presently, smash Down
she went. without any kind of warning,
up dashed the seat of the gig, and out
flew, as though | had been shot from a
catapult.
l was on my legs in q moment, for my
first thought was of the will l had stuck
under the seat cushion, and l feared the
nag would start up ndbolt with it.
could hear her breathing heavily; she did
not attempt to move. l ran back in that
direction, when-bang over l went again,
fat on my nose. l had felt something
strike against my shins, and as 1 rose
to my feet once more, l discovered the
cause of both falls-a cord was stretched
across the road.
1t slackened as l touched it, and the
next moment was whisked out of my
hands. Was this the wanton mischief of
boys, or the sinister design of some one
bent upon plumber?
my names Anthony Keene, and you
shall suffer for this, you vagabonds, who
ever you are:" 1 shouted, as l CROPPED
my way to the gig. l am well known
in Coneyford. and l knew that if they
were boys they would scuttle off on hear
| ing my name.
There was no sound of voice or foot
fall-only the old nag gasping on the
ground. Then felt sure it was the work
of a man; but l was not fearful of any
further mischief, for the thief must be
foolhardy indeed 90 attac kan old law
yer, who is more likely to get him into
trouble than yield much in the way of
| booty.
Feeling about the poor old horse, 1
| found that both the shafts We're broken,
so there was no thought of going on in
the gig even if the horses legs were not
broken as we'll. The will was just where
! l had stuck it, under the strap of the
cushion; clapped it in my pocket, and,
after a moments reflection, started off 10
walk the remainder of the journey, leav-
ing horse and trap in the road to take
| their chances.
A nice walk / had-tumbling into a
ditch on the right, and then into a ditch
on the left, running fat up against q
brick wall, and then pitching on to a pile
of iints by the roadside, all the time in
such darkness and impenetrable fog, that
| for all knew 1 might have been walking
half the time in a circle. To make mat
tiers worse, found my nose was bleeding
| from the fall I got over the cord 1t
seemed to me l should never get to my
| journeys end. However, after a time it
grew less obscure, which made me think
l must have got clear of the Beagle
| Woods, which was a comfort; and short
| ly afterwards l heard footsteps approach
| ing.
| who's there?" I called when I felt it