Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1911-01-24

Il
sumed Lewis. there was seven of ii
Il just like that pome we used to recit,
J. | at school-and we ser around this tabl,
much as were doing tonight. and We
!. heard that bell ringing overhead. We
all run out TO see what il was, but
nary thing was there in sight 1t was
a dark night. and the sound seemed &c
drop right down out of the sky"
sounded like sheep bell" com.
mented ''the Crane"
Maybe twas dinner bell ringing
in some air castle" remarked Harry
Barry innocently. but his grin vanish
ed under Jim Lewis gloomy scowl.
You'll laugh on the other side Of
your face later on. pard As was
saying. we went out 10 see what The
noise was. and there was nothing 10
see, only we could hear he tinslp.
tinkie. over our heads. and after
awhile it stopped. and we went inside
and Butter acted just like you're dolue
Harry-he lated at the whole thing
and six months afterwurd we planted
him-dead from the shingles
Il had the shingles lots of times
when ! was Kid remarked Harry
Barry thoushtfully. Every time
| hooked ii from school or went in swim
ming out of season my dad he'd take
down big fat shingle and-well, go
on, Jim. Why didn't all Of you die
when you heard the passing bell. eh?"
/
next. It's likely 10 be any one of US
that heard it, The next year it was
Hayden. and then Collins, and then
| Derrick. This Is the first we've heard
| IT for some time" lin Lewis borrow
| ed some tobacco from the Crane" and
| proceeded to roll several cigarettes with
1.-the brown fingers.
Harry Barry sat up very straight
| and solemn. You mean one of us
here is going 10 die because we heard
that bell?"
Sure thing" answered Lewis, and
the others nodded approval.
"Mebbe it will be you" Harry Bar
ry pointed his finger at Jim Lewis.
"Mebbe." said that gentleman, gloom
lily surveying the smoke stained wall
"Or you." again pointed Harry Bar
ry, this time at 1.-The Crane"
I'm looking for It," shivered 'sthe
Crane"
"Or you"
Gabriel shrugged his shoulders in
differently. "Quien sabe?" he NUT
tered between his tseth.
You're mush hearted lot" sneer-
ed Harry Barry, rising TO his feet. "If
I'd known you'd all sicken and die be-
cause you heard sheep bell'-- He
stopped short.
Jim Lewis arose to his tall height,
with queer light in his gray eyes.
"Sheep bells don't ring at night out
of the sky" lie said impressively.
This bell only rings at night, only
once in awhile during the year, and 1t
rings slow like, just tollng. and some
times there's a groan-a hollow groan
like a soul in torment" He tight
ened his belt and spoke with lowered
voice. 1T sounds like it was bell
flying through the air attached to
nothing. ringing. ringing uarkv'
1nstinctively they arose TO their feet |
and stood with bent heads in listen |
ing attitude. Then there floated In the |
soft tinkle tinkle. growing louder and |
accompanied by Il snoring groan. |
Once, twice. 1t seemed to pass close
above the mess house. and then 1t died |
away into silence
They all looked at Harry Barry.
He stood rigidly by the table, star
ing out into the night. bis big eyes
wide with terror. his mouth open and
his chin wabbling shakily. The ciga-
rette dropped unheeded from his limp
fingers to the floor. and the minutes
passed, and still he stood as IL para
lyZed with horror of some invisible
evil
Suddenly he uttered an ear splitting
screech and Topped to the floor, where
he lay motionless as corpse. They
stood In circle, staring down at him,
not one lifting an eye to the other. In
the background the cook watched open
mouthed.
After long silence "the Crane I'M
jointed his long body and stopped
above the PROSTATE man. He laid O
hand on Harry Barry's pale forehead
and leaped up with a yell.
Whats the matter?'' demanded
Lewis excitedly
Done for
You're jokingw insisted the other
TRY him and see-scairt plumb out
er his life. Cold as charity and dead
as doornail." quaked 1.-THE Crane"
Jim Lewis kDeIt down and laid his
hand on Harry Barry's blue flannel
shirt above his heart. He felt of his ,
forehead and WINGED, turned up an
eyeiid and shiyered. Then his hand
went around to his own hip pocket and
brought back flask filed to the neck.
This he applied TO the closely locked
teeth of Harry Barry and managed to
empty the contents down his throat :
HE swallers"' be cried exuItantly.
Fetch me pail of water. Gabrielw
Gabriel turned TO obey and then stood
It'll in his tracks. With startling sud-
lenness Harry Barry had returned to
jcrked himself to sit
ing posture and rubbed the back Of
lis head thoughtfulIy. That there
vas prime whisky. lin" be grinned
Sons 1t touched my throat seems .
Ike | heard tinkle bells and groans. a
don't wonder yon Lone Bull chaps
ose your nerve when that old tawny ,
wi from the canyon flies over the u
ouse trailing the sheep bell from her
law. ] reckon this here inishiashun's
bout over, eh. boys"
They grinned sheepishly. We reck-
ned you was dead from fear. Harry"