Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-07-04

ful blow on his forehead with a small bar
of iron. They left his nody in cellar
way in PInches alley.
At first ! was so transfixed as TO be alb
only to h Id the paper in my hands and
stare at it, read it thrice over, scanning
each word and letter in horrible fascins-
ton. 1t was Wards Handwriting there
was no mistake about that and Ward had
written it, Tor | had seen him.
Strange to say no suspicion Of practi
cal joke entered my head for an instant
Calm reflection would doubtless have sug-
ges'ed th,t explanation of the affair But
| did not reflect calmly. bounced upon
the conclusion without delay, and that was
that Ward had been murdered, and that |
had seen his ghost Strange proceeding
would it not be, for man to appear after
being killed and write his own obituary !?
However the strangeness nor the prepos
terousne-s Of the idea did not enter my
mind then. | simply accepted it at once,
with all its horror and wildness.
As | said | held the paper in my hand,
and read it carefully. | was in sort of
stupor for a few seconds, and then came
suddenly to act. The place mentioned as
the receptacle of Wards body must be
searched Immediately.
laid the paper down and went to the
door. AS | opened it gust of wind swept
in, creating quite commo,ion among the
papers. | sprang back to the table
Wards manuscript had blown on whit he
rest, and stopped down to look for it
Just then heard Bailey's step in the outer
hail. and called out
Bailey Bailey! Come in here, for
Gods sake ~
What's up Peck ~
He entered hastily, and spoke with sur
pri-ed anxiety. ! can't distinctly recollect,
much less account for my manner on that
night!
" It's just as | feared" | said, sill
searching for the missing paper.
g What is il ?n
Ward-O
''What OF him2'
" He is killed"
Ward killed How When Who
brought the news 2"
| suddenly paused in my search, and
stared at him blankly, as he asked the last
que sIioh'
why oon you answer me hls
voice was Inll OF harsnhess ana distress.
no told you Nhere Is ne
In eeIar-Way on flhche aiey'
VINO Drought the news WIZ you
answer that
lie brought IL h'hiseil-or ralher Ils
ghost dld,n 1 answered aQ9groy'
Gee Ieck, saiu baIey' ehai Piy'
: don't nave any fooling on Soch a SUBJECT
Are you joking, or are you nol =
@oh'"g1 No, no WISH was =
but, come on seizcu nun py tho
shoulder ana ehdeavoreo TO arag MN 10
ward the door " we must ind his body,
Bail-y thought l was OUT OF my head;
and 60 not Diane NM lie al'euSa%eu
hlmselt from my grasp, ana "heeieo
about, facing me.
NOW tell me What You mean ne
said, sterniy, win voice ana manner 'ha'
brought me BACK 10 coherehcy
In MS calm manner as possipIe' / reih-
tea to nm the events OF Inc ie" hohlei's
JuS5 passed : -, .o,,5oa 10 o,od ,,o ror
t'. Nv 'i saa 49,, ;r,nrnI,,in',s
IoNly' anu LIS lace oo'e "' iiloi''''''o0'
''oN ,, ana
y on don't believe me, | sad but
De klho enough 10 help me LOT iioil ,r
ana we VIII soon lIuu Tue Papei' INC
WIND blew II on the moor
felt rather chagrned, and dou6ly ANXIOUS ,'4
TO ma IT, bnt IL was not I" DC Ioull"' W.
searched every stray scrap. c ;,
1t must have fallen INTO the Hrepiace''
said. 'See-there are us charreo re-
mains, now" .
"les, ! see, sad Bailey LOOKING AT me-
pityingy. but never hiihu 'o-i,sn',
ietk: you hau pc''ei 70 noAi'0 ''"'' eo'
rested 81, .
~ ti@ 49, VI .';sirr y, oioor,otod ssYou
4 on are 'illlll'S "ou,a an, a,a,,,I'
uoh oelleNe me pu' am . ie', III W
nor crazy nav SPoN ',,st tio o u WI, With me