Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-06-27

with an effort, bent myself to the work le
fore me. Presently Bailey came in on al
crrand.
"Wherc's Sutfin ?" he said.
"Don't ask" replied.
! Oh? he exclaimed, with scowl, "B
gone long?''
'sTill half.past one, he saitl.''
"WeM hope he'll get back. F." And witt
the Inst word the door swung shut, as BAL
I ley retired. r.
l. 1echoed an amen TO his wish. We al
liked Ward, and felt an interest in hin,
1 lie wasyoung, 50 bright and capable of ST
much.
ny head was not clear that night.
could not think straight, nor bring my en-
ergles to bear on the. tasks before me. s.
l took my mccrschaum down fir, III th'
shelf .ecrapcd it carefully, went to Il pri
vate drawer, and filled the pipe with gent,
ine Tut klsh tobacco that kept Oh hant
For it was not often my brain batllcd me
aud when 1t did, pipeful of this tobacco
would invariably set things going swim
minglY. suspect it contained q lil,era
admfxtule of those fascinating, treacherou,
drugs fOfsWhich the cast is famous, for it
effect was always indcscribably exhilarat
ing. It gave me new energy, new life ant
. quick far ghted penetration that coult
grapple with any problem wi,hiS the scoo,
of my learning or information. snhn; ,
Perhaps ItoOk a more liberal alowanc,
than usual that time. lido not know thA
! did but never felt 50 keen or so fas
cinated by any work as on that particula
night. worked on steadily and untiring
~, conscious of no effort, and completely
absorbed in the tasks before me
do not know how long had thus sa
when very strange incident occurred.
was the beginning of the straugest experi
ence Of my life-an experience who's,
parallel hope and expect never to pas
through again.
My tasks were completed, with the cx
ception of one or two trifles, ana leaned
back In my chair and yawned Happen
ing to look around,-I know what impel
led ms to look around at that particular
moment-1 beheld the door open noisless
ly, and Ward Sutfin entered. 1t was abOu
2 O'Clock, OF after.
''What is the matter, Ward ?" cried
tor, there was a bright red wound on hi,
forehead, and every vestige of color seem
ed to have faded from his tace.
lie paid no attention of my inquiry, bu
proceeded direct IT, his desk and sat down
He walked with his usual quick step, ant
Immediately on seating himself took penci
and paper and began to write.
"Ward say"
Still he did not reply. His pencil travel
cd over the paper rapidly.
Ward ~ l spoke loudly aud sharply
But he paid no attention to my voice,
concluded that he was so absorbed as no
to hear me, though that would not be lik,
him. l ielt curious to know how he ha1
rec wed the wound on his forehead, which
however, concluded from his cool be
havior could be nothing serious.
took newspaper, rolled 1t up into ,
bunch. and threw it Mt his head, thinkin.
to startle him.
Horror! 1t seemed to 20 through him
and he went on writing, apparently undis
turbed
Igazed at him spell.bound.
Finally he threw down his pencil ant
arose.
See here, old hoy ~ I exclaimed
springing up and starting toward him.
But, without even so much as looking q
me, he walked quickly 10 the door, opened
it, seemed to glide out, and closed it noise
lessly after him.
followed him hastily. Going into thu
outer hall, expected to overtake him, bu
he was not in sight. Iran across an Office
aDid you see Mr.: sutfin, just now ?'' ]
asked.
''No, slr'
''YOu did not %
ln''No, sir. There hain't been nobod,
here"
''How long have you been here 20
"a few minutes. was waitln' fol
SIM"
"ward certainly just came out here from
my room"
:'Guess not-leastwise didn't see him .
was bewiidered. I returned 10 my
room, and was just about TO sit down tt
my table, when bethought myself to cx
anime what Wa:d had written.
went to his desk, and to my intense
establishment and horror, read the follow
ing:
MuRDER.-Mr. Ward Su,fin, local edito,
of this paper, came to his dea,h at thu
hand OF assassins shortly before O'Clock
this morning. He had been attending-a!
q spectator-au indignation meeting q
Mlggins' Forks, and while leaving, wal
Set upon by three ruffins, and seVerel,
beaten. One OF the trio accomplished
their murderous design by striking fear
full blow on his forehead with small bal
of iron: They left his pody in a celial
way in Pinche's alley.
At first was so tranefixed as to be ablt
only to hyld the paper in my hands ani
stare at it. l read it thrice over, scanning
each word and letter in horrible fascina
ton. 1t was Wards handwriting -ther'
was no mistake about that aud Ward hat
written it, 1or l had seen him.
Strange to say no suspicion of a practi
cal joke entered my head for an instant
Calm reflection would doubtless lave sug
gcs'ed th,t explanation of the affair Blu
did not reflect calmly. pounced upo,
the conclusion without delay, and that wa
that Wa,d had been murdered, and that
had seen his ghost! Strange proceeding
would 1t not be, for q. man to appear afte
being killed and write his own obituary
However the strangeoess nor the prepos
terousness Of the idea did not enter m,
mind then. ! simply accepted it at once
with all its horror and wildness.
} As I said l held the paper in my hand
!, and read 1t carefully. was in a sort O
stupor for few seconds, and then cam
suddenly to act. TIE place mentioned q
the receptacle of Wards BODY must b
searched Immediately.
!: laid the paper down and went to IL,
door. AS opened it a gust of wind swcl
in, creating quite comm0tion among til
papers. sprang back to the tabl,
Wards manuscript had blown on with Il,
rest, and l stopped down to look for i
just then heaid Bailcy's step in the oute
( hall, and called out:
Bailey! Bailey! Come in here, ft
. Gods sakc!"
r whats up, Peck? ~
; lie entered hastily, and spoke with SUI
pri>ed anxiety. can't distinctly rccollcc
much less account for, my manner OH tn:
, night!
{ "Ips just as l fcarcd,' 1 said, sli
searching for the missing paper.
l What is it? ?''
: Ward"
What OF him p
t "He is killed."
). "Ward killed How? When WI
brought the news ?"
:. suddenly paused in my search, ar
stared at him blankly, rs he asked the Ia
question.
c 6 Why don't you answer mc ~ H
r voice was full Of harsllncss and dist, css.
ArV1