Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1874-03-07

COOL DenaVlor could De notfiDg serious.
took newspaper rolled 1t up into a
bunch and threw 1t at his head, thinking
TO startle him.
Horror it seemed to go through him,
and he went on writing, apparently un-
disturbed.
gaEed at him spell-bound
Finally he threw down his pen and
arose.
See here old boy % l exclaimed
sprlLging up and starting toward him.
But without even as much rs looking
at me he walked quickly to the door,
opened it, seemed to glide out and closed
1t noiselesly after him.
followed him hastily, Going into the
outer hall, l expected to oYertake him,
but he was not In sight. ran across an
oticc boy;
"Dld you see Mr. sutnn Just now 7"
asked.
"No, sir"
"You did not Z"
"No, sir. There haln't been nobody
here"
"How long have you been here %
"a few minutes. was waltin' for
Sim."
"Ward certainly Just came ont here
from my room"
Guess not-leastwise didn't see
him."
was bewildered. / returned to my
room, was just about to sit down To my
table, when 1 bethougbt myself TO
examine what Ward had written.
went to his desk, and to my intense
astonishment and horror read the follow
ing;
Milrdr.-Mr. Ward sutfn, local
editor of this paper, came TO his death at
the hands Of assassins shortly before two
o'clock this morning. He had been at
tennlug-as speetator-an Indignation
meeting at Muggins' Forks, and while
leaving was set upon by three ruttans
and severely beaten. One of the trio
accomplished his murderous design by
striking a fearful blow on bis forehead
with small bar of iron. They left his
body In a cellar way 10 Pinche's alley"
At first | was so transtxed as to be
able only to hold the paper in my hand
and look at 1t. | read It thrice over, scan
ming each word and letter in q horrible
/ fascination. 1t was Wards handwritingi
there was no mistake about that and
I Ward had written II for had seen him.
Strange to say, no suspicion of prac-
tlcal Joke entered my head for an instant.
Calm reflection would doubtless have
suggested that explanation of the affair.
/ But did not ref ect calmly. l pounced
upon a conclusion without delay, and
that was that Ward had been murdered
and that had teen his ghost. Strange
proceeding would II not be, for a man to
appear after having been KILLED and write
his own obituary. However, the strange
nees nor the preposterousness Of the Idea
did not enter my mind then. l simply
accepted ii ut once, with all Its horror
and wildness.
AS said, held the paper In my hand
and read II carefully. l was In sort of
stupor for a few seconds and then came
suddenly the desire 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 I opened ii, gust of wind
swept in, creating quite eommotion
among the papers, ! spraug back TO tue
table. Wards manuscript had blown oil
With the rest, and stopped down TO look
for il. Just then heard Bailey's step in
the outer hall and called out
"Bailey Bailey Come in here, for
Gods sake :"
"What's up, Peck ~
He entered hastily and spoke with sur
prised anxiety. / can't distinctly reeOl'
lect, much lees account for my manner
on that night.
searching for the missing paper.
"What is IL :"
'Ward-"
"what of him -
, "He Is killed"
Ward killed How whenl Who
brought the news"
suddenly paused in my search Rnt
stared at him blankly, as he asked th'
last question, full Of harshnese and dis
1 tress.
/ "Whotold you Where Is hel"
AIN cellar-way on PInche's alley"
"Who brought the news VIII you an
swer that %
He brought It himself or rather hi
ghost did," ! answered doggedly.
a "see here, Peck" said Bailey, sharply
!. 'don't have any foollng on such sub
? ject. Are you Joking, or are you not 2
a "Jokinq No, mol l wish was. But
come on /" l seized him by the shoulde
Il and endeavored to drag him toward tn
| door. "We must and his body"
: Bailey thought was out of my head
:. aud do not blame him. He disengagel
- himself from my grasp and wheele
< about, facing me.
"Now tell me what you mean" he sal
steruly, with a voice aud manner tha
brought me back to coherency.
s In as calm a manner as possible rela
ted 10 him the events Of the few moment
It just passed.
When had concluded he eyed me mai
- rowly, and his face bore an incredulou
a look.
"You don't believe me-" l said. "Bu
|, be kind enough to help me a moment
and we will soon find the paper. III
wind blew II on the floor"
/. We searched for some time, but /
d vain. l felt rather ehagrined, but wa
u doubly anxious to and it. But 1t was nc
: TO be found. We had searched ever
"a "ft must have fallen into the hr'
Z. place" l said. 'See-there are II
charred remains, now"
eyes, see," said Bailey, looking
N me pltyingly. "But, never mind t'
/, night, Peck. You had better go hon
X and get rested"
m This infurialed me.s
"You are tTihlng Z" 1 calculated
s'You don't believe me. But am neith'
drunk nor crazy. l have spoken u
- truth, and you or some one else must &
With me Immediately 10 Muggins' Forks.
Bailey poohed and endeaVored 10 pc
ID suade me out Of this idea, Thereat l le
i, him without ceremony.
l made my way into the street al
III walked swiftly TO the police, ,headqaarteE