The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-05-21
A JEALOUS GHOST;

Or, the Freaks of Phantom Lover.
On the morning of the 21st of June
1874, Mr.. Eli Surden, who had entered
a Madison avenue omnibus on Broadway,
Just above Fourteenth street, was struck
suddenly and forcibly on the left side of
his head by what appeared to him to be
a fist He was sitting close to the door
of the vehicle; there was only one other
passenger in the stage, middle-aged
gentleman on the opposite side, and at
least eight feet away from Mr.. Surden
when the blow was struck. So powerful
was the impact that it knocked him partly
over upon the cushioned seat, and for a
moment caused him considerable pain
he sprang up suddenly. The glass sash
behind him was closed. The stage was
moving rapidly, and had been for some
time, and the street was entirely clear of
human beings and vehicles for some dis
lance in all directions. 1t was impossible
for his felow-passenger to have inflicted
the blow, for it was from the opposite
side that it came.
Mr. Surden, smarting with pain, pulled
the strap, jumped out and ran round so
as to satisfy himself that there was no.
body on the roof of the vehicle but the
driver, who appeared to regard his move
ments with surprise.
He then went into the drug store adj
joining Wallack's Theater and saw by
the glass an inhamed and swollen mark
extending across the maxillary to the
neck. 1t was bathed with arnica by the
attendant, who volunteered the remark
that ii was ga bad blow"
This occurred on June 81. In the
latter part OF July following Mr.. SurdeD
was i'll his small office in Wall street one
morning sampling some drugs. The
office was in the front of the third floor
of the building known as "The Tontine. 4"
1t contained two windows looking out
upon Wall street, a door leading to the
hall and dark closet at the rear. The
furniture consisted of large desk, a
number OF shelves containing drugs COW
cred with sash, large square table
similarly loaded with samples of bees
wax, ginseng and annotto, two or three
ordinary Office chairs and several files of
the American and foreign Prices CIR
f~enrl hanging upon the wall. The morn
ng was warm and the windows were
opcn. He stepped to the light with a
sSample-pan of plumbago, and was exam
lning it, when the hall door behind him
was opened and shut and almost imme-
'diately after he was struck q staggering
blow under the left ear from behind,
which knocked him completely over
upon the floor, throwing the pltimbago
over his face and into his air.
At this outrage he sprang to his feet,
and with his hand upon his neck, smart
ing and gasping, he cried murder !"
several times loudly. Then perceiving
that there was no one present, he ran to
the door, issued into the public passage
way, and, looking over the balusters, saw
only an old and infirm apple-wonan tod
ding carefully down the stairs with
heavily loaded basket upon her arm. He
then ran back into his Office, and was
followed by the occupants of Treadwell's
agency adjoining, who, seeing a man in
a great state of excitement, and scarcely
recognizable for the black lead that had
covered his face, huddled at the door and
inquired what the matter was. His reply
was that he had been assaulted in his
own room by some mmderously-d disposed
ruffian, who had escaped. Believing
that Mr.. Surden was suffering from some
kind OF an alteration, and was indis-
posed to tell the circumstances of it, they
finally left.
Having washed and dressed his face,
winch was plainly marked on the left
side 10y confused surface, Mr.. Surden
began to reflect upon the circumstances.
III was plain TO his mind at this time that
some adroit enemy was prosecuting him.
Not having mind disciplined to the ex-
animation and detection of this species
OF vlllainy, his first endeavor was to
ascertain how the enemy could ac-
c0mphsh his purpose twice in so com
piete and undesirable manner. After
mat Mr.. Surden endeavored to fix upon
tne enemy. He examined his room with
she greatest care, taking down the two