The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-12-01

Is there a small package here fo
lssac G.. Van Scoter9" he asked, in
business-like way, in answer to the in
quiring glance of the agent.
The agent referred to one of the bi.
registers on the desk, and answered il
the negative.
"Queer," said the man with the rec
eye. alt ought to have come yesterday
Have you read the Eceniag Chronicle.
And after this abrupt Interrogation
the stranger stood quite motionless, eye
ing the agent intently, for as much as s
minute.
We both answered "No."
The man took paper out of his peck
ct, and spreading it open before us put
one of his slender fore-fngers upon the
following paragraph:
"FATAL ACCIDENT: This afternoon. as
two men, named respectively Henry Var
Scooter and c. II. Griggs, were at work chop
ping timber in the pineries near Scranton 8
tree fell upon them, killing Van Scooter in
stantly, and inficting in juries upon the per
son of Griggs, from the effects of which he
died in less than an hour. They are resi-
dents of c., and it is understood their
remains will be taken to that place for
burial"
"Henry Van Scooter was my only
brother-my twin brother-who resem-
bled me very much" said the stranger.
"and Charlie Griggs was my sister
husband. It's a sad blow! sad blow
| don't know how my poor sister will bear
it. It's about this sad affair | came here
chiefly. | want to send the two bodies
through to G. by express, Thursday,
I NV ha Ia ho+ L. II
charges"
"The charges will be twenty-five dol
lars" answered the agent.
The stranger only bowed solemnly in
recognition of the reply. Then he was
silent for minute or two. during which
time he appeared to be struggling with
grief.
"The bodies will be here Thursday
morning" he said 81 hope you will
make all arrangements to prevent any
delay. guess my package won't come
this week"
The agent assured him that there
would be no delay, and he might de-
pend on having the bodies go through to
C., with the greatest possible expedi,
tion
The man again bowed politely; then
he said:
q is the telegraph office near? | must
break the sorrowful news to my poor
sister, suppose, though it's anything but
a pleasant duty"
told him how to reach the place he
sought, and with polite Thank YOU, %
the sad man with red eye walked out
OF the office, and in couple of minutes
| no IF .ol
the distance.
A queer sort of a chap" said l.
A little odd, answered the agent
:" | wonder if he heard us talking
about the specie?" / queried.
@ He seems honest enough"
Yes" said / ;" but | am sure he was
listening to our talk when | first saw
him."
Are you certain of it," the agent
asked, eagerly.
Well-no," Ireplied, not altogether
certain, beyond all mistake; but it look
ed nightly like it, can tell you"
Suppose you go to the telegraph
office, and see what sort of message he
sends" suggested the agent.
No sooner said than done. | fastened
around to the telegraph office, and as |
went in the man came out. He didn't
seem to remember meat least he didn't
| look at me-and | thought it prudent
not to appear to notice him.
Did that preacher-looking chap send
message to G-w l asked of the
operator, when | had gone into the little
office, and closed the door after me.
Yes. Why do you ask?'
ooh, only out of curiosity" Ireplied.
"Was it anything of importance%' The
man said his brother and brother-in-law
were both killed this afternoon"
The operator took copy of the mes
sage from a file on the table and laid it
before me. 1t was addressed to Mrs. c.
III. Griggs. C., and signed Isaac G.
Van Scooter. 1t read:
"Henry and Charles are both dead
They will be sent home Thursday"
Everything seemed consistent, and any
doubts which / had entertained of the
good intentions of the stranger were
speedily dispelled. [ didn't 90 back to
the express office, but turned my steps
toward my boarding-p place, thinking, as
| walked along, that Thursday would be
an uncommon day with me, with two
corpses and eighty thousand dollars in
my car.
The money was safely deposited in the
car an hour before the time for the
train to leave, Thursday morning. 1t
was securely locked in two strong, iron
bound chests, and when they were
slowed away in the large safe, and the
heavy doors made fast, | thought every
thing was pretty well fixed. A few min
lrta hofo lol
paused by the car, one of them containing
two collins, and the other six men, who
were evidently acting as pall-bearers.
| looked around for the bereaved broth
er with the peculiar eye, but he was
nowhere to be seen. l thought it little
strange that he should be absent at such
time, but | forgot all about it in a mo.
Ment.
The collins were placed in one end OF
the car, and after it had been arranged
that one of the men should come into
the car and take a look at the bodies
when we arrived at Redwood, he shook
hands with the others and entered one
of the coaches. AS the door closed on
him, the bell rang and we went steaming
away.
| was pretty busy for an hour or more,
and we had passed three or four stations
before | had time to cast more than a
casual glance towards the quiet passen-
gers at the end of the car. But after a
little, when / had more leisure, an un-
comfortable wish took possession of me
to look at the faces of the two dead men.
1t wasn't mere morbid curiosity, aud |
can't describe it in any way better than
to say it was a sort of vague desire which