The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-07-04

eot0hOC VI 1uC <lECAG.
The agent referred to one of the big
registers on the desk, and answered in
the negative.
"QueeT," said the man with the red
eye. 1t ought to have come yesterday.
Have you read the Evening Chronicle ?''
And after this abrupt interrogation the
stranger stood quite motionless, eying
the agent intentiy, for as much as min>
ute.
We both answered, "No."
The man took a paper out of his
pocket, and, spreading it open before US,
put one of his slender forefngers upon
the following paragraph:
FATAL ACCIDENT.-This afternoon as
two men, named respectively Henry Van
Scooter and @. II. Griggs, were at work
chopping timber in the pineries near
Scranton, tree fell upon them, killing
Van Scooter instantly, and inficting in
juries upon the person OF Griggs from
which he died within an hour. They
are residents of G., and it is under
stood that their remains will be taken to
that place for burial.
Henry Van Scooter was my only
brother-my twin brother-who resem-
b!es me very much, and Charley Griges
was my sisters husband. It's a sad
blowl a sad blow l don't know how
my poor sister will bear it. It's about
this sad affair that came here chiefly.
I want to send the two bodies through to
G. by express Thursday, by the IL 40
train. What will be the charges T'
The charge will be $25," answered
the agent.
The stranger only bowed solemuIy in
recognition Of the reply. Then he was
silent for a minute or two, during which
time he appeared to be struggling with
his grief.
"The bodies will be here Thursday
morning." he said. al hope you will
make all arrangements 10 prevent any
delay. | guess my package won't come
this week"
The agent assured him that there
would be no delay, and he might depend
on having the bodies go through to G.
with the greatest possible expedition.
The man bowed again politely, then he
said:
els the telegraph Office near2 1 must
break the sorrowful news 10 my poor
but pleasant duty"
l told him how to reach the place he
sought, and, with polite thank ysu,"
of the Office, and in a couple OF minutes
the sounds of his footsteps died away
in the distance.
{" A queer sort of chap" said I.
A little odd" answered the agent.
''I wonder if he heard US talking
about the specie ?" / queried.
He seems honest enough"
Yes" said j." but Pm sure he was
listening to ear talk when L first saw
him"
s Are yeu certain of it 2'' the agent
A "Weli@no,' 1 replied; "not alto
gether certain beyond all mistake, but
it looked nightly like it, can tell
you"
"Suppose you go to the telegraph
office and see what kind of message he
SENDS" suggested the agent.
No sooner said than done. Ihastened
around to the telegraph Office. and as l
went in the man came out. He didn't
seem to recognize me-at least he didn't
look at me-and l thought it prudent
not to appear to notice him.
did that preacher-looking fellow
send a message TO CT" l asked of
the operator, when had gone in and
closed the door after me-"
+" Yes. Why do you ask?"
ooh, only out of curiosity" 1 re.
piled. q Wss it anything of Importance ?
The man said that his brother and
brother-in-law were both killed this af-
ternoOn."
The operator took the copy of the
message from a file on the table and laid
it before me. It was addressed to Mrs.
@. II. Griggs, G., and signed Isaac
G. Van Scooter. ItJead:
Henry and Charles are both dead. They viii be
sent home Thursday.
Everything seemed consistent, and
any doubts which I had entertained OF
the good intentions of the stranger were
speedily dispelled. / didn't 90 back to
the office, but turned my steps toward
my boarding place, thinking, as walked
along, that Thursday would be an un-
common day with me, with two corpses
and $50, 600 in specie in nv car.
The money was safely deposited in the
car an hour before the time for the train
to leave, Thursday morning. 1t was Sc
curely locked in two strong, iron bound
chests, and when they were slowed
away in the large safe and the heavy
doors made fast I thought everything
WAS pretty well fixed. A few minutes
before we pulled out two wagons passed
by the car, one of them containing two
coffins and the other six men, who were
evidently acting as pall-bearers.
looked around for the bereaved brother
with the peculiar eye, but he was no
l where to be seen. thought it a little
! strange that he should be absent at suct
a time, but l forgot ali about it in 8
moment.
The coffins were placed in one end o
the car, and after It had been arranged
| that one of the men should come into
| the car and take look at the bodies
when we arrived at Redwood, he sbooE
hands with the others snd entered ont
| of the coaches. AS the doors closed Oh
| him, the bells rang and we went steaminl
away.
was pretty busy for an hour or more
and we had passed three or four station
| before I had time to cast more than
casual glance toward the quiet passen
gers at the end of the car. But after ;
( little, when l had more leisure, an un
controllable wish took possession of me
| to look at the faces of the two dead men
| It wasn't mere morbid curiosity, and
can't describe it in any way better thar
to say it was a sort of vague desire
which could not quiet without satisfy
ing It,
] noticed that the lids were no
fastened down. My next discovery wa
that the SCREWS were gone. This strucl
me as strange, for ! was sure l haC
noticed them when the cofhns were lifteC
| into the car. | remembered that / haC
given the attendants permission t
| arrange the caskets to their OWL salts
faction, and that they had been a loDl
time doing it. IF they had removed tbt
screws unobserved at that time. wha
possible object could they have had il
dsing so7 With this question .on M
mind I raised the upper portion of tn