Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-09-06

been little older. He was dressed in
black, and wearing a high hat, he might
have pass very well for one of the cloth
if his nose hadn't been just a trif1e lumi
nous. The other popularity 1 noticed
about the man was that he had queer sor
Of re d looking eye. 1t appeared ixet
and stering, and, IS he came nearer, con
cluded 1T was glass. 1t was so strang'
and unnatural in it's expression that
thought would know it if should see it
peering at me over the great wall Of
| China.
els there small package here for Isaac
G.. Van Scoter?" he asked in a business
like way, in answer to the inquiling glanc
of the agent.
The agent REFER | to one Of the big re
gisters on the desk, and answered in thu
negative.
"Queer," said the man with the red eye
cit Was to have come yesterday. Have
you read the Evening Chronicle?'
And after this abrupt interrogation the
stranger stood quite quite motionlcss, eye.
ing the agent intently for as much as {
minute.
We both answered s'No."
The man took a paper out Of his pocket
and spreading it open before us put one of
his slender fo1efingers on the following
paragraph:
FATAL ACCIDENT.-This afternoon as
two men, named respectively Henry Van
Scooter and c. H. Griggs, were at work
chopping timber in the pineries near Scran-
ton, tree fell upon them, killing Van
Scooter instantly, and inflicting injuries
upon the person of Griggs. from which he
died in less than an hour. They are resi-
dents of c., and it is understood that
their remains will be sent to that place for
burial.
''Henry Van Scooter was my only brother
my twin brother-.who resembled me
very much. and Charley Griggs was my
sisters husband. It's sad blow! sad
blow! I don't know how my poor sister
will bear it. It's about this sad affair that
l came mere chiefly. want to send the
two bodies through to by express,
Thursday, by the II 40 train. What will
be the charged"
''The charge will be $751; answered the
agent.
The stranger only bowed solemnly IN re-
cognition of the reply. Then he was silent
for minute or two, during which time he
appeared to be struggling with his grief.
"The bodies will be her e Thursday morn
ing.'' he said. II hope you will make all
arrangements to prevent 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 90 through to c.
with the greatest possible expedition.
The man bowed again solemnly; then he
said:
Is the telegraph Office near? I must
break the sorrowful news to my poor Sis
ter, suppose, though it's anything but a
pleasa, duty
| told him how 10 reach the 3place he
sought, and with polite "thank you,"
the sad man with the red eye walked out
Of The office, and in a couple of minutes
the sound OF his footsteps died away in The
distance
"a queer sort of a chap" said 1. ~,
"a little odd," answered the agent.
Il wonder if he heard us talking about
the specie?" queried.
''He seems honest enough"
EYES," said 1, ''but am sure he was
listening to our talk when I first saw
him.
fare you certain of it?" the agent ask
ed, eagerly.
"Well-no, not altogether certain, be-
yond all mistake, but it looked nightly
like it, can tell you.''
''Suppose you 60 to the telegraph office
and see what kind Of message he Sends"
suggested the agent.
No sooner said than done. FASTENED
around to the telegraph Office, and as l
went in the man came out. He did not
seem to recognize meat least, he did not
look at me-and thought it prudent to
appear not to notice him.
''Did that preacher looking fellow send
a message to G--9" l asked of the ope-
rator, when I had gone in and closed the
door after me.
Eyes. Why do you ask?''
'Oh, only out Of curiosity" I replied.
"Was it anything of Importance? The
man said that his brother and brother-in-
law were 9th killed this afternoon"
The operator took the copy of the mes
sage from file on the table and laid it be-
fore me. 1t was addressed to Mrs. G. II.
Griggs, G., and signed Isaac Van Sco-
ter. 1t read:
HHenry and Charles are both dead
They will be sent home Thursday"
Everything seemed consistent, and any
doubts which I had entertained Of the
good intentions of the stranger were speed
lily dispelled. I didn't 60 back to the Of
fee, but turned my steps towards my
boarding place, thinking, as / walked
along, that Thursday would be an I'M
common day for me, with two cOrpses and
%OU3OOU Ill lily Cdls
The money was safely deposited in the
car an hour before the time for the train
to leave on 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 everything was pretty well
fixed. A few minutes before we pulled
out two WI cons passed by the car, one OF
them contained two collins, and the other
six men, who were evidently acting as pail
bearers. looked around for the bereaved
brother with the peculiar eye, but he was
nowhere to be seen. thought it little
strange that he should be absent at such
time, but l forgot all about it in a mo-
ment,
The eoffi1s were placed In one end of