Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-08-28

L
registers on the desk, and answered IL
the negative.
Queer said the man with the red
eve. 1T was to have come yesterday
Have you read the Evening Chronicle ?
And after this abrupt interrogation
the stranger stood quite motionless, eye
inc the agent intently for as much as a
minute.
We both answered No.
The man took a paper out of his pock-
ct, and spreading it open before US put
one of his slender forefingcrs on the
following paragraph
FATAL ACCIDENT. This afternoon
as two men, named respectively Henry
Van Scooter and e. H. Gnggs, were at
work chopping timber in the pinerles
near Scranton, tree fell upon them.
killing Van Scooter instantly, and inflict-
ing injuries upon the person OF Grlggs
from which he died in less than an hour.
They are residents 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 resem-
bled me very much, and Charley Grggs
was my sisters husband. It's a sad
blow. a sad blow! l don't know how
my poor sister will bear it. It's about
this sad affair that | came here chiefly.
l want to send the two bodies through
to G-b by express, Thursday, by the
ll:lO train. What will be the charges p
The charges will be $25,' answered
the agent.
The stranger only bowed solemnly 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. L hope you will
make all arrangements to prevent de-
lay, l 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 so through
to C. with the greatest possible eX-
petition.
The man bowed again politely then
he said 4:
Is the telegraph Office near ? must
break the sorrowful news to my poor
sister, suppose, though it's anything
but a pleasant duty
l told him how to reach the place he
sought, and with a polite thank YOU
the sad man with the red eye walked
out of the Office, and IN a couple ofmin-
utes the sound of his foot steps died
away in the distance.
"A queer sort Of a chap said 1.
y little odj,' answered the agent.
L wonder if he heard us talking about
the specie = L queried.
He seems honest enough
Yes said l, but am sure he was
listening to our talk when l first saw
him.
Are you certain of it:' the agent
asked, eagerlj.
'Well-no, not altogether certain, be-
yond all mistake, but it looked mighhly
like it, | can tell you.'
Suppose you so to the telegraph Office
and see what kind of a message he
sends, suggested the agent.
No sooner SAID than done. | hasten
ed around to the telegraph Office, and
as | went in the man came out. He did
not seem to recognize meat least, he
dld not look at me-and l thought it
prudent to appear not to notice him.
Did that prcacher-looking fellow
send message to G-:' I asked Of
the operator, when l had gone in and
closed the door after me.
Yes. Why do you ask!'
oh, only out Of curiosity Ireplied.
Was it anything Of importance? The
man said that his brother and brother
in-law were both killed this afternoon
The operator took the copy of the
message from a file on the table and
laid it before me. 1t was addressed TO
Mrs. Z. II. Griggs, C., and signed
Isaac 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 ofthe stranger were
speedily dispclled. l didn't go back to
the office, but turned my steps towards
my boarding place, thinking, as | walk
ed along, that Thursday would be an
uncommon one for mo with two corpses
and $50, ,Oeo IN my car.
The morey 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, l thought every
thing was pretty well fixed. A few
minutes before we pulled out two wag-
ems passed by the cal, one Of them con-
tainng two collins, and the other six
men, who were evidently acting as pail
bearers. | looked around for the be-
reayed brother with the peculier 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 moment.
Tho eonins were nlaced i'm one end of