The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-07-11

| noticed about the man was that he had
queer sort of redlooking eye, II
appeared fixed and staring, and, as he
came nearer, | concluded it was glass.
II was 30 strange and unnatural in its
expression that ] thought | should know
it If should see it peering at me over
the great wall Of China.
"Is there small package here for
Isaac G. Van Scoter?" he asked in a
business.like way, in answer to the in.
quiring glance OF the agent.
The agent referred to one of The big
registers on the desk, and answered in
the negative.
"Queer," 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 m0tionless, eying
the agent intently, for as much as a min>
ute.
We both answered, "No."
The man took paper out of his
pocket, and, spreading it open before us,
put one of his slender foretingers upon
the following paragraph:
FATAL ACCIDENT-This afternoon as
two men, named respectively Henry Van
Scooter and G. 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 C, 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-
bles me very much, and Charley Griggs
was my sisters husband. It's a sad
blow sal blow | don't know how
my poor sister will bear it. It's about
this sad affair that came here chiefly.
! want to send the two bodies through to
c. by express Thursday, by the II 40
train. What will be the charges ?"
"The charge will be S25," answered
the agent,
The stranger only bowed solemnly in
recognition Of the reply. Then he was
silent tor minute or two, during which
time he appeared to be struggling with
his 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 depend
on having the bodies 60 through TO G.
with the greatest possible expedition.
The man bowed again politely, then he
said:
as the telegraph Office near? must
break the sorrowiul 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 the red eye walked out
of the office, and in couple OF minutes
the sounds of his footsteps died away
in the distance.
"a queer sort of chap said |.
"a little odd" answered the agent.
81 wonder if he heard us talking
about the specie ?" ] queried.
/" He seems honest enough"
Yes" said ;" but I'm sure he was
listening to our talk when / first saw
him"
care you certain OF it?" the agent
asked, eagerly.
"Well-no," ! 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 a message he
sends" suggested the agent.
No sooner said than done. Ihastened
around to the telegraph office, and as |
went in the man came out. He didn't
seem to recognize me-at least he didn't
look at me-and | thought it prudent
not to appear to notice him.
"Did that preacher.looking fellow
send message to G--?" ! asked OF
the operator, when had gone in and
closed the door after me-"
Yes. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, only out of curiosity" | re.
piled. " Was 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 file on the table and laid
it before me. 1t was addressed to Mrs
G. H. Griggs, c., and -igned lsaat
G.. Van Scooter. thread:
Henry and Charles are both dead. They will b
sent home Thursday.
Everything seemed consistent, anc
any doubts which | had entertained 0
the good intentions of the stranger wer
speedily dispelled. didn't 90 back t
the Office, but turned my steps towar
my boarding place, thinking, as | wake
along, that Thursday would be an III
common day with me, with two corpse
and $50, 900 in specie in my car.
The money was safely deposited in tt
car an hour before the time for the trai
to leave, Thursday morning. 1t was 81
curely locked in two strong, iron .boun
chests, and when they were stowe
away in the large safe and the heav
/ uOOTS uihut lhsI tuOuHut tNcIythlI
was pretty we'll fixed. A few minut
before we pulled out two wagons passt
by the car, one of them containing tv
coffins and the other six men, who we
evidently acting as pall-bearers.
looked around for the bereaved broth
with the peculiar eye, but he was NJ
where to be seen. | thought it lit
strange that he should be absent at sue
time, but forgot all about it in
moment
The coffins were placed in one end
the car, and after 1t bad been arrange
that one of the men should come int
J the car and take look at the bodlt
; when VIC arrived at Redwood, he shoo
hands with the Others and entered on
of the coaches. As the doors closed O
him, ths bells rang and we went steamin
away.
and we had passed three or four station
IL