Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-10-06

made quite cash in my shoulder You
see,": b}uudly explaining, ''whfie I wan
lost / shought I'd try to cross the creek.
1t was getting dark, and when I reached
the other side, I found it so rocky that I
could scarcely climb up. I got half
way, then sudden misstep made me
fall. A sharp piece of rock pierced my
shoulder, and, indeed, it has caused me
considerable pain"
Zach, too badl" snid Frau Groat.
II have soothing lotion which you
may put on before you go to bed"
"Thanks And I'll go to bed right
after I've had my supper. if you please.
for I am very tired. Besides, I will
have to rise early tomorrow morning.
SO that [ may take the first train"
The next morning the whole family
was up in time to see their guest depart.
he partook with good appetite of Frau
Groat's breakfast of ham and eggs: he
listened quietly and with seeming
reverence to his host as he read chap
ter from the old, black German Bible
and offered up the usual morning prayer;
then, just as he was ready to start, he in
quired what b" should pay for his board
and lodging.
ooh, notings notings! You are
welcome to the bed and bite!' said
Groat heartily.
you're very kind,'' said the stranger.
But I feel that I ought to repay you
IN some way. See here Opening his
satchel-"if you will not let me give
money, pray do me the kindness Of ac-
cepting these little tokens of gratitude.
Here, Frau Groat, are two pairs of stock
ings that would just fit your busy feet,
and here, Gretchen, is bran new piece
OF calico, more than enough for dress.
They arc the only things [ did not sell,
and l do not care to lug them home
again.
The two women accepted his gifts with
pleasure, and, with mutual expressions
OF good luck, the traveller and his kind
entertainers parted. The former with a
| bluechecked shirt of Peter Groat's. He
left his own behind him, telling Frau
Groat that it was too spllcd for wearing,
but that she might keep it in exchange
for the one she had given him. As the
strangers shirt was OF excellent material,
with linen bosom and cuffs, the worthy
dame thought she had made good a
bargain.
3 = =
William Grayson, a farmer i'll the vi
clnlty OF Haywood, missed one of his
COWS that Friday night, and early on the
following morning set out to make search
former. He hunted through the meadow
lands, followed the course of the creek
quite a way, and finally entered the pine
woods. When about half way through,
a brown object lying on the grass little
distance from him, attracted his atten-
ton. He went to it. It was large
piece Of wrapping paper, and long bit
OF twine was lying beside it. The paper
was damp with dew, and, as Grayson
carelcssly turned it over in his hand, be !
observed some red spots on it, He OK
amined them more closely. They were
the bloody prints Of thumb and fin
gers!
He looked around him keenly. He
soon noticed that the bank Of ferns Dor
derIng the path was, in one place,
crushed and broken. He followed these
marks; they led him to the densest and
most unfrequent part Of the woods, and
there, in hollow, almost covered with
low underbr,1sh, lay the body of a
woman. 1t was Mrs. Curtis, living stiff
and stark, with a bloody cash across her
throat.
Two hours later, party of rlen were
haunting the leafy labyrinths OF the pine
woods. They were endeavoring to find
the trail Of the murderer.
An hour passed and they had met with
no success. Some Of them had gathered
together for the purpose OF consultation,
when suddenly a cry from one Of their
companions, who was a little distance
from them, attracted their attention.
"See what I have found!" he cried
holding up a spool Of thread, It was
dirty and dingy, and wet with dew; but
Mr.. Brown, the merchant, who was with
the party, recognized it at once, he said:
cts one OF the spools poor Mrs.
Curtis bought of me yesterday. It's
pink, you see. She was real particular
about the color. She was piecing a
char cushion, and wanted tl.c right
shade. Now, it's evident that the Vii
liam who murdered her took this route
through the woods. See how the ferns
are crushed down this way. Hurry,
we've got clew now!''
The trail led them out of the woods
INTO the meadow, and opened right into
the yard of Peter Groat. They were
going around to the back door to knock,
and ask If any Of the inmates had seen a
stranger lurking about the premises.
when Mr.. Brown CHANGED to look in the
window.
4 look Of extreme CONSERVATION over
spread his ruddy face. {
"My God!'.' he cried, "see there!" ]
All turned and looked in the window.
The room wus unoccupied. The
clock licked cheerfully in one corner.
A cat was cozily c11r!ed upon chair
cushion, purrlnS contentedly. But on
the table in the centre Of the room lay ;
two pairs of stockings, and near them,
half unrolled, was dress pattern of I
Lilac calico.
: "That calico!" said Mr.. Brown, i'm
presslvely-"that calico is the identical
piece l sold Mrs. Curtis yesterday after t
noon: l should know it anywhere. It's
peculiar, you sea bunch of white I
lllacs on purple ground. It was all 1 t
lad. Besides, I should know the piece, S
because on one end there is about half a i
yard inperfectly printed, which has
1oles in it, too. I remember let Mrs. I
curtis have it bit cheaper on that .ac.
count. Now, Peter Groat knows where
he murderer is, or"-solemnly and
'loWl y" he did the deed himseif!" &
The party Of men went silently and :.
slowly to the back door, and here they ;
we're Mortified in finding fresh evidence t
FRAU Grost was engaged in washing ,
2lood.stained shirt.
They sternly asked her to whom it
belonged, and the woman, who could {
lot speak English, could only look at ,
hem in frightened way. {
Her husband now came in from the t
garden, and him they sternly interrogated, t
While some of the more impetuous bold t
y accused him Of the murder of the I'M 4