Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-09-09

although we are not rich, we never yet
! turned away benighted traveller. So,
come in, and my frau shall get you
something to eat"
The table was soon spread with a
neat, white cloth, upon which was
placed a platter of cold boiled meat,
garnished with vegetables, then a plate
of white bread, a roll of butter, a dish
of shining black raspberries and plate
of spicy ginger cookies.
+" feel too dirty to sit down to q
decent table," said the traveller, with q
smile. May / trouble you for basin
of waterp''
1t was brought. As he took off his
coat preparatory to washing his face
and hands, Gretchen, who stood beside
him with fresh towel in her hands,
uttered a slight scream.
Bloodr' she cried. "There's blood
on your sleeves!"
The basin of water fell from the
strangers hands. His face shone white
through the glistening drops of water he
had dashed upon it. Then with an eff
fort, he said, carelessly:
All, yes; those rocks by the creek
made quite cash in my shoulder. You
sse," blandly explaining, while was
lost thought I'd try to cross the creek.
1t was getting dark, and when / reached
the other side. found it so rocky that /
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 consider
able pain"
"Ach, too bad!" said Frau Groat.
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 am very tired. Besides, / will
have to rise early tomorrow mornin g,
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 rev.
erence to his host as he read chapter
from the old, black German Bible and
offered up the usual morning prayer;
then, just as he was ready to start, he
inquired what he should pay for his
board and lodging.
Oh, notings - notingsi You are
Groat, hertily.
You're very kind" said the stranger.
" But feel that ought to repay you in
some~-way. See here Opening his
satchel-"if 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
stockings that would just fit your busy
feet, and here, Gretchen, is bran new
piece or calico, more than enough for q
dress. They are the only things did not
sell, and / do not care to lug them home
again."
The two women accepted his gifts with
much pleasure, and, with mutual ex-
pressions of good luck, the traveller and
his kind entertainers parted. The for
mer wore blue-cheeked shirt of Peter
Groat's. He left his own behind him,
telling Frau Groat that it was too soiled
for wearing, but that she might keep it
in exchange for the one she had given
him. As the strangers shirt was of ex-
cellent material, with linen bosom and
cuffs, the worthy dame thought she had
made good bargain.
William GraysoD, a farmer in the
vicinity of Haywood, missed one of his
COWS that Friday night, and early on the
following morning set out to make
search for her. He hunted through the
meadow lands, followed the course of
the creek quite way, and finally enter
ed the pine woods. When about half
way through, a brown object lying on
the grass little distance from him, at
tracted his attention. Hewent to it. 1t
was a large piece of wrapping paper, and
a long bit of twine was lying beside it.
The paper was damp with drew, and, as
Greyson carelsssly turned it over in his
hand, he observed some red spots on it.
He examined them more closely. They
were the bloody prints of thumb and
fingers
He looked around him keenly. He
soon noticed that the bank of ferns bor-
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
woman. 1t was Mrs. Curtis, living
stiff and stark, witha bloody gas b across
her throat!
Two hours later, a party of men was
haunting the leafy labyrintbs of the
pine woods. They were endeayoring to
fad 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 con-
sultation, when suddenly cry from
one of their companions, who was a lit
tie distance from them; attracted their
attention.
See what have found!n 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:
It's one of the spools poor Mrs.
Curtis bought of me yesterday. LIS
pink, you see. She was real particular
about the color. She was piecing a
chair cushion, and wanted the right
shade Now, it's evident that the vii
lain who murdered her took this route
through the woods. See how the ferns
are crushed dew this way. Hurry,
we've got clew now!"
The trail led them out of the woods
into the meadow, and op ened 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 q
stranger lurking about the premises,
when Mr. Brown chanced to look in. the
" indow.
A look of extreme CONSERVATION over
spread his ruddy face.
My Godn he cried, 'ssee theret''
All turned and looked in the window.
The room was unoccupied. The
clock ticked cheerfnlly in one corner.
A cat was cozily curled upon a chair
cushion, purring contentedly. But on
the table in the centre of the room lay
two pairs OF stockings, and near them.