The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-09-23

the color. She was piecing a chair
cushion, and wanted the right shade.
Now, it's evident that the villain who
murdered her took this route through
the woods. See how the ferns are
crushed down this way. Hurry, we've
got clew nowW
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 stranger lurking about the
premises, when Mr.. Brown CHANGED to
look in the window.
A look of extreme CONSERVATION
overspread his ruddy face.
| 'My God!" he cried, "see therev
| All turned and looked in the win
dow
The room was unoccupied. The
clock licked cheerfully in one corner.
A cat was cozily curled upon q chair
cushion, purring contentedly. But on
the table in the centre of the room lay
two pairs of stockings, and near them,
half-unrolled, was II dress pattern of
lilac calico.
"Ihot colico"' said MI. Brown, i'm
pressively -"that calico is the Identical
piece sold Mrs. Curtis yesterday after
noon. should know it anywhere.
It's peculiar, you see-a bunch of white
lilacs on purple ground. It was all I
had. Besides, I should know the piece
because on one end there is about half
a yard imperfect printed, which has
holes in it, too. remember 1 let Mrs.
Curtis have it a bit cheaper on that
account. Now Peter Groat knows
where the murderer is, or''-solemn-
ly and slowly-'hc did the deed him.
self!'
The party of men went silently and
soberly to the back-door, and here they
were mortified in finding fresh evidence
Frau Groat was engaged i'll washing
a blood-stained shirt
They sternly asked her to whom it
belonged, but the poor woman, who
could not speak English, could only
look at them in a frightened way.
Her husband now came in from the
garden, and him they sternly interro-
gated, while some of the more impetu-
Gus boldly accused him of the murder
of the unfortunate Mrs Curtis.
His frightened face, his confusion, his
incoherent utterance, his trembling de
mails were only SO much more against
him. Besides, he knew scarcely any
more English than did his wife, and
later, when calm, his story of the trav-
eler who had stopped at his house was
received with disbelief and derision.
Poor, friendless and a stranger, things
looked very dark against him.
Weeks passed; his trial came. He
was sentenced to be hanged!
| Rev. Mr. Marshall, Rector of st. Johns
Church, Brookdalc, u village some two
hundred miles distant from Haywood,
was in his study one September morn
ing, 1878. He was suffering out an at
tack of influenza which he had taken
the night before while on Il visit to a
sick parishoner. Consequently COM
plying with his wife's request that he
should do no more studying or writing,
MIR. Marshall was lazitv stretched on
the lounge in front of u CHEEKY fire.
His eight year old son Tom was in the
room, every now and then running up
to his father with some request. His
last one was: "Papa, it's Saturday, how
shall I spend the day? Wish I had a
kite! Do you know how to make one,
papa"
whether I've forgotten how to do it or
not. Give me the newspaper OH the
table, please, and the scissors. Then
run out in the woodshed and get me
some of those sticks on the shelf. also
IL hammer and small nails. Stay, don't
be in such a hurry; ask Hannah to
make 4 little flour PASTE"
Tom hurried away. and while waiting
for him to return, his father glanced
over the columns of the newspaper he
was cutting. 1t was one that his friend,
Mr.. Brown, of Haywood, had sent him.
His eyes CHANGED to fall on these words:
1.-THE German. Peter Groat who murdered
Mrs. Curtis, has been sentenced to be hung
the second Friday III next month. Groat, al
though stranger, was supposed to be Il respect
able man and one not at all capable OF perpetlst-
ing such horrible crime. But the evidence Of
the murder his wife was found washing a bloody
shirt, also IL knife stained with blood was found
hidden near wood pile Besides, goods belong
ing to the murdered woman were found in
Groat's house. The only thing missing Is curious
| old snuff box box Of some black wood, quantity
carved il, the shape Of a toad. Her aame, Hcp-
| siboh Curtis, is engraved inside. But without
this the eyid ence against Groat is strong enough
to hang him.
"Poor fellow p murmured Mr.. Mar
shall, as laid down the paper. 1T
makes one dread to read the news-one
comes across so many horrors"
"Papa! papa! you needn't mind about
the kite now?'' cried Tom, rushing in
with shining eyes. "Uncle George just
called me over to his house-he is 60
ing fishing, and says he will take me
along. Nav gO?"