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

AO0V l. oAOeASAAU l. u VI W CAOS0 VIC CAOO1
It was getting dark, and when I reache
the other side, I found it SO rocky that
could scarcely climb up. I got ha
way, then sudden misstep made nj
fall. A sharp piece Of rock pierced m
shoulder, and, indeed, it has caused m
- considerable pain"
each, too badi"s said Frau Groa
II have soothing lotion which yo
may put on before you go to bed"
"Thanks. And I'll 60 to bed righ
after I've had my supper. if you please
I for I am very tired. Besides, I wi
Ihave to rise early: tomorrow morning
| SO that Imay take the first train
The next morning the whole famil
was up in time to see their guest depart
He partook with good appetite Of Fra,
Groat's breakfast of ham and eggs; b
listened quietly and with seemin,
reverence to his host as he read a chap
ter from the old, black German Bib
and offered up the usual morning prayer
then, just as he was ready to start, he in
CURED what be- should pay for his boart
and lodging.
"Oh, notings -notings! You arr
welcome to the bed and bite!' sale
Groat heartily. .
"You're very kind" said the stranger
But l feel that I ought to repay 70,
In some way. See here opening hi
satchel-"if you will not let me civ,
money, pray do me the kindness Of &C
cepting these little tokens Of gratitude
Here, Frau Groat, are two pairs of stock
lngs that would just fit your busy feet
and here, Gretchen, is bran new piec,
of calico, more than enough for dress
| They are the only things 1 did not sell
and l do not care to lug them home
again.
The two women accepted his gifts will
pleasure, and, with mutual expression.
OF good luck, the traveller and his kline
entertainers parted. The former with {
blue-chccked shirt of Peter Groat's. HI
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 excellent material,
with linen bosom and cuffs, the worthy
dame thought she had made good a
bargain.
* 3 * =
William Grayson, farmer in the vi.
cinity 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 {; 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
carelessly turned it over in his hand, he
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 underbrush, lay the body of a
woman. 1t WIS Mrs. Curtis, lying stiff
and stark, with a bloody cash across her
throat.
Two hours later, a party of men were
haunting the leafy labyrinths OF the pine
woods. They were entleavoring 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 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, spool OF thread, It was
dirty and dingy, and wet with dew; but
Mr.. Brown, the merchant, who was with
the party, recognized it ct 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 the 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 a 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
stranger lurking about the premises,
when MIR. Brown CHANGED to look in the
window.
A look of extreme CONSERVATION over
spread his ruddy face.
ssNTv Go1io 1,o or;oI ss.oo 4lo.a
All turned and looked in the window.
The room wus unoccupied. The
clock licked cheerfully in one corner.
A cat was cozily c1lrled upon chair
cushion, purring contentedly. But on
the table in the centre of the room Law
two pairs of stockings, and near them,
half-unrolled, was dress pattern of
Lilac calico. -
s-~'' That calico!" said Mr.. Brown, i'm
pressively-"that calico is the identical
piece I sold Mrs. Curtis yesterday after
noon. I should know it anywhere. It's
peculiar, you sea bunch of white
lllacs on purple ground. It was all
had. Besides, I should know the piece,
because on one end there is about half a
yard imperfectly printed, which has
holes IN 1t, too. I remember I let Mrs.
Curtis have it bit cheaper on that .ac-
count. Now, Peter Groat knows where
the murderer is, or''-solemn1y and
slowly" he did the deed himseifv'
The party Of men went silently and
slowly to the back door, and here they
were Mortified in finding fresh evidence
Frau Grost was engaged in washing
blood.stained shirt.
They sternly asked her to whom it
belonged, and the woman, who could
not speak English. could only look at
them in frightened way.
Her husband now came in from the
garden, and him they sternly interrogated.
while some of the more impetuous bold.
~ accused him of the murder Of the IN I'M
fortunate Mrs. Curtis. ~
His frightened face, his confusion, his
incoherent utterances, his trembling de-
malls, 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
traveller who had stopped at his house
was received with disbelief and derision.
Poor, fricndless, and a stranger, things
looked very dark against him