The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-09-09

| Aue tdUle was SOOn SpTeau WlGn
neat, white cloth, upon which was
garnished with vegetables, then plate
of white bread, roll of butter, dish
of shining black raspberries and plate
of spicy ginger cookies.
81 feel too dirty to sit down to a
decent table," said the traveller, with a
smile. MAY I 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 slight scream.
BLOOD p 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 ef-
fort, he said, careessly:
"Ah, yes; those rocks by the creek
made quite cash in my shoulder. You
s!e," blandly explaining, "while l was
lost l thought I'd try to cross the creek.
1t was getting dark, and when reached
the other side. found it 80 rocky that l
could scarcely climb up. 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"
Zach, too bad!" said Frau Groat.
Il have a 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 l am very tired. Besides, 1 will
have to rise early tomorrow mornin g,
so that l 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 10 start, he
inquired what he should pay for his
board and lodging.
'Oh, notings- notings! You are
welcome to the bed and the bitep said
tIroat. hertily.
You're very kind,n said the stranger
" But feel that ought to repay you in
some way. See here "-opening his
satchel-"i 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 OF calico, more than enough for a
dress. They are the only things l 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-
prcssions of good luck, the traveller and
his kind entertainers parted. The for
nler 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-
cellcnt material, with linen bosom and
cuffs, the worthy dame thought she had
made good a bargain.
William Grayson, farmer in tn c
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, brown object lying on
the grass q little distance from him, at
tracted his attention. He went to it. 1t
was 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 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 a hollow, almost covered with
low underbrush, lay the body of a
woman. 1t was Mrs. Curtis, lying
stiffand stark, with a bloody cash across
her throat
Two hours later, a party of men was
haunting the leafy labyrinths of the
pine woods. They were endeavoring 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 spool of thread. 1t was
dirty and dingy, and wet with dew; but
Mr.. Brown, the merchant, who was
with the party, recognized it at once, he
said;
Its one of the spools poor Mrs.
Curtis bought, of me yesterday. IJ's
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 a clew nowI'
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 chanced to look in the
window.
A look of extreme CONSERVATION over.
spread his ruddy face.
My God" he cried, "see therein
All turned and looked in the window.
The room was unoccupied. The
clock tlcked cheerfully in one corner,
A cat was cozily curled upon a 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 a dress pattern OF
lilac calico.
THAT ca licoT said Mr.. Brown, i'm
pressivelyI" that calico is the identical
piece / sold Mrs. Curtis yesterday after
noon. ] should know it anywhere.