Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1880-09-23

ter I've had my supper, if you please, for
/ am very tired Besides. l will have to
rise early tomorrow morning, so that 1
can 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 rever-
cnce 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-notings! You're well
come to the bed and bitel" said Groat
heartily.
"You're very kind,' said the stranger.
"But feel that ought to repay you in
some way. See here re''-opening his satch-
el-"it you will not let me give
money, pray do me the kindness
of accepting 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 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
expressions of good luck, the traveller and
his entertainers parted. The former
wore blue-checked shirt of Peter Groat's
He LETT 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 bar
gain.
William Grayson, a farmer in the vicin-
ity of Haywood, missed one of his COWS
that Friday night, and early on the fol-
lowing morning set out in search for
her. 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, brown object lying on the
grass, little distance ON him, attract
ed 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 dew, and, as
Grayson carelessly 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 unfrequented part of the woods,
and there, IN hollow, almost covered
with low underbrush, lay the body of a
woman. 1t was Mrs. Curtis. lying stiff
and stark, with bloody cash across her
| throat!
TIVE hours later, party of men were
hunting the leafy labyrinths of the pine
woods. They we're endeavoring to find
the trai. of the murderer.
An hour passed, and they had met
with no success. Some of them had now
gathered together for the purpose of con-
sultation, when suddenly cry from one
OF their companions, who was little dis
lance from them, attracted their atten-
ton.
"See what have found!'' he cried, and
held up a spool Of thread. It was dirty
and dlngy and wet with dew; but Mr..
Brown, the merchant, who was with the
party, recognized it at once, ana he said /:
at is one of the spools poor Mrs. Cur,
tbs bought of me yesterday. 1t is pink,
you see. She was real particular about
the color. She was piecing chair cush-
ion, and wanted the right shade. Now,
it is evident that the william who murder
ed her took this route through the wood.
See how the ferns are crushed down this
way. Hurry, we've 60 clue now.''
The trail led them out of the woods in
to the meadow, and opened right into
the yard of Peter Groat. They were 60
ing round to the back door to knock and
ask if any of the inmates had seen stran-
ger 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! See there" he cried.
All turned and looked in at the WIN
dow.
The room was unoccupied. The clock
ticked cheerfully in the corner. The cat
was cozily curled upon chair-cushion,
purring contentedly. But on the table
in the center of the room, lay two pairs
of stockings, and near them, half un-
rolled, was dress pattern of lilac calico.
"That Calico" said Mr.. Brown, i'm
pressively-"that at calico is the identical
piece sold Mrs. Curtis yesterday after
noon. should know it anywhere. It's
peculiar, you sea bunch of white Ii.
lacs on purple ground. 1t was all
had. Besides, should know the piece
because on one end there is about half a
yard imperfectly printed, which has holes
In it, too. l remember let her have il
bit cheaper on that account. Now
Peter Groat knows where the murderer
is, solemnly and slowly--"he did
the deed himseltr'
The party ofmen went silently and s,,.
berly to the back door, and here they
were Mortified In finding fresh evidence
Frau Groat was engaged in washing q
blood stained shirt!
They sternly asked her to whom it be.
longed, but the poor woman who could
not speak word of English, could only
look at them in frightened way.
Her husband now came in from the
garden, and him they sternly interroga.
ted, while some of the more impetuous
boldly accused him of the murder of the
unfortunate Mrs. Curtis.
/ His frightened face, his confusion, his
incoherent utterance, his trembling de,
malls were only so much more against
him. Besides, he knew scarcely any
more English than did lis wife, and la
ter, when calm, his story of the traveller
who had stopped at his house wa.
received with disbelief and derision
Poor, friendless and stranger, things
looked very dark against hlm.
Weeks passed; his trial came. He wa.
sentenced to be hangedl
| =
Rev. Mr.. Marshall, Rector OF st. John'
Church, Brookdale, village some ttyt
, hundred miles distant from Heywocd
} was in his study one September morn
ing, 1878. He was suffering from an at
tack of influenza which he had taken tn,
: L l.c~ n ~ - - = n