The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-08-05
LINK BY LIMA.
THE STORY OF Il MYSTERY.

The shower was ended. A brisk
breeze wasrapidly tearing away the gray
thunder clouds from the face Of the June
sky, and the sun shone down with re-
Hnewed fervor. r8
S'As hot as 'twas before the rain!" ex-
claimed Mrs. Curvs as she opened her
parasol, and leisurely stepped from the
Haywood dry goods store i'll which she
had, half an hour before, taken shelter
from the storm.
Yes, 1t is, ma'am, said Mr., Brown,
Che proprietor, handing her the bundles
vhe had bought from him, and he added
You'll have a hot walk under this
brilin'-hot sun. Better run in to our
house and stay TO tea. You hain't seed
the twins, Smartest little critters ever
was. Mrs. Browns getting on finely,
end viii be glad to see you"
Thanks; I'd like to, but must hurry
home and can my currants. Besides,
wouldn't undertake that long walk
through the pine wood after dark for
anything In the world. It's glorious
enough in the daytime. Give nv re-
spects to your wife; tell her I'll drop in
soon and see her and the babies. Good
day" I'M
"Goed.day," said Brown, and he
added, as he saw Mrs. Curtis hurryinq
down the street, "Queer critterl''
Yes, by all the inhabitants of Haywood
Mrs. Curtis was called peculiar. She
was upwards of fifty years, tall and
erect, with iron-gray hair, ruddy cheeks,
end keen, dark eyes. And, decidedly,
she was a person that minded her own
business. She had lived in Haywood
for five years, yet in all that time not
single person had been able to CLEAN any
information concerning her past life.
All that could be ascertained was that
she was q widow, childless, and with a
little property, consisting of little. cot
tage surrounded by few acres Of land.
alid with flew hundred dollars in the
Haywood bank. MAJ
Meanwhile, Mr.. Brown. returned to
his counter to wait on customer, and
Mrs. Curtis pursued her Journey home
ward. For some distance her road led
elong the dusty highway, then she turned
into little footpath through the daisy
dotted meadow, then across the creek
bridge, until presently she came to the
dense pine woods whose shade was very
pleasing to her.
When about half way through the
woods she came to a small patch of late
strawberries. She stopped to pick them.
Her brown, Woodworking hands were
nearly full Of the luscious, red berries.
when a rustling and a footstep startled
her. She hastily glanced up. In an in
slant an iron-like hand was cIutching her
throat, and-only the frightened, wild
wood birds could tell her the rest.
y ~
About two miles from the village of
Haywood, and on the banks of Brair
Greek, dwelt Peter Gfoat. He was a
German, who, with his family. had
lately come to America, and in the pre-
vlous autumn had bought few acres of
land bordering the creek. Here he had
erected a small, but comfortable house
and was, to all appearance, an honest,
hard working man, The only thing
that could be said against him by "a few
grumbiers was that he was too, "close. I"
clinging tightly to his hard earned pen
MES, and ever on the lookout for more.
But this certainly was excusable when II
was known that he had mortgage on
his farm, which together with the wants
OF a rapidly increasing family, was
enough to make any man greedy OF
grain.
1t was evening of the day on which
our story began Peter, surrounded by
his wife and children, sat smoking his
pipe on the little grass plot in front Of
the house. s,.l.a i.as s .aa
The supper had been eaten, the cows
MIXED, the pigs fed, the chickens
housed from thievish rats, and all the
family, young and old, felt entitled to a
season of rest. Hans and Fritz were
turning summersaults ON the soft grass;
Gretchen, q faxen7haired lassie, was
feeding q pet robin; Franz, the six
months baby, was cuddled up in his
mothers breast, contentedly smackine
his lips over his evening meal. o
The sun went down, the shadows
deepened. The clock in the distant vii.
lage struck the hour of eight. Peter
Groat rose, shook the ashes from his
pipe, and said: hae /.
Come, kinder, it is late. The dew is
falling, and let's to bed" a aAa
Water! vater!" suddenly cried Hans
and Fritz, running up from the gate.
there is man coming in our yard---a
stranger!' .o4',. ! .ssa +.
Peter slowly sauntered down to meet
the new conner. A..l $1,000 81.
He was an elderly man, with q tanned
and rugged face, sandy hair sprinlled
with gray, and dark, deep-set eyes, some
what imfamed His clothes were 81
good material, although worn and dusty
with travel, In his hand he carried q
large satchel, se#
Good evening, he said, courtously
Evening to you, sir" replied Peter
Groat. I..I a.'f 0'Gido1
I'm peddler," said the man, speak
ing in German. 81 have sold nearly al
my goods, and am on my way back tc
New York. I got left by the train, an6
undertook to walk to the next station. ]
lost my way, and find I must get lodg
ings for the night Can you help me p
1.-The good book commands, us to show
hospitality" said Peter. esAnd although
we are not rich, we never vet turned
away a benighted traveller. So, come
in, and my frau shall get you Something
to eat" .o 7SgT 7aoi5g3F
The table was soon spread with neat
white cloth, upon which wss placed :
platter of cold boiled meat, garnisheG
we'll with vegetables, then a plate O
white bread, roll of butter. dish O
shining blackberries, and plate of spicy
ginger cookies.
II feel too, dirty to sit down to de,
cent table, said the traveller with d
smile. MAY I trouble you for basin
of water % .fri faa,.aa
1t was brought, he took off his coat,
preparatory to washing his face and
hands. Gretchen who stood beside him
with a fresh towel in her hands. uttered
a slight scream. e.,
'Bloodr she cried. There's blood on
your sleevesl
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 earelessly:
"Ah, yes; those rocks by the creek
made quite cash in my shoulder /. Yor
see, blandly explaining, 'swhile I was
III III IL