The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-07-29

nOSpltdlty. butu l. otcr. huu uiVuVuSu
we are not rich, we never yet turned
away a benighted traveller. So, come
in, and my frau shall get you something
to eat"
The table was soon spread with neat,
white cloth, upon which was placed a
platter of cold boiled meat, garnished
we'll with vegetables, then plate of
white bread, roll of butter, dish of
shining blackberries, aud plate of spicy
ginger cookies.
~ feel too dirty to sit down to n de-
cent table," said the traveller with Il
smile "May l trouble you for basin
of water ?"
1t was brought. he took off his coat,
preparatory to washing his face aud
hands. Gretchen who stood beside him
with n fresh towel in her hands, uttered
a slight scream.
"Blood!" 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 eff
fort, he said carelessly:
"Ah, yes; those rocks by the creek
made quite cash in my shoulder. You
see.' blandly explaining. "while I was
lost, | thought I'd try and 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 when sudden mis- step made
me fall. A sharp piece of rock pierced
my shoulder, and, indeed, it has caused
me considerable pain.
Zach, too bad!" said Frau Groat. II
have 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 I'm very tired. Besides. will have
to rise early in the morning. so that /
may take the first train"
The next morning the whole family
was up i'll 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 to start he
inquired what he should pay for his
board and lodging.
"Oh, notings -notings You are wei
come to the bed and the bite" said
Groat, heartily.
"You are very kind" said the
stranger, "but / feel that | ought to re.
pay you in some way See here
opening his satchel-''if you will not
let me give money, pray do me the kind
sc oaaant,nS. tl,aon 1;ttla t,,lyanC ~
gratitude. Here, Frau Groat, are two
pair 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 1 do not care to lug
them home again"
The two women accepted his gifts
with much pleasure, and, with mutual
ex )ressions of good luck, the traveller
al his kind entertainers parted. The
former wore blue checked shirt OF
Peter Groat S. He left his own behind
him, telling Frau Groat 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 bargain.
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 entered
the pine woods. When about half way
through, brown object lying on the
grass little distance from him. attracted
his attention. He went to it, 1t was a
large piece of wrapping paper, and a
long bit of Irvine was lying beside it.
The paper was damp with dew, and as
Greyson carelessly turned it over in his
hand, he observed some red spots on 1t.
He examined them more closely. They
we're 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,
and they led him to the most dense and
most unfrequented part of the woods,
and there, in n hollow, almost covered
with underbrush, lay the body of n
woman. 1t was Mrs. Curtis, lying stiff
and stark, with n bloody cash across her
throat.
Two hours later, party of men was
hunting the leafy labyrinths of the pine
woods. They were endeavoring 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 / have found' 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 ct once, and
said:
cts one of the spools poor Mrs. Cur
It's bought of me yesterday. It's pink,
you see She was real particular about
the color. She was piecing q chair cush-
ion, and wanted the right shade. Now,
it's evident that the villain who murder
ed her took this route through the