The Democratic advocate., 1882-07-08


even though it be quarter of century
after the crime, they follow it to the end.
The detective did not see fit to tell his
new friends why the trail he had followed
when a younger man had been covered
from sight for twenty-five years, and he
kept silent as to the way in which the
death of Tom Gribble had uncovered it
again.
But, having questioned all fully on those
points which had bearing on the identity
of the man he sought, he left the citizens
ready to declare that he was the shrewdest
man, the keenest questioner and the best
Judge of human nature they had ever met.
And he left them with the blunt deelara-
tion that "a murder case which has puzzled
me for twenty-five years is a puzzle no
longer. l shall mark it in my note book
as finished. 1t need never be carried be-
yond Tom Gribbles grave
So people were ready for anything when
April came And those who wait usually
get what they wait for
The stage brought tall young man to
the town one morning His trunks bore
the name of John Gribble. He was clos
eted with Hon. Jack Pineher nearly all day
Just before night he sent his luggage to the
Gribble msnsion, while he and the lawyer
walked over.
The men and boys talked this over in
the store where the postofhee was kept,
and where everything from groceries to dry
goods was sold, and the women in knots of
two or three talked it over while they drank
| tea at home in their kitchens.
At nine O'Clock small boy brought the
most startling bit of news they had had
| vet to the loungers in the store.
He and two companions had seen Tom
Gribble in his grave clothes, with an elbow
ON each knee, and his chin in his palms,
sitting on his headstone and watching the
lights in the house from which they had
carried him up to his narrow house on the
windy hill three months before.
And the next day John Gribhle took his
/ luggage and left Glenville. Before going
he signed formal resignation Of any claim
10 the Gribble estate TO be gained by 81 res
idence there.
Charley Gribble sent notice that he
should not accept the conditions imposed
and live at the old estate at Glenville But
Fred Gribble wrote that he would consider
the matter.
| Meanwhile Tom Gribble's ghost came,
little BY little, TO be one Of the institutions
Of the place.
A half-dosen times the watcher on the
headstone had been seen, always a. night
Once two boys had met horrible sheeted
figure half mile from the grave. And
on another occasion there had been light
seen in the old mansion: and in the room
which the old man had always occupied.
Terror had settled down ON Glenville,
and the rich scres and substantial house
bid fair TO be sold for mere song when the
time should come 10 sch the really valuable
| property.
But in July Glenville bad another sen
sation.
A stout young fellow with elosely cut
brown hair and keen grey eyes walked into
the ofice Of the little hotel, enc bright nom
ing. put the name Fred Gribble on the
register, and sanntered up 10 the house
which was the fear of ali the town.
At noon his elASsic step Was heard 90
the sidewalk, and be ate A. hearty sdinncT
a anyone. Affer dinner be stood for = few
/ minutes IN the oisoe. and mentioned that
he should spcnd the night in the Gribble
house, and asked If anyone would 70 with
him. No one volunteered, and he finally
hired the landlords son and Sam Reed, for
ten dollar bill each, 20 % with him.
The thunder clouds were rising IN the
/ West As the thrce men went up the path
TO the house.
The grass along the psth was hot and
dry. Everything was still. Nature was
waiting in the calm before the storm.
On the hill, back soEae forty rods from
/ the house, the headsfoRe Of the Gribble
who was dead and gone stood oat clear
and white against the blaeknczs Of the
clouds, which had erept around toward
the North, before the eyes Of the living
Gribble.
The trees up there were beginning TO
sway and trcmble as e in anticipation Of
the storm which was coming Il lacked
an hour Of sundown. Night and tempest
were evidently coming together. What
else was coming no human mind could tell
Fate il fate, and always viii be.
Fred Gribble spent an hour in the Eooui
| in which his dead uncle had spent the lAst
days Of his life
He rummaged about among the books
on the shelves. The papers from his desk
had Of course been taken charge Of by his
lawyer. Reed and the landlords boy kept
close BY his side. They were nearly dead
with fear already.
Young Gribble found nothing to pay him
for his search, unless this little scrap in his
uncle's hand on the fy leaf of book Of
poems could be considered pay.
IA bad man should have his own way At
last for only in death can he make amends
for anything Gods curse rest on any maa
who stands between me and my las,
wishes"
II bore date less than week before his
death.
As young Gribble returned the book to
the shelves without a word, the first long
roar Of the thunder came down the rising
wind, and first drops Of the coming tenn
pest flashed against the windows.
II had become too dark 10 read even the
titles of the books on the shelves almost in
a moment
Sam Reed and his companion had uttered
cry almost as the thunder sounded. But
it was not caused by the thunder and the
storm
No, for as Fred Gribble looked from the
window toward the North, a horrible form
stepped from behind the headstone on the
hill and commenced to walk slowly towards
1 the house
Reed and the boy looked to young Crib
bic for the signal to fy.
They would have faced the storm sooner
than the death ike shape coming slowly
down the slope toward them.
But Fred Gribble was fitting the pieces
of pocket rife together with the greatest
GOODNESS in the world
The figure had advanced to within ten
rods of the house when Fred threw up
the window before which he stood and
shouted:
Halt This has gone far enough
Three PAGES farther and your blood be
upon your own head T.
And the answer in deep voice came
down the slope: "Why disturb you the