Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-28
Written for THE EVENING STAR
COLONEL PIKE, OF ST. JOE.
A GENUINE GHOST STORY.
By b. b. VALENTINE.
downright 1881


By B. b. VALENTINE
Copyright 1851
The day express of the Missouri Pacific Rail-
road was bowling smoothly and merriIy along
westward bound as i stepped into the smok-
ing car to enjoy quiet pipe. i am not an in
veterate smoker, yet few days pass without ny
consuming two or three cigars and filling my
pipe as many times. like pipe, and I think
there Is no form of smoking out of which so
much solid comfort can be extracted. Travel
Ing about as much "a do, IL Is almost indis-
pensable am the agent for one of the largest
manufacturing concerns in the East Our
speciality is the construction of car-wheels.
We own several valuable patents and supply
railroad com panies in all parts of the Union.
j have been many years with the firm, my po-
siton is most responsible one, fairly lucrative;
the sole objection to the occupation is the con-
slant necessity for moving from place TO place.
look forward to the day, however, when
shall have saved sufficient to enable me to set
Tie down in one spot.
As walked towards the forward end of the
smoking somebody brushed by me. So
trivial matter should not have noticed, did
not this story turn on the fact. / did not see
the mans face, / simply have vague impress
sion Of a soied linen buster, but 1t is an impress
sion and nothing more. That one. passenger
should be passing into car and another one
be passing out at the same time is certainly not
. remarkable coincidence. The car was just
about as dirty a car as smoking cars usually
0fe. There were fixed tables for card-playing,
and well-worn and shabby seats covered with
Initiation leather on each side of them. / sat
NJ the farthest table with my back to the door,
loaded and Lit my pipe, pulled out ST. Louis
paper and began to read, but my mind refused
10 allow itself to be concentrated on the news,
% let my hand fall lazily by my side and
looked In a purposeless way out of the window
Then ! turned and raised tine paper again. and
In doing my eye fell something that gilt
tered at my feet. / stopped and picked 1t up.
1t was a large and very curious diamond ring
IN antique. There was one large stone of fine
water, surrounded by star-shaped clusters of
brilliants, the general effect being extremely
rich and fine. Instead of a massive hoop of
gold to support so handsome a setting, there
was nothing but two pieces of thin gold wire to
encircle the finger of the wearer. How so valu-
able an article had been dropped was very
clear. One of the gold wires had piece appar-
emily cut out of 1.-THE other was worn almost
through The ring had evidently not fitted the
owners finger and had slipped off without his
knowing of the loss.
At this moment there was a hurried footstep
behind me and a sharp-featured, black-mus-
tached man came and stood opposite me.
His face wore rather an anxious look; he was
well-oressed and had a winning, pleasant, Off
hand manner.
Excuse me, SIR" he said in a low, but very
distinct voice, bringing his head close to mine,
. ring-a diamond ring. Have you seen any
thing Of it wouldn't part with that ring for
us this yours?' asked as held out the gilt
sering jewel, the blaze from the stones almost
making him wink.
me gently and transferring the frail wire hoops
70 his finger. A great weight seemed To be
lifted from his mind and his countenance
beamed with gratitude. 81 am Col. Pike, of st.
Joe" he continued; Everybody knows me. My
office is In the Monroe block. Now, don't fail to
look me up whenever you re down my way. I'll
give you frst-rate time. Come out and have
drink with me when we stop at Knobnoster.
III just run back to the parlor car and tell Mrs.
Pike I've found it. You never saw a woman
20 scared in your life about a thing, and" he
added. looking at his ring with puzzled air,
81 must have lost a bit-of the WIRE"
He knelt, but failed to find the missing piece
on the floor of the car, and while hastily brush
Ing of the dust from his knees said:
II guess I'd BETTE put IL in my pocket for
fear l might lose 1t again. I'm ever so much
obliged to you.'
Then he hurried away to inform Mrs. Pike
A few minutes afterwards the train stopped
ct Knobnoster. ! had my drink with Col.
Who he said, was not well. / went back to
the smoker, resumed my seat, relit my pipe,
ond While ia1iy Wsiehi1g the sluggish clouds
heard voice asking If anybody had found a
diamond Ola, XII, ling was not the person addressed,
Pike 1 naturally took some interest in the
matter.
what's all this about diamond ring?" I
ayes, I've lost one" said a stability dressed
young man In a state of breathless excite
ment. am sure dropped it in this smoking
car" he gapsed, lust where you're sitting"
swell, wonder how many people On this train
pronounced sarcasm. 1--WE already found one
Its mine, it's mine 1 tell you," shouted the
IF it is yours answered coo.y, "you'd bet
ter go back in the parlor car and see Col. Pike,
of ST. Joe. You'll find him next to his wife,
Settle the matter between yourselves. He's the
nghtiul owner of the ring and hes got It. He
Identified his property and handed it over
The excited, shabby young man rushed out of
the car, slamming the door after him. and in
two or three minutes returned to my table
palIid with rage
II knew you were lying" he hissed NV
temper is considered good, but there are few
men who can call me a liar with IMMUNITY. My
nrSt impulse was TO knock the man down, but
thou ght better Oft and said to him:
II would advise you To moderate your Ian
guage. III go with you to Col. Pike and in
Vestigate the matter"
We went into the parlor car together. 1t was
but half full, but there was no Col Pike there,
nor anyone answering TO his description L
called the Pullman conductor and asked him If
COL and Mrs. Pike had occupied chairs in the
Then we passed into the next car, and so on to
the end of the train, but / could no Pike.
All this time the shabby young man was fol-
lowing me about like a cat after mouse.
Il hope you are satisfied now he muttered
with a sneer. His manner very offensive
but was calm. AT this moment the conductor
OF the train came along "LoOk here" said the
young man, pointing to me, 'thiS fellow is q
thief" The situation was getting interesting
70 the other passengers. He found my dia-
mond ring in the smoking ear and he won't
give il back TO me-" / allowed him TO go on a nd
Tell his story. ale says" he continued s.he
gave it TO passenger on the train and he can I
dnd him." i saw by the way that the con-
ductor received the Information that he was
not in sympathy with the loser of the ring. who
had an unprepossessing expression and a dis
agreeable personality, besides being carelessly
and shabbiiy dressed. 1t Was now my turn To
speak Il certainly did find a ring, and
handed IL to its owner. Col, Pike, of ST Joe, just
before the train stopped at Knobnoster."
Colonel Dho, of 81. Joe?' said a voice from
The end OF the car.
"Col, Pike i answered. walking toward the
inquirer in the hope of obtaining clue to the
mystery
"Wa-al." drawled n lank, why, well-pre-
served Westerner OF about 50, ave been Twin
in st. joe for nigh onto twenty year and never
heerd OF no Col. Pike
"Oh. yes" said, '.his office is in the Monroe
block and he says he's well known"
THE Monroe block, eh? Wa-aI. the Monroe
block was burnt down about fifteen months
ago and amt been built up yet. 1t warnt there
last week, any how"
A look of insolent triumph passed over the
countenance OF the ring claimant, who once
more demanded that should return his prop
erty 10 him. i must confess that / felt per-
picked. certainly had given a diamond ring