Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-08-02
APRIZh GHOST STORY.
How Murder Was Revealed BY an Appar-
iulou Which Appeared To ID Friend.

How Murder Was Revealed BY an Appar-
itlon Which Appeared to a Friend.
prizs of S. was recently offered BY
the Dstroit Tribune for the ''best original
ghost story" Here Is one of the best
among the dozen or more that were pub
lishe0:
Do J doubt that the spirit of the de-
parted return to earth and appear to man ?
No, know it can. There wss a time
when | wouid have laughed to scorn the
idea Of spirit communication, but not
sipce the 10Th day of June, 1874.
At my old Dome in Michigan l had a
friend. We we're in5e parable, and in our
boyhood days owned all our toys 10 oou-
mon- We read the same books aud
thought the same thoughts. We were
graduated in the same class from the
nigh school, entered college together,
occupied the same room, Joined the
same secret society and in the rushes GU
the campus were always shoulder to shout
der.
lie was In the sophomore year that Dave,
my friend, was called home by the sudden
death of his father. Part OF the assets of
the estate consisted of valuable mining
property IN Arlzone, and Dave had Just
commenced the work of getting matters
into shape when he received the Intelli
geuce that unless he went at once to the
mines the entire property might be lost
through the rascality of manager.
Forced to go he made flying tri . to the
college to see me, and We sat the night
through talking over our plans for the
future, and then with sadness we parted
for the first time i'll our lives.
In about ten days | received long let
ter tvom him giving descriptio OF his
trip and the condition of things as ne
found them at the mics They were fully
as bad as had been represented and d ave
said he feared rouble was brewing, as the
books had been hidden by the manager,
who was acting ugly.
was filled with foreboding of danger
to Dave that hung over me like cloud.
could not rid myself Of the possibilitie.
contained In his words, 81 fear trouble is
brewing" for L feared that his impetuous
nature and felrlessness would lead him
into trap. 1T was week later on the
evening OF jane 10, that [ vent early 10
bed with presentIment of danger to my
friend upon me that WIS always over.
towering, and at last fell into a troubled
sleep.
How long I slept do not know, bat al
some hour IL the hight my eyes opened
wide and ! saw the room filled with a soft
white bus CHASTITY light. Every article on
the mHntle, the furniture and even the
titles on the backs OF the books on tn
table stood ont DIS met and clear Sad
denly my heart almost stopped beating
and my hair raised IN awful horror, foI
here, standing at tbs foot o. our bed, wa-
Dave-my Dave but with face as white
the face of the dead and ewes that
seemed TO be locking into nothingness
pointing his finger to bullet mole in his
temple.
'Dave!' criec, "where did you oome
fromr What docs this mean:'
Hist! Do noG approach me. D.
you remember rhe agreement We once
made out IN tire orchard to return again
TO the living should death take one of us
first?
This night, John, met my death in g
deserted lead in the old Eagle mine. For
days searched for the hidden books, but
watched closely by Palmer, the manager
and his afternoon | found u clew to them
| went to bed In the cabin to night as
usua', but Watching my chance when be
ilevf d all eslee p l crept quietly out, aud
with shovel aud lantern came down into
The mine to this lead. In the far end
near where jagged piece of rock sands
out, found newly dug earth and com
menced to dig. | was right-ihe books
were there. | heard noise behind me,
and turned my face to receive from q re-
vOiver in Planners hand this bullet IN nv
brain. He has buried my body beneath
the mass of rock be disio iEsd, aud hid
den the books IL a hole he made on the
left side of the entrance. Remember!
Fare weII!'
His face faded from my view. spraug
from my bed, dressed and rushed to the
telegraph office and sent this message to
the Sheriff at Tucson:
ARREST RobciO Palmer, of the Eagle
mines, for the murd.r of ID. I. Co.
left for home that night, secured the
necessary funds and started for Arizona.
| found poor Dawes body and the books
just es he described them to me, and
confronted the murderer with the dam
nRble evidences OF his guilt; bur had not q
watch charm belonging to Palmer been
found with the body he wouli never have
been convicted, for no one believed my
story.
"a strange coincidence" my Judge
said. Was itH No. l. vas Dave him self
in spirit, though he has never come to me
since. If any one doubts the truth of
this let him address Judge Garter, of
Tucson, if he be still upon the bench
there.