The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-08-29
WAS 1T A GHOST?

The following strange story was re-
lated to me by the principal actor in
the drama. and n number of persons
who were present at the recital said
they were acquainted with both Of the
men who once figured rs partners. !
The names are fictitious, but the incl
dents and locations are authentic:
I was working with an engineering
corps, who were making n preliminary
survey of II route for the Atlantic and
Pacific II. r.
Our camp was located Mt the foot of
n mountain. near the Little Colorado
River. We had been working hard all
day, trying to find a suitable place to
cross the river. and l was very tired,
aud was the first man to lie down to
sleep. remember distinctly when my
bcd-fcllow came to he'd. and that was
the lastI knew. until l was awakened
by someone shaking me, and II voice
saying:
Come out here. Charley; l want to
show you something"
The person who spoke to me was
holding up the edge Of the tent close to
my head.
The moo was shining brightly, aud
as ! crawled out from bed l saw a man
standing n few feet from the tent L
did not recognize him MS being any of
our boys. and as | stood trying TO make
out who he was. he said:
Come with me; / want to show You
n silver niue"
II followed him up the side of the
mountain until we came to n we'll
defined trail, when he stopped and
said:
Before VIC go any farther you must
promise me that you will not say or do
anything in regard to the mine until
You go to Laguna, where. by inquiry.
you will find a man by the name of
Henry King. He was once my part
ncr, and while we were prospecting in
this country l found this mine. An
accident prevented me telling him ut
the time, and ! have not had the OPP
portunity to let him know of the find
since. He will inform you of the ma
ture of the accident that happened to
me. Tell him that Jack Long showed
you the find. and requested that it be
Shared equally between YOU"
1t struck me as being a remarkable
stoiy anu L dueslioicu MN III icSatu
to it.
Why do you not 90 to Laguna and
inform your partner? Aud why do lyon
give me. a total stranger to you. n half
interest in your find? Why not keep
it yoursclf?"
For reasons you could not UNDER
stand. ! cannot speak with my part
,ier. There is more money in the niue
than one mar should have, and | think
you arc deserving of more wealth; aud
to pay you for doing what ask Of you
is the reason l offer it to you. To me
the mine amounts to nothing. A man
in my position does not require any
mines, as you will learn from King"
l reluctantly made him the promise
hc required, and he turned and led the
way up the trail. followed him over
The mountain and down the opposite
side, until we came to where the noun
tain broke off, and formed one side of
a deep canon.
Here he turned to the right, and Of
ter going several rods, he stopped and
picked up some pieces of rock, which
he gave to NE, SAYING:
Take these with you and examine
them by daylight. All this loose rock
is broken from the ledge, and this"
pointing to a large out-cropping of
rock, lis the ledge. II is silver, and
very rich. Now mark the place. so
that you can bring King here. Show
him the rock, and tell him that Jack
says there is plenty Of it. Goodnight"
l felt a queer sensation creep over
me as though I had seen a ghost. l
stood for some time, half expecting to
see him return; then l picked up sew.
eral pieces of the rock, returned to
camp, and went to bed.
In the morning it all seemed like a
dream. but there was the ore, and |
could see that it was filed with some
kind of mineral.
showed a piece of it to the cngi-
necr. After looking at it for a short
time. he said:
1T is wire-silver. Where did you
find itp"
told him a person had given it to
ME, and said it was wire silver.
did not attempt to return to the
ledge, for fear l would be followed.
When we reached the vicinity of
Laguna, I left the corps and went to
hunt up my future partner. l had no
trouble in iinding him, but wishing to
satisfy myself that he was the right
man, / asked him if lie ever know "A
man by the name of Jack Long.
Yes" he replied, Jack used to be
my partner. We're you acquainted
with him?"
Whcreupon l related my story to
him, and gave him some of the min.
eral.
Ishall never forget the expression
of his face rs he stood before me while
l was relating my experience to him.
He never removed his eyes from, my
face until / was through; then he
quietly sat down and examined the
mineral.
You say you never saw Jack until
the night be showed you this m%ineral?"
he asked.
No" l replied.
Never heard of himpa
Never"
"Well, you have told me a queer
story. Jack and I were prospecting
on the Little Colorado, at the point
you mention. On the tenth of August
Jack left u camp, saying he was 60
ing over or the very mountain you
speak of to do a little prospecting for
quartz. W. were looking for placer
gold, and l put in the day prospecting
a bar on a small stream that enters
the Colorado near the place you speak
OF. He did not return that night, and
the next morning l went to look for
him. l found him on the side of the
mountain. stone dead. He had been
to- ...At 1911 .-t. LL ~ A--kL h.
bowlder that had become loosencd and
rolled upon him, killing him instantly.
Now, how could you have seen and
talked with Jack Long. when he has
been dead for over a ycar?"
1t was NY turn to look astonished.
and couldinot do much else for some
time.