The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-26

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
v1Ron1A Cr1, Oct. 25.-l6pecial.] J.
'.Now them" said my genial travelling com
panion, lit was ON this road that 6lads'
wife went flying down to Alder to save hel
husband. OF course you have heard al
about that man 6lade." I had heard o
Slade, Of Plummer, of Jack Gallagher ant
hundred other Robin Hoods of Montana
and along with other legends the story o
the ride but q pilgrimage over the famou
highway on mountain side and through
ravines lent interest to even the trifine in
cidents Of fast growing tradition. II was
chilly October evening. Breezes from tn
range were flying briskly about and in tn,
tains on either side doomed mp like Rseat
sentinels Of nature. In light buggy b.
hind pair Of sturdy horses We wer,
moving at a very comfortable pace
Ny companion was an old-timer will
modern ideas and he could tell q story e
the queens taste. From the freiQhtins
days he had come into the possession Of thu
prettiest rancho in the Madison valley and
has settled down into the enjoyment o,
remaining life. He knows almost every
Iontanian who came to Alder gulch and i
thoroughly acquainted with every phase Of
early-day lite. He knew Slade we'll and re-
members his wife whose name brought ur
an interesting train Of "reminiscences,
Shade lived with her in little stone house,
some distance from the road and here Il
was that later on Hugh McQuaid became
acquainted with the famous desperado's
ghost, or thought sdid.
One evening, as the story goes, Hugh was
coming over the range on horse. A
terrible snow storm came on at night and
he was some distance from habitation. Tho
trail was lost in the white fakes and both
horse and man became bewildered and
were fast being chilled to death. After
an hours experience in the snow Hugh
began to think that he was destined TO die
with his boots on after all. Visions Of the
bright fires and steaming mugs Of Alder
0ulch were already turning his brain a. he
thought Of his terrible position. Finally
when hope was all but gone his horse Stun
bled against . stone building. The door
was quickly opened but there
were no bright lights OF signs Of genial
warmth within. He struck a match and
found small empty room strewn about
with signs Of former living. On the
floor was an old broken table with pieces
of chairs and in one corner was cold and
cheerless fireplace covered with dead ashes.
Not sign Of the owner could be found.
but as his senses returned Hugh remem-
bered that the place was formerly owned
and occupied by Slade and his wife. This
memory added to the gruesome appearance
of the room. The death Of the proprietor
on the gallows tree after life of tragic in
cidents vas recalled with terrible distinct
ness in that little room, but it was place
to stay and that was all there was Of it.
The new ledger picked up the remnants of
the furniture and started IRE. The grow
ing warmth Of the room and the long hard
ships Of the road induced sleep and for
hours nothing broke the travellers slumters
40 he lay stretched before the fireplace
How long sleep lasted the deponent sayeth
not. He only knows that he was awakened |
BY piercing female voice crying:
Foe Gods sake they must not hang
slade."
Hugh jumped to the floor like wild deer |
md turned to the corner from whence the |
Voice came, reaching to the hip pocket |
'or his gun. Before you could say Jack
he had every point of the room
covered, and was waiting for the first at
Jack. BY that time he was thoroughly
and was frightened as we'll, if 1
nay take his word for it. But his unknown
'nemy did not appear, and after the first
hook had worn away he began q search of
he room. The corners were empty as be-
ore. and everything was as Mrs. Slade left
t. Not sound could be heard save the
vail of the wind and the soft beating of the
now against the window. Inside the
ltful flashes of the dying fire
vere making a weird and CHASTITY
fort to break dark shadows on
he walls. The scene was gruesome enough
ut with ghostly intruders the silence was
imost suffocating. Hugh swore by the
line gods of Alder gulch that he heard
romans voice. and that the woman was
ladies wife. Had he not heard the same
lood chilling cry when she tore down the
treets of Virginia on black horse and
brew herself on the dead body Of tho man
he loved, five minutes after it had been
ut down by Judge Lynch's men2 There
'as no installing the identity, but where
'as she? A thousand thoughts crowded into ,
be brain of the unlimited guest as he ,
rOpped down again before the fireplace.
ne cold preparation coming from his agita- {
I'd brow. He thought of the terrible siboo-
10 man, that monster Of childhood te-
ends and he thought Of the widest ghost
tories that ever tortured q susceptible inn ,
Rlnation. But none solved the mystery of I
nat WOmQnsR VOIC0 and hn xvnu MT l..
. take any chances BY again falling asleep. {
II night long no sat BY the hearth with his i
ack to the wall and his two gums BY his I
de reedy for action. When the tirst lines !
dawn had fairly broken over the rance II I
SNOW he was on his horse and Oh Tor /
irginia, and he never was 30 glad to see q !
,wn in his life.
But to return to the stage road. The !
orses 6y over tho frozen ground and soon 4
e are near Daylight Qulch. ''There, )" said \ /
u companion, pointing to = rock noar the Z
BAD. II found . dead man there twenty {
W years ago." Around another turn. Ii
trough gully and Virginia City lies al Q
lost before %. From the head of the &
ain street ID . miniature panorama Of |,
Gather worn buildings half covered with lie
10 first snow of the season and overshad O
ned by surrounding hills. =
ssrhe gulch." asked INV companion: 4
Where 70 Alder eulch?''
'wn at the other end Of the street" an il
veyed. a
I had expected that Virginia vas Alder !