The Delta independent., 1891-03-24
irom Wand a,,z's 70 kszt close watch

from Wand aatz's ke kept close watch
in order to see where the old man
came from should he again intrude
upon him. 1t was ala in vain.
| Before he knew it. his silent COM
panion was once more ut his side and
he was none the wiser as to whence he
came. In spite cs his watchfulness
the first thing ho knew the old man
was there.
Thoroughly terrified Zeigler broke
in the rear. The old man never Iurhed
his head and apparently was perfectly
ignorant of his unwilling companions
exiotence. yet he still kept his place
beside him. Joseph stopped short in
the road; the old man did the same.
Finding he could not get rid Of his
remarkable companion Joseph made
The best of him. but his steps
were rapid for he was much alarmed.
He did not like the singular manner
of the stranger and at once decided
that he must be insane.
AS on the former occasion, the old
man stopped and gave Joseph pierc-
ing look from his glowing eyes ere he
turned off into the woods; but this
time he did more than that He mo-
toned with great earnestness for his
companion to follow him. Finding he
would not do so. he then turned slow
ly away and vanished among the
bushes.
| 1t was more than two weeks efore
Joseph called upon Minna again. The
risk of encountering that SILENT un-
canny old man again was too much for
But when the moon was nearing its
full once more he summoned up all
his determination and went He felt
that he must see Fraulein Vanzandt
again in spite OF all the crazy people
in New Jersey.
He dreaded his lonely walk good
deal, however, and it was not much to
be wondered at that he fortified him
self with more than tho usual amount
of Herr Vanzaudt's homemade wine.
He ulAo started for home at Il much
eurlier hour.
1t was the same story over again.
The old man was apparently on the
lookout for him. as he suddenly ap-
peared at his side. He still carried
tho singular staff in his hand, and still
refused to be distauced or to reply to
any remark addressed to him. As he
turned off from the road he beckoned
even more urgently than before for
his young companion TO follow him.
Herr Nanzandts wine was having
considerable effect on Joseph's cour-'
age, and he felt as bold us n lion. So
he unhesitatingly stepped out OF the
highway in obedience to the invita-
tion, and followed the singular mad
man along through the bushes; but tho
hand in his coat-pocket gripped firmly
the butt OF revolver with which he
had taken the precaution to arm him
self.
The path conducted the strangely
assorted pair some ten or fifteen rods
into the thicket, and finally ended in
Il little opening among IL cluster of
low, dark pines. There the remarka-
BILE guide came to halt
He turned around and faced his COM
panion where the moonlight fell most
strongly upon his form and features.
and removed tho road-brimmed hat
that he wore. As he did SO the young
man started back with an exclamation
OF horror.
The thick. gray hair was matted
and fairly soaked with blood, and u
thin dark stream OF it was beginning
to triclsle down across the pallid
features. 1t was ghastly sight.
Joseph Zeigler had scarcely noticed
all this when it seemed to him as II
the old mans flesh suddenly dropped
away from him and dissolved in the
pale moon-beams before his very eyes.
For brief instant a bleached and
whitened skeleton stood there in the
flood OF moonlight, then the separat-
ing bones fell in confused heap at
his feet with a sharp. dry rattle.
The fictitious courage born Of Herr
Vanzandts wine vanished in an in.
stant ut the horrible sight. With q
shrek of terror Joseph turned and
fed from the grisly phantasm. and he
never sackened his headlong pace till
he found himself on one OF the silent
streets at Egg Harbor City.
The next morning he headed n little
exploring party. and conducted them
through the bushes till they reached
the little circle OF pines that had shut
in the horror of the night before.
Lying there among the leaves and
rubbish they found the bleaching
bones OF mans skeleton; and close
beside lay IL walking stick whose
heavy knob was mimic skull. and to
an angle OF which still clung Il few
gray hairs.
The Uranium had been crushed in
on one side rs II by terrible blow
from u bludgcon, and there was no
trace OF the glittering gold chain
worn by Ieigler's strange companion
OF the preceding evening. The staff,
n few shreds OF cloth, and the trees,