The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-10-23

The most intense excitement now pre-
vailed, a thousand questions were show
cred upon the lad, but exhausted nature
would bear no more-Frank relapsed into
insensibility.
The news was carried TO Sedgwick, the
trial was suspended, and the coroner and
other officers of the law came down to in
vestigate this new phase of the case
1t was not until the following day that
Frank could bear the strain of formal
examination; then the facts discovered in
his treasure hunting expedition were fully
revealed.
The various articles belonging to Jasper
Karch were identified. and in further con-
firmation of his story Frank was taken 70
the DEVILS Patch, where ne pointed out
the crevice from which he had emerged. A
handsome reward was offered to any one
who would make the descent, but no one
was found sufficiently stouthearted to ven
ture-
Dark masses of cloud swept in unending
procession across the sky. The old men
gravely conned the signs and predicted
dirty weather.
That evening the storm came on. At
first q quickening land breeze. which in
creased in violence until it blew with the
force of tornado. The rain fell in tor
rents, stinging the flesh of the unfoTtu-
mates exposed to the fury of the storm ike
hailstones.
For twenty-four hours the war of the
elements ragged, and it was not until the
morning of the third day that the clear
sky was seen again.
Few of the fshermeu's cabins had es-
capped damage, while many of their boats
had been blown into the sea and carried
away.
Under the combined influence of the high
wind and the ebb tide the sea had retired
farther than the oldest inhabitant remem-
bered to have seen it. A broad belt Of
sand appeared, stretching as far as the eye
could reach along the shore.
Frank Bryson had sauntered down 70
the beach, walking unconsciously in the
direction OF King SOlomOn's tomb, when
he was startled by observing that the en-
trance stood high and dry above the water.
He called to the fishermen and pointed
TO the dark opening in the rocks. A party
was quickly organized for the purpose Of
recovering the body of Jasper Karch.
Under the leadership of the boy the task
was an easy one, the men returning in an
hour with the body OF the old man resting
upon a rudely constructed litter.
The corpse was carried into the nearest
cabin and the coroner summoned The ex-
citement In the village was intense. L Was
believed, without doubt, that evidence
was about to be produced which would
make Jack Hastings q free man
Polly Anderson flung her arms about the
neck of her cousin. overwhelming him
with her gratitude.
When the coroner and his physician ar
rived it was with difficulty that the inquest
could be inAugurated
At length jury was secured and sworn.
The body WIS identified as that OF the
missing man. Jasper kErca.
The outer pockets Of the garments c; the
dead man were empty. their contents bzv-
ting been brought q the Village by Frank
But when Us vest vas Uno1ttOHed a
pocket BOOK o. oiled canvas was discovered.
Il cantAlnEd letters. papers aud ozak uOtes.
Il bad status " blood upon .r, aud one
psper hastily folded Wa particularly
market ggish the iulsriut % hloodv fingers.
An examination os the body revealed a
crHsned auG ozokess tez from tlle lsrrrsiefi
arteries al wh5ch i wss evident iasg Tee
. LIE blood rad ooEed away.