The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-28

society, having been misled. doubtless, by
the similarity tetween tract and track.
McSwiggan was shown to be the real pro
pristor, and the justice made out q warrant
the paper was given if I might 20 with him,
but he winked violently and said that it was
too far for q man of my age.
''It was only a few days afterward that
McSwiggan's name again appeared in court
in the case of a man who lost consciousness
and a portion Of one ear in the saloon
which. as I have already explained. Bagley
doesn't own. The man at first declared that
Bagley did it and that nobody else was
present at tho time. The court then took a
recess during which Bagley's friends ren-
goned with the complainant and evidently
convinced him that he had been in error.
for when he TOOK the stand later he thor
blame upon McswiRRan. It had been pre-
~viously shown that when the police broke
into the saloon to save the complainant's
life, they had found I'LL tho doors and
windows fastened on the inside. This loft
McSwiRgan'B escape u~naccounted for until
Bagley arose and testified that he had seen
MoSwiggan crawl into an empty beer keg
Though the bunR hole Immediately after
tho assault. He (Bagley) had been so much
asitated in mind that he had neglected to
point ont the criminals hiding place to the
police. The case war dismissed.
Then / learned that McSwiggan had in
fluence by which men could get on the
police force, but here again ] found that
all negotiations were made through Bagiey.
1 tell you, young man, l am at my wits
end."
you are an extraordinarily simple
minded ghost" said l. Don't you see
that Mcswiggan has no real existence.
boss of this ward is the man you've got to
haunt. But what's the matter? You look
pale. Let me get you something to drink:
How'd brandy and cayenne do? Or would
a little melted lead be nearer what you've
been accustomed tor"
"Do you--do you realize" gasped the
spectre, ito what your view of the case con-
dennis me? I should lave to follow Bag
ley into all tho society he frequents; to dc
everything he does. No, no! it would be
too horrible. Do you think that cyanide Of
potassium would have any effect upo z
ghost? Give me all you have in the shop
sit is against the law to sell poison with
out a PHYSICIANS prescription" said /.
However, for q dollar / will make out the
prescription myself."
He produced the necessary coin, and ]
gave him a water pail full of the cyanide.
He thanked mo for it and said he would 20
ont into a remote corner of space and cat
it. For a week or more | saw nothing OF
| him, and I had begun to believe that the
large overdose of cyanide had enabled him
to throw off his irksome responsibility,
| when one night he came again, but this
time radiant with Joy.
"I've got rid of Bagley," he said. :.
Congratulate you, Smokey, old boy
said 7. How did do itY'
"Why, you see, that night when | talked
with you I was SO Mortified by the thought
of haunting Bagley that l forgot to CON
cider an important part of our duties. we
are expected, while we initiate the acts OF
tho body, to guard and admonish the souls
of those whom We accompany"
well, Bagles needs it as badly as any
bodyI know"
Eyes, but you see he's one Of your New
York ward bosses, and they don't have any
souls." Howard FIELDING.
Copyright.