Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-03-17

morning / returned next day to find him
weak and delirious, and though all was
Zone for him that could have been for any
body he died in three days. A grave was
lug, and he was buried on his own land.
No one had the least idea what had become
of the woman, and the authorities took
charge until something should turn up. |
was present when the house was searched
md the>effects inventoried. There wasn't
over 500 worth of stuff about, and the only
crap of writing was Haddon's deed to the
IN d.
1t had always been the talk that "the
rirate" had hoard of gold, and great was
ne disappointment that only S. or So in
liver was discovered. He had not told me
how he received his wound, but believed
the woman gave it to him They had quar-
ieled, and after stabbing him she had fled.
Officers spent several weeks looking for her,
but they got no trace. 1t was the Odd Of
April when Haddon died. On the evening
of the 18th of the following September |
was sent for by the same family as before
The April visit bad been to set farmers
broken arm This one was to set broken
leg for the same unfortunate. 1t was a
starlight night as started for home about
10 o'clock. The Corners was considered
"pokish" spot since the tragedy, and |
confess to being a bit nervous as drew
near was abreast of the old house and
my horse was on a walk, owing to a bad
spot just there, when figure which would
swear before any court to have been that OF
Haddon's rose up from the front steps and
moved down the highway parallel with me
and not over 10 feet away. My horse SHE'D
and pricked up his ears and acted as if CON
siderably frightened, but my first idea was
that the man was some belated traveller or
wandering tramp Under this superstition
! called out to him:
"Hello, friend Which way2"
He made no answer, and called again.
| could make him out plainly enough, but
/ could not see that he even turned his
head. Then believed the man to be some
one who intended me evil, and turned the
loaded whip in my hand as a weapon of de-
! Tense He maintained his position for about
SEQ feet Then we descended a small hill.
A creek flowed across the highway here,
running under II stone arch. AT the bridge
the figure vanished so suddenly that could
not tell which way it went. My horse ut
/ tered II snort and broke into y sharp trot,
and it is needless to say that did not seek
to check his gait. | frankly admit that
was considerably upset. regarded the fig
believe that was mistaken in thinking it
resembled Haddon. flattered myself that
he had abandoned his plan against me be
cause he had seen that was on my guard.
made no mention of the circumstance
to friends, but one evening week later,
when compelled TO pass the Corners, was
armed with IA revolver. The man rose up
as before walked beside me to the stone
arch, and then disappeared like II shadow.
On this occasion | did not speak to him.
Other people had passed after dark, but nc
one had seen the strange man. and dared
not say anything for fear of being laughed
at 1t was three weeks before was caught
ont again after dark, and rs ! neared the
Corners ! put my horse at a sharp trot
The man rose up as before, however, and
without seeming to put forth any extra eff
fort kept pace with me to the foot of the
bill | reached home almost frightened
out of my boots, and but for a happy
thought should have pulled up stakes and
left the locality. If it was not living mar
and was now certain it was not-then il
was John Haddon's spook. AS no one elst
had seen it | must infer that it had ap
reared for my sole benefit.
Next day rode out to the stone arch anC
crept under it After bit | found loos,
stone in the masonry, and behind it gooC
sized cavity holding enough gold and silvel
to buy half the farms in the county. What
did do with my find? Well, if John Had
CONS legal heir should show up today
would turn over to him considerably more
than found have waited for "A score o
years, but no one has appeared. | suppose
it was in Il quarrel over the money that h,
was stabbed | do not believe the woman
who passed as his wife was woman at all
but man. They might not have been eX
. pirates, but shouldn't wonder if they haC
accumulated the big booty in some othe
county by crime and come to the States a
fugitives from justice