Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-03-31

""S ""."'nS ohoiO' Ahha gave uo Jutu
worse than the first sight. You see, my
first thought was that poor Ben had made
away with himself, but now | know il
was a murder had come on, and who.
ever had done it was hiding the body
down there. started off, meaning to
give an alarm, but all at once saw that
my hand was bleeding where had torn
it on the rough ladder, and my watch
chain was broken and the end of it gone.
at flashed over me like shock that il
the murderer escaped, | would no doubt
be accused of the crime. Some had
blamed me for foreclosing on the mine,
and had enemies besides; and put it
to you if the murderer was going to stay
around there to be caught. 1t was too
much like putting my head in a moose to
tell what I'd seen, and the next day
Sandy Hutchins came with the end Of
my watchchain
| al found it at the bottom of your
shaft, he said 4 went down to take
look around, but | don't care to buy
why? | asked. See anything
out of the way
"'No,' he said not even ghost for
an excuse; but there was an echo which
made me feel as if some one was walking
in my steps, and | don't care to wind up
like Ben Stope.'
NOW you've got the story and il the
bargain is of, | shall depend on your
promise that it goes no further"
"And you really believe that it was
poor Ben's body that you saw" asked
Allen.
81 don't believe in ghosts, gentlemen,
and Slope has never been heard from
since"
"We will talk the matter over, aud
ri We you our answer after we have taken
another look there" said Hart
That look was search, minute and
thorough, but no trace of the tragedy
which Caldwell had indicated was auy-
where found.
~ ,,rIined to believe that fish
story" sad Hart. caldwell either told
it to cover up something worse, or he
was the victim Of an optical delusion
At the worst, it would take something
more than dead mans bones to turn
me away from the mine, since | see its
promise"
"And il there's anything in the story,
Allen, who had known and liked Ben
Slope.
They saw fit, however, to simply lease
the mine, paying percentage on the out
put, and after considerable trouble,
mustered force Of half dozen men,
all new corners in the place, for none Of
the old hands could be hired to work ia
the Neversink.
For the first few days all went we'll,
then the partners observed that an un-
easy spirit had taken possession Of their
force.
"There is a ghostly echo" Allen him
self confessed 'I've heard signs aud
groans coming from tho drifts when there
wasn't soul in them, and there, what
was that?" "Only the winze creaking"
at was more like a shriek-wind 10
some crevice, think. But what do you
suppose has come over the men p
"Tbey are coming to tell us now,
probably"
SO they we're All huddled together,
with whitened faces. the men approached.
We've had our warning, sirs, and
we're goin' to leave. 'Tain't the first,
neither. There's been sounds and sights.
You tell, Barney, what you seem
at was a man ovor there in the west
slope, all cut and bloody lie was lay
ing there one minute, and the next no
was gone. thought it was trick,
and run forward TO look close but |
got lick in the breast that Knocked me
back, though I'll swear 10 ii there was
nothing there. Bot there was groans
coming up from the floor and out Of tho
walls, and soundio ali around me, tiil
just eappei my hands over my ears aud
run for my life"
"Now, Stull, you"
Il see just such man as Barney tells
about thin man, stopped littlo.
with black hair hanging around his neck.
II was down by the incline. and | won
dered how bed got there, for knew
that all the boys we're busy in the cross
cut. ! stopped and let out u yell 10 ask
what nc wan,ea' ana ne turned around
l saw tpen that ms race was yellow ana
set IKE ueai npa" g. 'u't as barney
,soo b :" w,s oono hn. ,ha," wv. a ad'
h;o on and crv;nn I'D a,o"n;n" 70 =, 'y H.