Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-01-08

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lamp beside him. dead He had been
shot through the heart. There was no
living human being in the old mill, and
for long while nobody went near II.
At last people began TO say that the mil
Ter had shot himself by accident and that
the negroes had frightened him. An
other miller applied for the place and
remained three days. In fact, 10 cut
loag story short. the only other miller
who dared 10 brave the warning that tho
ghost gave them all was found dead, as
the first one had been.
The mill was soon spoken of as haunt
ed by every one No one would work
there. and finally Mr.. McKin closed IT,
and il was left TO itself and TO the ghost.
All this while Mime. Mckin remained
an alleged invalid, shut IN her room all
day, watched By her maid and talked
of in whispers 10y her servants.
No one believed Mckin's mill would
ever run again. but one day a tall, strong,
broad shouldered young fellow walked
up the steps of the McI<in mansion,
asked 10 see the master. and begged u
be allowed TO take charge of the grist
mill.
I've heard the story" he said, as Mr..
McKin began to explain. II don't be-
lieve in ghosts. and they can't scare me
good miller. Trust me and your mill
shall work better than ever. You'll do
me service. and I'll DO you one"
In vain Mr.. McKin set before him the
fact that two millers had been already
killed there in the haunted mill. The
young giant declared that he should not
be. and finally the gentleman engaged
him.
The mill was opened and the miller
set To work. He took with him into the
mill Bible, q revolver and q large,
sharp AK.
For the first two nights he saw moth
ing. but heard noises like the falling Of
heavy millstones upon the floor above
and feet upon the stairs. He had ex-
pected something like this and remained
in his room reading his Bible by the
light of shaded lamp.
On the third night, having heard the
same noises and quietly disregarded
them, his door was dashed open and
hideous form entered. 1t was something
between a woman and a great bird Of
prey. 1t wore fiuttering white robes,
and had instead of hands great black
claws. 1t fioated toward him through
the air, and behind it came another like
unto it. but smaller
The first creature swooped downward
and made a clutch at the lamp. AS it
did so he snatched his revolver from his
belt and fired, enptying all the cham
bers. The strange beings vanished with
a wild shrek, but in moment they en-
tered again. This time the largest one
made furious clutch at the lamp. As
she did so he lifted his ak above his
head, and with one blow severed the
hideous black claw from what looked
like q shriveled human arm; then he
hurled his Bible at the head of the
smaller fiend. Instantly screams, oaths
and horrible curses filed the air. The
strange beings vanished and silence
reigned.
The black claw dropped to the table.
1t was such hideous sight that the mil
Ter covered it with cloth, that he might
not see it. He kept watch all the night,
and early in the morning Mr.. McKin,
who had been told that firing had been
heard in the mill, came to make inquir-
les. The miller told his tale, and Mr..
McKin complimented him on his bra
very. OF course he was DESTROYS of see
ing the amIutated claw, and the miller
proudly drew away the cloth. Behold!
there lay upon the table, not claw, but
a woman's beautiful hand-a right hand,
on the middle finger of which cleaned a
splendid cluster diamond ring. AT the
sight of this horror seized the miller,
and Mr.. McKin seemed about to die. He
knew the hand; he knew the ring. Then,
without word, he walked out of the
mill and homeward and into his wife's
chamber She was in her bed, as usual.
The maid, pale, and with great bruise
upon her forehead, interposed to prevent
his approach.
Madame is very ILL.," she said.
"Out of my way, woman!' he cried
and pushed her aside
Then, bending over his wife's bed, but
without his usual show of tenderness, he
said sternly:
"Show me your hand"
She thrust forth her left one.
1.-The other" he said.
She uttered scream and turned down
| the counterpart, but there was none to
show-only bandaged stump. from
which the hand had been severed.
The next morning the whole village
was in wild excitement, for Jack Nc
Kin, whom they all knew and loved so
well. had gone to the graveyard and
there shot himself through the heart be-
side his mothers grave. And the serv-
ants had told their tale and the miller
his. and there was the lady's hand. with
the ring upon it. to be seen by all.
Burn the wretches," man cried. and
a band Of men. both black and white,
bore down upon the McKin mansion.
They entered the door aud marched up
the stairs and into madame's room. but
thore was no one there. Nobody had
seen the two women depart, but they
were gone and Were never seen again,
and since that time no fool has ever en-
tered the old mill and il has slowly fall
IN into decay.
The lady's hand, however. is still pre-
served IN spirits in the town hall. and
the old negro vino acts the part of watch
man declares that 1t midnight il always
changes 10 = hideous black claw. How
= u ~