The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1894-06-16

: 49, s3l II
a 1at=of aresd lEaymouass X
portenoo.
Thela1pAFse3s Hsyaond; ehisf soun-
-, ~ ths h1hsen P4ci6c, couJd ha$qlJ
bscslled . dabbler IN the occuit ora be.
lever in things supernatural, and yet, Il
his intimate friends will remember, he
did believe implicitly that he had seen
one ghost.
The story-for there was romance
and tragic one, connected with this
III was not ons that the lawyer cared
totAI sxceptt to those who enjoyed hia
personal confidence. He did not like to
be charged with superstitious fancies, nor
did he appreciate attempts to ridicule
him out Of biz faith in the evidence Of his
own keen eyes. To his death he main
tanned firmly that it had been his fortune
to meet face to face the spirit Of one who
had passed from life.
It was early in the fifties when Hay.
mond, then a stranger in California, be.
came an express rider. He used to make
regular trips into the mountains, visiting
the camps at stated intervals, carrying in
his big saddle bags letters, papers and
such small articles a. could be trans
ported in this way.
On one of his frat trips away up in the
Sierra be canas te.eas slmost deserted
camp where a rich strike had been made
snd the pocket quickly exhausted. Only
one family had remained, that Of a man
named Rodden. In small, comfortable
house close against the wall Of rock which
rose behind the camp light was burning
~ Haymosd fode int the deserted place
A knock at the door brought forth the
occupant. To Hsymonds request for
lodgings the man growled 2 surly response
aal sAuotantly let HIN -. W ss - y
The express rider was surprised to see
sitting beside the little table, on which
stood the lamp, young and pretty
woman. He Was surprised to recognize
in her schoolmate, whom he had sup
posed to be still safe in her Eastern
home. After their greetings had been
said Raymond explained to the I'M
gracious husband how he had known
Mrs. Rodden back East. Rodden grunted
some response, but Raymond and the
woman were too busy asking and answer
ing questions to heed his manner. The
man seemed relieved by Haymond's de-
parture the next day. He told the ex-
press rider to call whenever he was pass
ing over the trail and the woman urged
him to come again and stop for the night,
that they might talk about people and
things at home.
It was more than q month before be
again came to the deserted camp, and
this time, reaching it at an earlier. hour,
he found the woman alone, her husband
having not yet returned from his work.
Raymond learned from her that she had
married Rodden against the wishes of her
family and had come to the mines with
him without letting her parents know
where she had gone. She said little
about her life in the mountains, but that
little showed that 1t had not been a hap
by one. They had come to the camp
with number of others, but some quar-
rel had arisen between her husband and
the rest of the miners, so when they
moved on he had remained behind, and
by hard work was making fairly good
pay in the deserted diggings. She
dreaded the loneliness of the place, but
with patient sigh said she hoped before
another winter her husband might be
willing to move on to some camp where
they might have company. @ ss
Raymond made two trips more, calling
each time at the cabin where his school,
mate lived. When leaving the second
time he told them that one trip more
would be all he could make before the
snow blocked the trail. Two or three
times Raymond had suggested to Rodden
that he take his wife to some settlement
before winter shut them in, but had re-
ceived no answer. He did not feel at
liberty to say more, 50 with the promise
to visit them on his return in a few weeks
he mounted bis horse and rode dowa the
narrow trail,
A few steps took him out of sight of
the cabin. He heard faint call, and,
looking back, saw Mrs. Rodden running
down the trail after him. She waved her
hand for him to return and he rode back.
"Will you do IN errasd for me while
you are in the city9" she said.
Of course he consented, and she gave
him her commission, and with few part.
ing words she ran up the trail while he
turned his horse again to descend. He
looked back after his friend and to his
surprise be saw Rodden rise from behind
bush near the trail. He thought the
man had been hidden watching his wife,
but reflection made the idea seem absurd
probably it was q mere coincidence.