The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-10-05
THE MERCHANTS CRIME.
BY HORATIo ALGER, JR.

'I1oW AIN L TO KNOW UnaC!
because | say So"
You only say you think he is
dead. You bring me no proof.
When ! ask you how you can know it
positively, you offer me no explana-
ton.
II saw his ghost Thursday night"
said James Cromwell, shuddering.
''His ghost! What ridiculous non
sense is thisw demanded the mer-
chant.
ii saw his ghost as plain as ! see
you," said Cromwell, in a subdued
voice.
And where was it that this pre-
cious apparition came to you" asked
Mr.. Morton, with contempt.
at was in a hotel at Wheeling"
said James Cromwell. II was lying
awake when the door of my chamber
suddenly opened, and his person en-
tered"
Ibid he speak," asked Paul Nor
ton, impressed, in spite of himself,
by the tone of conviction with which
the other spoke.
Yes" said Cromwell.
What did he say?"
"l-cannot tell" he said with a
shudder.
Pooh, man! you had a nightmare,
nothing more and nothing less" said
the merchant. You must be crazy
if you expect me to believe that the
boy Is dead on any such absurd testi-
mony as this. | dare say you had
eaten a heavy dinner, or perhaps
drank too much, and so the supposed
ghost was only the offspring of your
distempered fancy, and that pro-
ceeded from a disordered stomach"
James Cromwell shook his head.
You are wrong" he said, Il was
as wide awake as 1 am now"
well. that is your affair-if you
choose to believe in the reality of
this visitation, well and good. That
is nothing to me. But if you want
me to crsdit the story of the boys
death. you must bring a certified
statement from the in your
town-Madison is the name, | believe
then there will be no room for
doubt"
TO do that / shall be obliged to
return to the West" said Cromwell.
disconnected.
Then you have only yourself to
blame for the extra trouble you are
obliged to take. You ought not to
have come away at all until you
could bring with you satisfactory
evidence of the boys DEATH"
james Cromwell looked down in
dismay. This did not suit his views
at all. Besides, he saw that 1t
would be awkward to go back, and
institute such proceedings so late.
But Paul Morton evidently meant to
keep him to it.
perhaps it would have been bet
ter" he said at last.
''Of course it would. You can see
for Yourself that until | have salts
factory proof of my wards decease
| cannot take possession of the pro-
perty, nor of course can / give You
any portion of it while l am not sure
whether it is mine to give. Ishould
think that was plain enough"
1t was plain enough. James
Cromwell saw that now. and he was
provoked at bis mistake.
Then" he said disappointed, Il
suppose | must go back"
mo. that will not be necessary.
You "a telegraph to some person to
institute a search of the pond, if
you have reason to think the body
will be found there, and request in
formation to be sent at once of any
discovery hal may be made"
Il will do So" said Cromwell,
relieved.
While they were speaking the
doorbell had rung, though neither
had heard it, and Major Woodley,
in%strucJing the servant to usher him
in without previous announcement,
entered the presence of the guilty
employer and his equally guilty con-
federate: close behind him followed
Robert Raymond. At the sight of
him Cromwell staggered to his feet.
and gazed upon him with distended
eyes, and Paul Morton sat as if
rooted to his chair.