Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1896-03-13

.
iold the iallcr to let 10 one IN to see
him. The stranger was persistent, and
said that his mission was one of great
Importance to the colonel.
The turnkey closely inspected the
stranger. He was dressed in a checked
business suit, and had the appearances
of being a commercial man. There was
a peculiar meaning in his eyes and an
cir Of dignitied command. The jaller
hesitated, but the little man in the
checked suit placed his hand upon the
officers shoulder, and, looking him
squarely in the face, said:
"My business with Col. Mashburn is
most urgent. AS surely rs you live, he
s an innocent man."
Without any further persuasion the
little man was admit tied to the corridor
and directed to the cell Of the con-
dcmned man.
For several minutes the two were en-.
gagged in earnest conversation. Then
the stranger turned on his heel and
walked rapidly from the prison.
That evening just at dusk the old
oachman timidly stared from The: door
CT the servants house in the rear. OF
Maj. McLain's home. The faithful
Gogs were barking Justify. Some one
called 1T the gate, and the supersti.
.ious darby closed the door.
"'Peors things air pow'ful curious,
S1, hn1 i,,S of
night am u bad sign. is ben feelin
mighty queer and powerful skittish
since marster done dead" said the
coacEman to the cook.
The stranger at the gate passed
through the arches and walked brislsly
through The front Enclosure. Going up
to the steps he raped loudly. The
echoes runbled through the deserted
hall and came back Increased a thou.
sand fold.
No one responded. and he pushed the
| door open and went in. The halls We're
deserted and the place was iorlorn.
Weeks had passed since the footsteps
of human being had trodden the
threshold, and now in the fast-gather.
ing twilight the old home was gloomy
and fOrtidding. The newcomer
passed thr;,ugll the halls and entered
the library where Maj. McLain had
been found in the cold embrace OF
death. In the doorway was the chair
in which ne was sitting when found
A gentle breeze that came through the
open window played with the lace Cur
tains and famed the tall grasses that
stood in the vases on the old-fashione(
mantel. he room was strangely
weird, and the feelings of the unlimited
guest were difficl.s to be described.
The newcomer tummaged through
the papers and ,vsk of Maj.:lcLain
| Everything that mi ght throw some
light on tue mysterious crime was ex
amined. but nothing was found that
would give the slightest clew to the
identity OF the murderer. For hours
the man continued the search, but mis-
mission appeared to be fruitless. I'm
der the linn rays Of the new moon I.e
made careful search of the premises
and surveyed the surroundings, hep
ing that his quick eye would fall upoZ
something that would bring the truth
Weary from his continued search
the detective fell asleep on the loung,
in the library.
The next morning he awoke at MIN
o'clock. Tie morning sun was strea N
ing through the open windows and thu
room was flooded with light. The de
tective turned over and gazed at tn
furniture and other objects in III,
room. His thoughts were busy, ant
he was thinking of the scene that woult
transPire in Abondale in just tire,
hours. The scaffold. grim and stern
and the trembling body of the colone
flashed through his mind. It was tn.
day of tho execution and only few
hours off.
While the detective thought, his e. e
followed Il small ball of fire that danced
and darteC back and forth on the wall
it was tiny red ball, but its brillianc,
and heat were intense. He watched i
as it played seemingly for his amuse
ment. Jus: under the spot covered b.
The little fiery ball he noticed charre,
place OH the wall. What caused that
He revolved the question aver and owe
again in his mind;
Springjng from his bed he rushed t,
the wall and held a match under tn,
qui'ering piece of living fire that playe,
about like a serpent's tongue. Quicni,
the match hared. The detective wa
nervous ana his brain was On fire.
On the wall were two stays horns, a
equal distance. Evidently they hat
served as support for gun. Going t,
the door he called the old coachman.
The negr; wen; into the room will
his teeth chatterlng and his eyes wer
dilated with superstiticus fear.
where is The gun that hung on thes,
horns?' asked the detective.
The coacErlan was gona for mo
ment, and returned with an old arm,
rifle. The .oachman said that he hat
taken it DIAN from the rack on tat
morning that hi: master was, killed
as the gun was very highly priced. ant
| placed it in his room for sa fckeeping.
The gun was reloaded ard placed d,
The horns. The little ball If fire, which
was but the concentrated rays of Inc