The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-30
A MYSTERY.

during his CH1lQnOOQ or vigorous manhood
that the bestowal of the double B by his
sponsors in baptism had conferred any
power to be bewitched or bedeviIed in such
a way as to make him the subject of won
der and speculation in all the countrys side
Yet the mere mention of that name for
years after the bathing event that brought
him into sudden fame was enough to make
the pious preachers and even the presiding
elder of the 'ieestrick" edge their chairs
closer within the radius of the CHEEKY
hearthstone's blazing oak logs and snuff
the candles quickly to dispel all lurking
shadows.
On little creek tributary to the Chop
tank, the Indian name for Blue water, ON
the eastern shore of Maryland, there stood
one of those primitive and picturesque
windmills of which there are a few sur
vivals in the country today. A long fight
of steps led on the outside to the lower
story, where the bags of corn were kept,
and an inner short flight gave access to
the hopper room, where the great revoly-
ing stones we're orunching the golden
grain.
There was only one unglazed window
through which one looked out at the long
arms of the mill sweeping round and
round. There was no chimney or even a
fire in either room.
The miller's name was Tristram Thorn
as, but he was to all men only Uncle
Trissy.
His house stood close by the mill and
was a cabin of one room down stairs and a
low rooted loft above.
To the hospitality of this meager abode
came Uncle Trissy's brother-in- law, Ben
nett Bendle, i'll and worn and with no
home of his own. He was very poor and
had always been desperately wicked, espe-
cially priding himself on swearing things
blue. - During the weeks of confinement
to his bed Bendle was utterly helpless
unable to move hand or foot.
So subdued was he by this terrible
plight looked upon as visitation" for
his sins, that he listened respectfully to
the earnest exhortaticns of the local
preacher and pondered over his wise coun-
sells.
He was occupying the down stairs room
in a trundle bed with his little nephew at
this time, and one night the boy awoke
and called to his father, who slept in the
same room:
"Where is Uncle Bennett?''
"There in bed with you." said the IA
ther.
"No," Dried the boy, che Is mott
Uncle Trissy jumped up and lighted his
candle, not believing his sons assertion,
but finding it true he sought the missing
man in uVery nook and granny of the little
house. but there was no Bennett Bendle
to be found.
The fire was still burning in the fire.
place. He was certainly not up the Chin
ney, for they looked there then, and again
next morning, and could see the sky, with
no intervening object cutting off the view.
1t was a dark, rainy night, and they
could do little until morning, but at day
light Uncle Trissy started out, and soon
had 40 or so ablebodied neighbors helping
him.
The Whole population was astir, and
breathless curiosity left scarcely a stone
unturned in frantic efforts to find a clew
to the strange disappearance. They not
only searched the two rooms of the miller's
house in an ordinary way, but the dis
tressed preacher orawled on his hands and
knees over every inch of the loft, and ev-
cry foot of space on the premises was gone
over again and again.
The water in the well was drawn out
and the creek dragged all the next day,
but no Bennett Bendle was to be found,
nor any trace of him.
The long, swaying steps to the mill
were mounted by eager seekers, careful
climb for even the sure footed, and they
gaZed into the hopper.
They let the light from a score of Ian
terms penetrate between the piled up bags
of meal, while the green eyes of the mill
er's great black cat blinked knowingly at
them from her perch in the rafters, adding
mystery to mystery.
After the long, fruitless day the neigh
bors went slowly home in little groups of
twos and threes, with many a foreboding
shake of the head and a most uncanny
feeling in the spine. Twenty -four hours
had passed in the little house, when, just
after midnight, sudden change of wind
made it necessary that Tristram Thomas
should go out to the mill to secure it
against the blast by making tighter the
ropes that tied down the arms.
Getting out of bed he started toward the
door, but umbled over a PROSTATE body
a. L
trundle bed, asking if he were there.
"Here I am, father came the boys
answer in a terrified whisper from under
the covers.
Thomas stepped over the figure on the
floor and tried the door. 1t was fastened
securely. A hole bored in the log on the
inside held a long wooden pin that could
not possibly have been removed from the
outside, a primitive but thoroughly strong
fastening.
Then he got light and found Bennett
Bendle lying there, rigid and as utterly
helpless as when he saw him last
1t required the united efforts of Iris
tram, his wife and the lad to lift Bendle
back into the bed he had so mysteriously
left without visible aid.
The minister was sent for. He went in
the morning, expecting to hear a strange
story, and he heard it.
Bendle told the preacher that a man had
come to him and said, ''You must come
with me,'' and that he had replied: 81 am
not able to go. I can't put on my jacket
The man said, 81 will help you on with
your jacket" and then Bennett knew no
more until Uncle Trissy STUN bled over
him on the floor.
he had wooden stockings on and a blan-
ket around him, and though the rain had
been pouring fer two nights and day,
during which time he was certainly not in
that little cabin, be was perfectly dry and
covered from head to foot with BLACKLIST of
SCOT.
Another messenger came for Bennett
Bendle few days later-the messenger