Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1900-01-12

:~can't go like he used to. He's gettir
old and lazy It was drive I've never
forgotten and one I'm never likely tt
forget.
Its a mortal bad winter" the
driver again observes as they spin ove1
the frost bound road. mortal bad.
Eyes: it's bit severe.
'Ah, we've never had such winter
since 81. when had 20 COWS all frozt
to death in one night
"Ah?'
Eyes. and the strordinary thing was
that l said to myself as went to bed,
Now. shouldn't be s'prised if some OF
them was froze in the mornin That's
what said the night afore.
''Then why didn't you get up and
try to make them warmer?'
The driver turns a look of blank
establishment on Herbert Darrent. It is
the first time that such reasonable
suggestion has been offered to him. and
it's novelty is bit bewildering
"City folks don't understand CATTLE,
he grumbles at last and falls to rumi-
mating why he didn't get up and do some
thing for those 20 COWS, but as he can
not arrive at any satisfactory solution
he presently breaks the silence again.
you've just come up from Chicago.
eh?''
eyes
+ 'Ah! What do they think of us2'
''Think Of your
yep What do they think of our
murder?'' he explains with a ghoulish
appreciation of the unenviable notoriety
that Norcombe had suddenly achieved
''Have you heard about it, sir?''
ooh. yes; saw something in the pa
pers-Mr. Marsden, the old Britisher
at the country place he called The
Grange"
Yep; that's right-old Marsden.
close listed old Marsden. He was great
miser, he was, sir. If young Marsden
comes into the property, things will be
better. but he's a wild devil
"Son?"
"Eh!'
"Marsden S SOM
''No; picked him up somewhere
Perhaps he is. You never know
Who murdered him.
Dunno Like to shake hands with
him.
"lndeed! Yon seem an amiable kind
Of individual"
''Bahl Good radiance to bad rubbish
[ WAS goin along all right till he raised
my rent so that couldn't make both
ends meet. and it's hard times, sir.
with such a bad winter: mind me,
si1, that we never had such winter
since 81.
"Ye1, yes; you told me about that
and the cows. Now, as to this murder:
Have the police 90 clew?''
"No: cant have any. It. was done
by ghosts The (,r:snge is haunted.
''Oh, indeed! Then you'd like to
shake hands with d ghost?''
The driver shivered and glanced half
apprehensively over his shoulder Then.
sinking his voice to mysterious key.
he continued. ''So1ne one went into the
house and murdered old Marsden and
never came out again, and he's not
there now, and no one but ghost could
do that.
''Really7'
"And I expect We'll have one Of
them clever detectives comm down
from Chicago, but he won't find out
anything, cause it was done by ghost.
and no detectives can catch ghosts
Whoa y
The horse is pulled up with a sudden
jerk
''This is Norcombe The Palace hotel,
Ell. sir?''
Eyes
eff you'd like to have look at The
Grange. it's about a quarter of mile
up on the right. -
''Thanks. III stroll up in the morn
ing Good night. y
"Good night. -
Herbert Darrent climbs out of the
dogcart, and the driver gathers up the
reins, sets the horses head homeward,
and the animal canters off as lively as
ever
The man stands at the door of the
village hotel in the ruday light stream
! ing through it's short crimson curtains
until the vehicle is out Of sight and
then turns and walks thoughtfully
down the main street until he reaches
cottage dignifed by the legend "Po-
lice Station inscribed in large black
letters on white board-primitive
abode Of the law as represented in the
person of a young policeman in very
badly fitting uniform who is just quit
ting the house and smartly salutes as
he opens the gate.
care you Mr.. Dobson
''No, sir; he's inside
"Qf duty?''
eyes; it's my round
*'Then l won't detain you, but !
shall want to see you in the morning,
early"
Every good. sir: I'll be here at 9
sharp Good night. !"
''Good night
''Smart young fellow that" Darrent
observes to himself as he pushes open
tho door ssrThanl- rcC1voeo +box,ro MT