The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-09
FOR A MoEMNT THE APPARITION STOOD ON THE BRIDGE.

I'll be hamstrung ef I don't think some
pore Teller has bin murdered at that bridge
and is sendin' his ghost to let folks know
it"
Carlos Hartman turned on him like a
wounded cougar.
"You are a fool and a coward" he almost
shouted at the astonished Hank and
then walked from the room.
But "Hank's'' remark had given the dis
cussion a new trend. Folks more enlight-
ened than those simple plainsmen would
nave secuted the story of the ghost. and
Hanks" explanation Of its appearance.
bu, added to the testimony of a score OF
persons beside the girls. was a general dis
like. if not hatred. of Carlos Hartman:
and IL was no wonder. then. that Mis-
souri, Hawkins's eloquent recital Of half
a dozen instances of supernatural interven-
ton in behalf Of justice. and Hank Tuck
er's comments on Carlos Harriman's aver
sion to the subject Of the Cedar Creek
ghost. made a deep impression on their
| rugged hearers and stirred them to prompt
. action.
Suppose We drag the river" ventured
| Bill Gaines.
"Or search the chokecherry thtcket,
| added another.
A minute later ten men had pledged
themselves to visit the bridge on the NOR
row. Shortly after sunrise next day ten
horsemen left the "Forty-Mile House." and
| before the creek was reached a score OF
others had Joined them. Among these was
| Carlos Hartman.
When the party dismounted they set to
work with graphing hooks to delve into
the muddy waters below the bridge.
Hank" Tucker sauntered towards the
thicket Of choke cherry bushes. Carlos
| Hartman followed. When the two men
J neared the thicket Carlos Hartman turned
| and walked toward the bridge. shouting as
he went: Nothing up this way. boys"
Pears to me you're awful anxious not
to find anything" said Hank" you
haven't looked. but ! guess you could put
your hand on somethin' ef you wanted to-
Carlos Hartman wheeled around. His
face was a battlefield. on which fear and
fury struggled for the mastery.
DO you insinuate that l am a.
His voice failed him before he could COM
plete the sentence.
A moment later Missouri Hawkins and
half a dozen others had come up.
I'll finish that for you." said Hank
Eyes. 1 insinuate, and believe. and swear
you're a murderer"
Hartman drew his revolver. but Mis-.
souri," hawkins struck it from his hand
with q graphing hd8k?-
Like q frenzied buffalo Hartman leapeI
at Hank" The latter stood his ground.
The two men closed and began a fierce
struggle, which Hartman nearly ended in
his favor by a deadly thrust of his knife
Though younger than Hank" Hartman
was still not q match for the hardy plains.
man. With one mighty wrench, Hank
freed himself from the grasp Of his adyer.
gary. and sent a bullet into his body.
| Hartman fell into Missouri Hawkins.
arms. bleeding from q wound in the breast
Hank" Tucker addressed his companions
"That Teller has acted suspicious eve,
| since this here spirit fust showed itself tc
human eyes. and now. by the Eternal,
know he has blood on his hands. FelIers
look ye here"
Hank led the way to the thicket and
| pointed to a human hand that protruded
\ from beneath q heap OF stones and twigs,
Twenty pairs Of hands soon were busy
clearing away the stones. and before Ions
the body Of a man was In plain view, lyins
face ~heavenward. a dark streak down the
cheek. and . deep hole in the forehead.
But the mystery was only deepened BY
the CHASTITY discovery. The corpse was tina
of John Hartman In height and build. and
II was dressed In John Harriman's clothes
but the face was that Of another. Instead
o. the heavy beard hat Hartman was
known to have worn o. the very night OF
his departure. the face Of the corpse had
been shaver smooth and betokened an age
less than 80.
While the other men stood about the body
speaking in whispers. Hank" was busy
searching through the thicket. After 4
moment he came toward the group. carry.
ing in his hand q black object.
Il think We know whose body we have
found now" he said, holding up q pair OF
false whiskers. bloodstained and matted.
This II Hog Harriman's disguise. and
may the Lord have mercy on him for de-
ceivin' u.s."
The mystery Of John Harriman's death
was deepened by the mystery Of his life.
On two "~buckboards." which had BY this
time arrived. were placed the body of the
murdered man and the senseless form OF
Carlos Hartman. Slowly the cavaIcade
moved over the prairie to Tighe Ridge.
That night at the "Forty-llile House. the
rude raSu0men met to discuss what should
be done with Carlos Hartman. who was
made . prisoner in his own house. Although
there was frequent necessity of warrants
In Tighe Ridge, NO one seemed familiar with
The manner Of obtaining such an 4nstru-
J menE Finally u VA decided to ~ - Tha