The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-11-14
THE NAN WHO
 CAME BACK

tenLm0te and partner named donn ! Grlgcs. He was an honest intelligent nan. and our friendship was a strong one. One June day Griggs was killed by a premature blast He was dee before any one reached hlm, but VIC could see how hls death had been brought about
 Four weeks after the accident and funeral the men who were working O claim at the edge of the hin on which Grlggs' grave had been dug acciden- tally exploded several pounds of pow der. No one was hurt but a portion of the hin was torn away and the comn rnesrthed and shattered. When VIC gathered around lt, we found it empty.
 It was ] believe on the sth of June tlat We buried Griggs. On the night Of July 10. close upon midnight sud denly awoke from a sound sleep. was alone iu the tent. and as it was a warm night the dy at the door was ued bacs. Thls permitted the full moon to Ueh, up the interior as bright as day. lay on my side. facing out and Che first object uiy eyes rested up- on was che familiar form of John Gr.ees. He sat on a box reading one of his books. and for a moment ] for got that he was dead and buried. Be was dressed In hls working clothes. as on Che day be was killed. and the hand which held ttc book had one Anger wrapped up b a rag just as l had wrapped it tlIee days before bis death t1 heal a cut accidentally inflicted
 ! repeat that it was a full minute be- fore t dashed upon me that Griggs was dead man, and then ] uttered roU which aroused half the camp and rolled oT ms bunk and rushed out doors. Iu three or four minutes l had thirty men abound me making inquiries, but was SD upset that | could only point to Che tent and whisper Griggs' name. The crowd moved forward and .nvcsu-ateJ The man ] saw had dld- appeared and was unmercifully guyed Tor having lu attack of nightmare.
 A month later. as soon as ] could do so without exciting ridicule. ] left the tI-siues and went Co Bald Eagle Gu.ch fifty miles away There were about seventy men on Che ground. and ! was a stranger ouu ! staked out claim, nrr uu my tent and was soon resi- dent or the gulch. One night about tre middle Of September having gone to bed earlier than usual on account of rat feeling well. was aroused at e1- actIv t1If an hour after midnight by some one speaking my name. ] say Ibat heard voice call me by name but can't offer you any proof The Instant ] opened my eyes ] saw John Grees ] saw him just as plainly as J svsr saw living human being, but only for a few seconds. Then be faded aeay and was gone. and though terri. iIy uttled. ] had not cried out
 Alter few minutes when ] got some of my nerve back, ] rose and dressed and walked out. There was a r.lt in tle tent next Co mine on the --hr but al the others were dark ' walked down Co the creek thirty rods away. and had just reached it when .here came sudden Hash and a ter rifle report. and ] thought the whole 7Te-.ucs had been blown skyward. Ii was powder explosion in the tent next to mine Six tents were swept away by that terrific blast, and four men were killed and, six others more 1r less Injured Of the two men in the tent with tde powder we found only fragments
 Itis my firm belief that John Griggl appeared that night to warn me Of the . danger which menaced. You win smile .n pity and contempt even though al midnight tonight the mysterious tap ping os a "death tick" in the wainscot ing win shake your nerve and give you unpleasant thoughts
 You remember the awful railroad dis rster at Asbt8bula. O.t ] should have been a passenger on that train but Cor sfrgular occurrence. sat ln the lano. only few miles from Ashtabu 'r uv ruus checked and ticket .ou-HL waiting for that train Co come along There were eight or ten of us tn tu, waiting room Opposite me. or The other side 0f ibe room. were two women aud man The women vert ..ur.r-.u- and tIe man was reading a.N,up.r From lls general app aar .r.e ] took him for @ commercial uav .I.r Uu. reason why ! came t1 l0ob .la man over was because ] happened .1 notice tut he had lost two fingers from a., I.fr hand They were the see 1rI and third fingers. and wondered uor Hs cuu'd have injured them with ut ufw.n- iher the fore ur the i-tl, -a-er
 Tlc.uau was due iu seyeg minutes us lw y gIaucing at the clock when tle stranger with ths newspg pea suddenly vanished and In his place his hands empty and resting on l.' . .uegs sat John GriEss He was loak tug tuI ar me. and for few seCauas bad no more doubt that hp was aiy,
 chan ] have ot my oWu identity. No . tu s.rcr-Ireu my case, but to add t' the mystery a b't further. ! will relatl tlat as ! sat there looking at my ole partner who had been buried ycau before. both women turned In star . ded way and then moved along little
 You win say that in this case, as h . au others ] did not see what behevl ] saw. have no proofs to offer that
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