The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-08-26
TIE MAN WHO
 CAME BACK


 nan, and our friendship was a strong one. One June day Grlggs was killed by q premature blast. He was dead before any one reached him, but we could see how his death had been brought about.
 Four weeks after the accident and funeral tue men who were working . claim at the edge of the hill on which Grlggs grave had been dug acciden- tally exploded several pounds Of pow der. NoUnc was hurt. but a portion of the hlll was torn away and the coffin uncartbcd and shattered. When We gathered around it, we found 1t empty.
 lt was, believe, on the sth of June that We buried Grlggs. On the night of July lG close upon midnight. 1 sud denly awokc from n sound sleep. was alone In the tent, and as 1t was a warm night the fly at the door was tied back. Thls permitted the full moon to light up the interior as bright as day lay on my slde facing out, and the first object my eyes rested up- on was the familiar form of John Griggs. He sat on a box reading one of his books, and for moment 1 for got that he waS dead and buried. He was dressed in his working clothes. as on the day he was killed, and the hand which held tie book had one finger wrapped up il rag, just as had wrapped lt thIrc days before his death to heal cut accidentally inflicted.
 repeat that it was a full minute be- fore it flashed upon me that Griggs was dead man, and then uttered yell which aroused half the camp and rolled or my bunk and rushed out doors. In three or four minutes had thirty men around me making inquiries, but was so upset that l could only point to the tent and whisper Griggs' name. The crowd moved forward and Investigated The man saw had dis appeared. and was unmcrcifully guyed for having an attack of nightmare.
 A month later, as soon as could do SO without exciting rIdicule, left the dlggings and went to Bald Eagle Gulch. fifty miles away There were about seventy men on the ground. and was g stranger to all staked out claim. put up my tent and was soon q resi- dent of the gulch. One night about the middle of September having gone % bed earlier than usual on account of not feeling well. was aroused at cK. actly half an hour after midnight by some one speaking my name. say that | heard a voice call me by name. but can't offer you any proof. The instant l opened my eyes l saw John t;r'ggs | saw him just as plainly as evar saw a living human being, but only for few seconds. Then he faded away and was gone. and, though terri bly rattlcd. had not cried out
 After a few minutes, when got some of my nerve back, rose and dressed anI walked out. There was light in tlc tent next to mine on the right. but all the others were dark. I walked down to the creek. thirty rods away. and had just reached It when there came a sudden flash and a ter rife report, and l thought the whole dlgglngs had been blown skyward. IL was a powder explosion In the tent next to mine. Six tents were swept uway by that terrific blast, and four men were killed and six others more or less Injured. Of the two men in the tent with the powder we found only fragments.
 It is my firm belief that John Griggs appeared that night to warn me Of the danger which menaced. You will smile in pity and contempt even though at midnight tonight the mysterious tap ping Of "death tick" fin the walnscot- ing will shake your nerve and give you unpleasant thoughts
 You remember the awful railroad dis nstcr at Ashtabula. O.? | should have been a passenger on that train but for a siuguanr occurrence. sat In the depot only few miles from Ashtabu- la. my trunk checked and ticket bought. waiting for that train to come along. There were eight or ten of us in the waiting room. Opposite me. on the other side Of the room, were two women and man. The women were convcrsing. and the man was reading newspaper From his general appear ance took him for commercial tray- elcr. One reason why came to look the man over was because l happened to notice that he had lost two fingers from his left hand. They were the sec ond and third fingers, and l wondered how he could have injured them with out lnjurlng either the fore or the little finger
 The train was due In seven minutes, as aaw y glanclng at the clock. when the stranger with the newspaper suddenly vanished and in his place. his hands empty and resting on his knees. sat John Griggs. He was look ing full at me. and for few seconds l had no more doubt that be was alive than have Of my own identity. Not to strengthen my case. but to add to the mystery bit further, l will relate that as sat there looking at my old partner. who had been buried years before. both women turned in a star. tied way and then moved along little
 You will say that in this case. as in all others. did not sec what l believe | saw l have no proofs to offer that l did: you have none to offer that l did not. sat right there with my eyes