Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-11-04

day. He took what we gave him without
a word of thanks, and he did not pre-
tend the least interest in either of us or
our doings or our welfare. Yet he had
known both of us all his life, and he was
but five or six years older. A strange
return! Knowing now all that l know,
l am certain that he was dazed and con-
founded first at finding his uncle alive
and next at the reception he met with.
He was thinking of these things and of
that new plan of his. yet imperfect, by
which he could wreak revenge upon his
uncle. This made him appear duller and
more stupid than was his nature.
We sat waiting for more experiences,
but none came. How, for instance, one
would have been pleased to inquire, came
an honest Devonshire man to consort
with a gang of fellows who had all
done something" and were rowing and
tramping about the country ready to do
something else. Before David lost his
head he used to drink. but not with
rogues and tramps. Yet now he confess
ell without any shame to having been
thelr companion-a tramp and vagabond
himself, and the associate of rogues. By
what process does a man descend so low
In the short space of two or three weeks
as to join such Il company? l looked GU
rlously at his face; it was Gather beaten
and bronzed, but there was no further
revelation in the lowering and moody
look.
Il dare say he once said, ''that you
were surprised when | came to look for
his grave?"
1T is not usual" l said, ito ask for
the graves of living men,"
Il was so certain that he was dead
he explained, that l never thought to
ask. Quite certain l was; why''-here
he stopped abruptly-"I was so certain
that L was going to ask what it was he
died of. Yes; wanted to know how he
was killed"
You said some one told you that he
was dead. Who was that?'
Il will tell you now-not that you will
believe me; but it is true. He told me
himself that he was dead"
Il do not say, David. that this is i'm
possible, because men may do anything
Permit noe TO remark. however, that you
were IN America, and your uncle was in
England. That must have made it diff
cult for your uncle to talk with you"
That is So" he replied What
mean is, that every night-it began af-
ter I'd been in New York and got
through my money-every night, after
went to sleep, his ghost used to come and
sit on my bed. David he said, Tm
dead A lot more he said that you don't
want to hear. David. come home
quick he said. David, I'll never leave
you In peace until you do come home he
said. Every night, mind you. Not once
now and again, but every night. That's
the reason why l came home. The ghost
has left of coming now"
This Is truly wonderful"
What did he'd it 2" asked David.
angrily. He'd got my land Well. as
for-as for-what happened my score
wasn't paid off by that
What did happen?"
Never mind. He'd got my land still;
and l was tramp. What did he want
to get by itf"
you don't mean, David, that your
uncle deliberately haunted you every
night? No one ever heard of a living
mans ghost haunting another living man.
A dead mans ghost may haunt a living
man, perhaps, though l am not prepared
to back that statement with any expert
ences of my own. Perhaps, too, a living
mans ghost may haunt dead man; that
would be only fair. Turn and turn about.
you see. But for a live uncle to haunt
a live nephew-no. David, no.
He is crafty enough for anything.
| don't care who done it." said David.
lit was done. Every night it was done.
And that's why l came home again.
And since he's fetched me home on
FOOLS errand, he's got to keep me-
But it wasn't his fault that the ghost
came Man alive. he wanted his own
ghost for himself. Consider, he couldn't
get on without itr'
He brought me home, and he's got
to keep me-" said David, doggedly Then
he slowly slouched away.
He is going to the inn," said George.
"Will there is something uncanny about
the man. Why should he have this hor-
rible haunting dream every night p
"Remorse for a crime which he wished
he had committed. perhaps. An odd COM
bination. but possible If he had MUIR
dered his uncle he might have been
haunted in this way. Wishes he had
murdered him. you see. Imagination
supplies the rest"
Cro be continued.>
There lives a Western farmer who