Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1905-01-27


of the city, when Henry Andersen and
the stranger stopped at an old two
story frame house. The stranger
fumbled in his pocket, drew forth
key, opened door, and both entered
We took a position on the other side
of the street and intently watched for
light.
A man came out of the house in the
shadow of which we were waiting, and
| accosted him, asking
DO you know. sir, who lives in that
frame house?"
Some crazy Dutchman," he repliel.
Seems to be star in class of his
own. Nobody knows what he's doing,
and certainly don't care" With that
he left us.
The light for which we watched
seemed about to fail us, and Fred was
beginning to show signs of disappoint-
ment
Have patience, Fred" l exhorted.
Il don't think we shall be disappoint-
ed-7there it is now!"
A little light shone through the Gel
lar windows, as though some one were
going into the cellar with a candle.
But We had only a second to watch
the little light. Suddenly there came
a binding fash of fire, and almost at
the same moment deafening roar, as
though mammoth cannon had been
shot. We were thrown to the ground
When we rose and looked over to
the frame house, we saw a mass of
ruins on fire. The neighbors came
rushing out of their homes, aud in
less than five minutes big crowd had
collected. The police patrol arrived,
fire engines came; and where, fifteen
minutes ago, all had been quiet, every.
thing now was colnmotion
One of the firemen claimed to hear
cries for help coming from beneath the
ruins. With their long hooks, he and
his companions pulled aside the burn.
ing timber, and finally came to the
spot whence the cries issued. Fred
and l pressed forward and saw them
draw out the old German, his body
bleeding and burning. We explained
that we had claim, and were per-
mitted to speak to him.
A doctor arrived and informed us
that the man could not live. He sufi
fered dreadfully, crying out loudly
enough to be heard above the noise
of the crowd In his anguish he
prayed in his mother-tongue. | knelt
beside him, and while the doctor
bathed the burnt parts of his body, /
asked
Where is the letter."
His eyes opened wide Then, coll
lecting his thoughts, he answered.
HE het it-vanted to take it to de
safe---look in de safe, Colt, Erba-
men,"
They did not take him to the hospi-
tai A few minutes more. and he died.
A lieutenant of the police asked me
whether / knew the man.
81 never saw him until this after
noon" l said.
~. ELL he said, "he's known to the
police as one of the most dangerous
forgers in the country"
answered nothing, but l now
thought l understood why Henry An
dersen had had dealings with him.
But where was Fred? The dying
man had so absorbed my attention that
had almost forgotten my friend. Now
that | looked for him, | found him
kneeling before a mutilated mass of
human flesh. 1t must have been
brotherly instinct which made Fred
sure that this heap of flesh and blood
was the earthly remains of his brother,
for no one could have identified him.
The cause of the accident was easily
understood. The cellar had been
flooded with foul water and kases had
collected, which exploded when they
came in contact with the light of the
candle. Few of the articles in the
house were unbroken. Among the few
was a small safe, of which the police
took charge. remembered the words
of the dying German, and Fred and |
went to headquarters to explain to the
chief that we were interested in the
safe. In fact, we told him the whole
story.
At my suggestion, Fred's friend, the
attorney, was called in to identify him.
When the chief had satisfied himself
as to his claim, he ordered the safe
opened. 1t contained some German
and English letters addressed to
Emanuel Hilprecht, and the chief took
possession of them, stating that he
knew the man very well. Then we
came upon an envelope of somewhat
larger size The seal was broken, ard
the chief read its contents. He looked
al Fred, and said,-
well, this certainly concerns you"
and handed it to my friend. Ono
glance showed us that it was the lost
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