The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1905-08-04
The Haunted Man
BzMR UAD

case, but by ne means a rare one.
Gordon Combs by name-a bachelor
Of IS, wealthy and taking life easy
had suddenly become possessed Of the
idea that ne was haunted
Just what sort Of a feeling is this
that comes over yoU2" was asked
Tt is easily described 1t is as II
one were waiting for a dear friend to
die-a telling Of aWe-a state Of sus-
pense, and now and then I find my
self cringing. as II some one was aim
ing blow at me"
''Crashl Zfpt''
That was from an air gum said
the doctor after throwing up the win
dow and looking out, and then turn
ing to the bullet fmbedded IN the
wall
And fred at me" added Combs
Undoubtedly, as you were facing
the window and I could not be seen
Your enemy is in one Of those houses
He fired from roof or window. One Of
them is a rOOmfng house, and 1t was
likely from that"
TIT might have been an acct
dent" suggested the patient
Possibly, but I don't think 50.
Your case has gone beyond me Put
II into the hands Of the police
Combs went to the police and re-
ported the affair as probably an acct
dent, but asked that they find out II
any boy or man living in any OF the
houses had an airgun- There had
been no report and no powder smoke.
Inside Of two days a detective assured
him that such a thing as an airgun
had never been seen about any Of the
houses The bachelor made up his
mind that it was an accident, but that
the shooter had lied about it, and he
tried to dismiss it from his mind He
had the feeling Of fear yet, but he did
not go back to the doctor. He deter
mined to fight against and conquer it
Two days later at the club he ordered
a drink, which was not brought to
him Immediately, as the waiter had
to serve another order first When
the wine came II sat at his elbow I'M
tasted while he cOnversed with an ac-
quaintance who had just come in.
Hello" said the gentleman, as his
eyes lighted on the glass, but the
color OF that wine is way OF tonight
Let me see"
He held it up between his eye and
the light for a moment and then said:
II don't like the looks OF this at all.
let me take it to Peters and have
nim analyze it"
For what2''
For knockout drops
"BOsh! And in our own club tool"
Next day the chemist reported that
the wine had been poisoned The
waiter explained that he had left it a
moment unmatched before bringing it
to Combs, but neither he nor any Of
the others had seen a strange person
about The matter was kept a secret
between three or four members Of the
club, and Combs did not go to the pO-
lice until a fortnight later. Then he
went because a third attempt had
been made.
You have got a deadly enemy"
said the detective to whom the case
was given, and you must set your
memory at work and try to give me
a pointer. This unknown is doubtless
a man, and he wants your life mighty
bad. What man have you ever had
serious trouble with ?"
mo man on earth, and pledge
you my honor on that" was the re-
ply
well, then. what woman ?"
''NOne-absOlutely none
well, here are three dastardIy at
tempts and no lew. I don't see what
we can do but wait for the fourth
and hope that something may turn
up.'
II
ing but wait Three weeks later, as
he went to the stables for his horse
and a galOp in the park, he accident
" discovered a strong pin thrust
through the flap Of his saddle in such
a way that il must have sharply
pricked his leg had he mounted No
man about the stables knew Of the
pin, and yet a chemist said that its
point had been STEPPED in deadly
poison. Then the detective suggested
that the victim make a secret depart
ure from the city and go abroad for
a few months. This advice was fol-
lowed. The man was fast becoming
a nervous wreck, and he realized that
he must get from under the shadow
or collapse. No one could have made
a more secret departure, and yetwhen
the steamer bound for London was
three days out he discovered that his
box OF favOrite cigars had been med
died with and probably poisoned
On landing in London Combs en-
ployed a private detective TO accom-
pany him and started for Switzerland
Every precaution was used in getting
away and in reaching a place on the
Travelled route, and for month the
haunted man had peace There was
no other guest at the chalet where the
miles TO the nearest village or hotel.
One day the bachelor, who was now
regaining his lost flesh and spirits,
went up the mountain to a peculiarly
shaped spot called the basin. 1t was
a quiet retreat, and it had become his
habit to read and smoke there when
the weather was pleasant On this
day the detective accompanied him.
but had fallen asleep after finishing
his cigar Suddenly the old feeling
came back to Combs He fought with
il for i've minutes, and then started
up with a groan on his lips He had
not yet reached his feet when great
rock weighing a ton or more came
tumbling down into the sink and
struck him fairly and crushed the life
out Of him in an instant The detec-
tive awoke and sprang up and rushed
up the path, but no one was in sight
He listened, and what he thought he
heard was the faint sounds Of foot
steps running away through the III
trees. He saw no one; he could nO1
be sure that any human being had
been within half a mile OF the place
and yet Gordon Combs lay dead be
meath the rock that human hands haC
set rolling