The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-12
RE EKENZN6 STORY
q Question of &c or Deatll.

q
Am I dead2,'
A man in dazed condition had en-
tered a rural police station lugging
coffin and stood before the sergeant
desk. His skeleton fgureS his hVld
skin, his shrunken eyes, all Went 20
prove that he was a corpse, voice ana
motion alone indicating the contrary.
The sergeant drew back, and something
like Shiver passed over a couple OF
roundsmen who were lounging by the
desk
What do you mean?s stammered the
sergeant.
The man put his hand in his pocket
the policemen fancied they could hear
his bones rattle as he did so-took out
clipping from a newspaper and laid
1t on the desk. Tt read:
Kirkham-On the 25th Of Sep
TENDER, John Leonard Kirkham, aged
twenty six.
4 see" said the sergeant. What did
The corpse replied by drawing forth
another clipping, which read:
At midnight on the 24th inst. a young
man named Kirkham babe good night
to a friend at the ferry to cross the
river. 1t proved a StyX, for he never
reached the other side. It is supposed
he sell overheard and was drowned,
since he had no cause to be weary Of
life. Indeed, he was about to be mar
ried to a very estifnable young lady.
His body has not been recovered.
You are the body2" asked the ser
geant, looking up after reading the item.
Yes"
Wen, tell US about it,
When entered. the ferryboat,'' the
stranger began, Il had just hidden good
night and given my final Instructions
to my best man. for I was to have been
married the next day to the loveliest
girl in the world"
The speakers voice trembled, and he
was obliged to pause Then he gave
a frightened glance at the coffin, which
he had stood on end beside him, and
proceeded:
"A fortune had been left me by an
aunt whom 1 have not seen since 1
was little boy, on condition that I
marry her adopted daughter, my aunts
object being to keep the property in
the family and benefit the girl she had
brought up and loved like a child of
her own. was her only blood relation
living Just before entering the dock
on the far side of the river a man step
ped up to me and said:
p" Can you tell me, sir, what that is
burning back of US in the city?'
He led the wayne were on the
lower deck-to the stern, and / followed
him. Since we were about to enter
the dock every one had gone forward.
On reaching the extreme stern. while
the fire, he suddenly grasped my legs
and tumbled me overheard. I was
rescued by two men in a sIziff The
men who had thrown me over jumped
into 1t, and the others pulled away
The sergeant looked at the rounds
men knowingly and remarked, There's
clew for ferryboat disappearances."
The stranger proceeded:
Il was rowed to a dock where a
carriage was waiting and forced to
enter it, tbs man who had thrown me
over getting in with me. saw him
hand the man in the boat a roll Of
bills and concluded they had been sim
ply hired for the Job. The carriage
was driven till dawn, then stopped,
and I was blindfolded and led into
house. At last the bandage was taken
from my eyes and found myself in
room from which the only view was
NFor. several days I lived, without
seeing any one. on bread and water
that was handed in 10 me. On the
third day. my kidnaper came in and
showed me the notices I have shown
. You're dead he said, and I pro-
pose that you shan't come to life
again, at least on this side of the
he did not tell me what he was
going to do with me- but gave me
to understand that resistance would
be useless, and, whatever happened, if
1 failed to play any part that might
be expected OF me / would be muir
dered. When he went away he for
got to take the clippings have shown
you, and put them in my pocket.
THAT night I smelled a strange
odor and slept like a log. The next
morning I was in a stupOr, but con-
scious My kidnaper came into my
room with another man, who looked
me over, then sat down at a table
and wrote something, the kidnaper
showing him an envelope he had tax
en- from my pocket All that day I
was under the influence of the drug,
and the next I must have been Civ
en- an extra dose, for I was uncOn-
scioue.
Il felt a shock and opened my eyes.
was lying in the road with my legs
in this coffin. 1 heard horses gallo2-
ing away from me. got up. walked
a short distance and found myself here.
Now I'd like to know if am a dead
man or a live one"
You're alive and win continue to
five till we've tracked your kidnaDer.
Are you sure that your aunt had no
relations living who, in case of your
death would be the heir at law2"
She hadn't kinsman on earth. She
had had a son, a scapegrace, but he
was killed in a drunken broil.''
mo, he wasn't. He's alive and has
kidnapped you to prevent your comply
ing with the terms of the viii by the
marriage and intended to furnish
proofs that you were dead and claim
your property. 4 runaway during
your funeral spilled you out and
spoiled his game"
The sergeant's diagnosis proved to
be correct. Mr.. Kirkham was married
a few days later, and the kidnaper
went to state prison.
CHARLES P. THURBER.
How st. Petersburg Heard the News.
About nine o'clock, the programme
n nno11poRd there would he an onpT1-af7