The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-05-11
THE MYSTERY OF THE PEDDLER
Ghost on the Banks of a North
Carolina Creek
Strange Story Told by Joseph Goodwin.
Ouccurrences UnexpIainable to This
Day-Horrible Murder Re
vealed i'm Startling Manner to the
Wood Cutter.
For the Messenger

NAC
Many years ago-though still within
the memory of not a few old people
living in that part Of the country
there took place, in the upper tide
water section of North Carolina, a
series of occurrences, strange, terri
BILE and mysterious, the talk Of the
surrounding country, but absolutely
unexplainable to this day.
There lived Joseph Goodwin, a stall
wart man about % years of age, known
all through that section as d boss
timber WOrker-not only a skilifui,
sturdy cutter, but a very valuable man
in the business from his knowledge Of
wood craft, and his unerring judgment
in Sizing up a tract Of timber anG
getting it's material to the best mar
ket.
One afternoon Goodwin was lOafjng
about a store where the country cross
roads made a hamlet of half a dozen
houses. Along the road q man came
riding toward this store on i gray
mule, turned in at the hitching rack,
~dismOunted, and came up the rlcketY
front steps Of the little shop. The
stranger was a thick-set man in or
binary farmers garb, close shayen,
with a square chin and very deep-set
eyes. He saluted the three or four
men in the store with al abrupt nod,
and said, My name is Abel Har9ett,
and [ Am looking for a man named
. JOSeph Goodwin" The latter, some
what surprised to find himself sought
for by a man whom he had never set
eyes upon before, admitted his identl-
ty. and the newcomer proceeded: Nh.
Goodwin, | am a timber-cutter and /
am Just now pressed with work a1d
short of hands, especially as my Tore
man has lately left me. You nave
beer recommended to me as a very
capable man, and | have come to see
you on the business
Now, it happened that Goodwin
though, as | have said, an expert TIM
Der cutter. with his service generally
in demand-WaS short of work just
then. and more than usually disposed
to fayOrably entertain Il proposition.
The two men seated themselves on a
counter and discussed the matter, with
the result that Goodwin, although he
did not like his new acquaintance did
like the TERMS, and accepted them COLI
ditiOnalIy, safeguarding himself with
the understanding that he would go
down to Targets place, and If, after
a few days trial things were salts
factory, he would sign a contract. HIS
new employer did not seem to set
much store by the amenities OF LIE;
and. after buying half a plug OF to-
baccO. mounted his mule and RODE
away. his farewell as abrupt as ais
first SalutatiOn had been.
Joseph Goodwin had been informed
by Abel Hargett Oh his place OF resi-
dence-at the confluence OF two creeks
six miles this side of =, ana aoout
50 miles from the country cross fod"S,
and he decided to walk the distance
setting out about noon the next cay
making ~ or IA miles, stopping tor
he night at some house on the DAD,
and finishing the journey on the 1ol-
lowing dav. He arranged with 4
WAGNER going to F. to carry hlS
trunk of clothing on in a few days
Late in the afternoon of the next
dav Goodwin, having Travelled aDoul
the distance he had set for himself
turned in at a modest, neat-lookln2
farm house, where lived William EMS
his wife and one child, and where Ms
renuest for a nights lodging wa
granted with hearty hospitality.
After a good country supper GodWli
and Ellis sat in front of the fire talking
and in the course OF the cOnVefSatloi
the destination of the farmer can'
out. AS soon as the name Oh AGE
Harcett was called Ellis moved un
easily in his chair, and his wife, Wn'
uas ENGAGED in household cares IL
tho room turned a startled face Oh
the guest. Such manifest interest at
tracted GOdwin'S attention, and ne De
gan TO make inquiries about the tlpi
her man. but found his host slnSu
larry reticent. He could hardly Sa
that he knew Hargett, farther ina
to pass the time of day when they NE
on the road; IN fact. he had neVe
been in Targets part OF the coulili;
more than two or three tunes IN d
his life. He did not know anylhlll
against the mans character, excel
he talk of queer things heard da
seen about his house, but people mus
not believe all tha they hear and SET
pressed for an explanation, Ellis hest
t~ntinglv said that n or two peopi
who had happened to pass the night
Targets dwelling had been terrlne
by shrieks and groans, and hao ue
clared that they would rather pass III
night in the middle OF a swamp.
Joseph Goodwin was TO healthy l
body and mind, too practical, 10 lah
any stock in Superstltlous storleS' an
lanphinelv remarking that he was IL
afraid of Hargett's ghosts, turned II
conversation.
The next morning, as his day
Journey was not to be long, GoH"l
took a leisurely departure, Win
friendly farewell from his kind ente
tainers, Mrs. Ellis providing him VII