The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-05-12
4 GHOSTLY TRAILER
BY JOHN RossINs.

In every detail for weeks before, but
he had never contemplated murder
That had been grim accident. Hav-
ing got the safe open. he had raised
his head to find old Barrett standing
In the doorway, holding a leveled re-
volver at him.
Hands up!' said the old man. smiI-
Ing grimly.
Bloomfield flung up his hands, and,
as the old mans revolver wavered in
the tired hand, leaped. He had timed
himself to a nicely, for the bullet
whizzed past his ear, and in an in
stant he had seized the weapon and
brought 1t down on old Barrett's head
with stunning force.
He knew Barrett was dead. He
knelt over the body and felt the heart
cease to beat, raised the wrist and
felt the pulse throb into silence. He
stood up. and In moment the full
realization OF his fate flashed through
his brain. He saw the electric chair,
the bonds. the switches.
With shudder of revulsion Bloom
field stepped back, closed the safe,
and, with his plunder in his pocket,
planned his new movements in the
light OF this development He had in
tended to lie low In the city-now he
saw that he must make for distant
town, In the metropolis the hunt
would not let up for couple OF years.
In Atlanta, Baltimore, Cleveland. :.
his courage began to return. He would
not look at the body upon the floor. A
dog was bowling in room near -
hand II must be old Barretts dog,
the miser's. The eerie sound made
Bloomfield's blood run cold
He made his way out by the window
to the street. Nobody was stirring.
with his fifty thousand in his pocket
book he strobe on gayly His spirits
were high. Nobody had seen him
come or go. The dog was still howl
ing, though.
The bowling sounded nearer.
Bloomfield glanced round, to see the
creature at his heels. II was white
and yellow bloodhound, and 1t shifted
at his trail, whining, not very loud.
but dismally and mournfully.
Bloomfield stopped and called to IT.
He snapped his fingers, but the crea
ture leaped away with terrified
moan. When Bloomfield resumed his
pacing the dog followed him. no near
er, no further away, always whining
softly II was terrific Indictment
the dumb creature following. follow.
ing
Bloomfield tried to shake 1t on. He
turned up a side street He took a
short cut among some houses. hastily,
before the dog rounded the corner To
his relief the bowling sounded further
away. But when he emerged into the
parallel road he saw the dog follow
Ing him. Just as before. 1t was a 1T
tie nearer, now. and 1t howled louder
and barred Its fangs.
In fury, he picked up stones ant
began throwing them at the creature
II leaped agiIely away and howled
more loudly. Bloomfield saw one of
two passers-by look at him curiously,
He cursed the dog.
It was nearly morning. Bloomfield
abandoned his plan of taking the
train. He resolved to carry out his
original idea OF lying low He had
rented fiat and stored It with four
months supply of food Nobody
would know him, except the janitor,
and he was not likely to suspect any
thing.
He was within block OF 1t when
he dog, as II divining HIS purpose,
eaped In front of him and began
'narling and barking furiously. Bloom
ield was in despair. Clearly the crea,
.ure meant to spring at his throat u
he persisted. He turned, and now 4
came over him. an insane
iesire to give himself up. to suffer
anything rather than endure that ter
rible persecution. 1t seemed to him
ike a heaven-sent punishment. He
lid not know where to go.
Halt an hour later he found that his
eet had taken him to the outside of
3arrett's house again. He had gone
here unconsciously, but now there
ame upon him that obsession OF
which he had heard. to see the body /
4 the man he had killed I. was not
Iuite light yet. Glancing hastily up
nd down the street. Bloomfield hoist.
d himself up to the second-story win.
low and re-entered the room.
Out Of the shadows leaped form
hat clutched him In a wise. A pair
I handcuffs we're snapped upon his
wrists.
You'll tell me, l suppose, you didn't
eat up old man Barrett this night?
ell that to the Judge"
"1s he--living?"
HE is, and he's likely to live, II
hats any consolation to you"
Bloomfield was laughing hysterical-
7.
II thought I'd killed the old guy
e scbbed 81 won't make any trou-
le. never meant to touch him, any
ay, only he drew on me. But 1t
'asn't you that got me. 1t was that
ound OF his
ssxtyt. as..1. ~