lle or Ridgetown, but searchers sent to these places reported
that he had not been seen at either place for several days. Preacher
Bonds consoled Mrs. Gramps with the suggestion that doubtless he would
show up before night. However, when night came with no signs of Deacon
Gramps the whole community took an attitude of real alarm as to the
likelihood that he had been burned to death. It was announced that there
would be no meeting services at Mount Olivet Church, and Jake Benton
dismissed his services and joined heartily in the search for the Deacon,
who had dealt him so many grievous blows while Mrs. Benton did
everything in her power to console Mrs. Gramps.

The search continued all through the night with no results. By early
Monday morning there was general excitement for miles around. Scores of
people came that morning from Dobbinsville and Ridgetown, and gazed on
the mysterious scene of the former beautiful barn, now an ash heap.
Officers came down from the county-seat and joined in the search for the
lost Deacon. About the middle of the afternoon on Monday it was decided
that the ash-heap should be searched for any evidence that the man had
burned with the barn This search had not gone far when the county
sheriff found in the ashes the steel back-springs and blades of a
pocket-knife. Near by were found some pieces of enamel resembling a
man's teeth. Next was found a small melted mass of something which
seemed to have been a suspender buckle. Preacher Bonds picked up three
pieces of silver which proved to have been so many silver dollars.
Several pieces of bones were found, but these were so nearly charred to
dust that it was impossible to determine whether they were bones of a
man or bones of some of the many animals that perished with the
building. However, all these articles mentioned were found within a very
close proximity to each other, and in the minds of most people present
there was now no doubt as to the fate of Deacon Gramps. On Monday night
the coroner rendered a verdict that the Deacon met his death by being
accidentally burned to death. Mrs. Gramps swooned away and had to have
the attention of old Doctor Greenwich from Dobbinsville. In the event of
the illness of Mrs. Gramps, it devolved upon Preacher Bonds to make
full arrangements for the funeral, in which affair Jake Benton and his
good wife showed every disposition to help where help was possible.

Preacher Bonds went to Dobbinsville and sent a tel