Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1838-10-18
VOL. s.-NO, ~.

all concluded it must have been formerly q
resort for smugglers and pirates. A mar
row dark passage led from this room
which would only admit o! one passing al
time Clifford was the first to 90 for
ward, and, after a little absence, was
heard calling for Charles to follow, for he
discovered light ahead, They all fol-
lowed, Charles in the rear TO protect the
ladies, and coming UP, Clifford pushed on,
and just as he with the party were about
entering to the light, sudden rusting
noise was heard, and the large aperture
which admitted the light was darkened for
a moment, which caused shrek from
Frances and shudder from Clara; net-
Their of whom spoke, but stood like statues,
supporting each other. Bio .s Is
Clifford, being convinced il was some
thing human that darted through the up.
erture, rushed fearlessly ON and found
hmselfin another irregular room. I'M
mediately loud cry Of horror was heard
from him, which soon brought them hur.
riedly to his side. They found him lean.
ing with his head against the rough wall,
pale and speechlcss, but all were occupied
around him as not to discover any thing
which the room contained that caused his
death-like appearance, Till, on inquiry by
Charles, Clifford fell on his knees and
wept, pointing at the same time to recess
opposite-they turned and saw plainly
written in large legible letters on the dark
colored wall: +"a9# dl g4
"GeOrge Clifford, the murderer of Charles
Wilmore, a. ID. May Nineteenth, Nv
Words cannot express the feelings of tho
party, as they stood in speechless agony
reading the writing on the wall, which
was suddenly broken by the report ola
pistol, followed by deep and agonized
groan; they all started--Charles rushed
10 the aperture in tho wall, and cried,--
"God preserve us!p and Immediately
sprang out-and what scene met his
gaze! On the ground lay an aged man in
tattered garments with his grey locks
died in gore: pistol was grasped firmly
in his right-hand while his left was thrust
in his bosom. The ball had done its bid.
ding, for he was corpse: his long beard,
bushy eyebrows and emaciated features
could not be recognized. When charles,
taking the hand from his bosom, a paper
was found in its grasp, which was opened
and read as follows: s4lJ lEi atl 10
sGeorge Clifford was not the murderer
Of Charles Wilmore; murdered both in
cold blood which have deeply repented Of;
being the tool ola william, and hope God
will forgive me for all have suffered since
in this cave. My employer who paid mo
for the two deeds Of horror, was present,
and now lives n-nl .7 HaHI
The above was written with pencil,
which was found in his pocket, on the
spare Ieafof book, and no doubt written
in haste on first hearing noise within
the cave, and probably intended finishing
it, by giving the name of his employer,
had not Clifford, coming so suddenly pre-
vented, and fearing probably they were
officers Of justice, chose to take his own
life rather than suffer public execution.
Charles, on further search, found on him
an old worn pencilcase, on the end Of
which was engraved letters So. c.;" he i'm
mediately exclaimed: H'9ia 94
at must be so-here has been most foul
mrder!--Yes, both! Oh! would had
never consented to have come, for my
mind will never rest till the destroyer has
been found" " ~ nae
Clara and Frances looking from the APP
erture and seeing Charles reading pa
per, thinking it too true what they had
read on the wall, and they both wept in 81
lence till Charles Joined them, and handed
them the paper and pencil-case, requesting
Clara to give them to George who was
still on his knees weeping. On receiving
the paper and pencil-case, and examining
them, he held up both hands, exclaiming,
with tears running down his cheeks;--
"Thank God, my father was not murder
err! but has been basely murdered, for this
is indeed the pencll-case haye seen him
often use.n And rising, went up to
Charles, who was with Frances, and Civ
ing back the important paper, said, calmly
but sorrowfully, "Come, we have seen and
learnt enough for one day, thank God,
now let us return to Lord Barton to ask
his advice how to-"
Here he was interrupted by Clara, who
called to him to see what was rolled up in
he recess. Clifford Immediately obeyed,
and found under the writing on the wall,
N deep recess, something tied upin an
Did blanket. It was dragged to the light
ind the old rope giving way, out rolled q
yhaStly skeleton, from one Of whose fingers
ell glittering diamond ring, and between
his left ribs remained dagger, causing
10 doubt his death. On the handle was
he letter 81" t-,h.,..n.,.,i .,,a
Clara gave loud shrek, and would
ave fallen had not Clifford caught her.
frances, holding fast to the arm Of Charles
vas drawn, more dead than alive, to the
pot. Clifford pointed to the ring, which