Litchfield enquirer., 1842-09-15
OLD HAYS.

|
ed under the quaint tile Of The Quod Cor
rtspondcnce.' A murder has been commit
ted, the murderer. an attorney, is sitting In
his own room 'mIteTing in Il low Tone when
Tike aims old Hays pays him visit
! liewaS first brought to himself by hearing
step on the stairs. Slow. deliberate, and
solemn it broke on his ear. There was no
haste in that tread but no hesitation. The
first feeling of the Attorney was one of the
most abject terror. His whole frame seem,
Ell sinking; his limbs shook and his jaws, as
with un ague fit his fingers clutched ihvol-
UNFAIRLY, aud the quick hard pulsa;ious OF the
heart might have been distinctly heard
The steps assembled the. stairway. His first
instructive impulse was to secure the door
out the utter uSslessness Of such precaution
struck him in the same instant. And then
the groundlessneSs of his fears flashed across
him; and the improbabilhy of the murder
having yet been discovered; and turning
away. he had barely time to seat himself
when hand rested on the knob, and the door
was thrown open.
His visiter was short, square. built man,
with dark Jewish features, bald bend,
heavy eyebrow, and halEclose.i eyes, which.
together with dropping under tip, would
have given rather sleepy, vacant look to
his countenance, had il not been redeemed by
\
peeFing from under the corner of their lids, a
strong contrast to the heavy lineaments Of
the rest OF his face. His fralne was muscu.
lar and heavy though he trod with the qu.
ct, and stealthy step of q cat.
Hls first movement on entering the room
and ascertaining that Bolton was there. was
to lock the door, and put the key in his peck.
ct. Then crossing into the bAck office, he
pushed chair to the fire, and drawing off
his gloves, held his short strong fingers over
the flame. Bottoms heart sank within him
as he recognized in his visitor the most noted
aud vigilant officer Of the city police. Blu,
AS real danger approached his imaginary
ones vanished; and he prepared to plan his
one N his great characteristics, and which
had guided him safely past many d rock on
which his previous roguery had nearly
wrecked him.
Bowling TO the viSiter, and requesting him
to excuse him for nsomeRt, he pretended to
rend over q paper which he held in his hand.
while he formed his plans.
| well Mr.. Tike, Pm at your SERVICE said
the Attorney at length, placing the paper on
the table, and turning to the visiter. What
can do for you!
'Put Oh your hat and overcoat,' responded
Mr.. like, laconically.
| w SU PtCuSuTCS u ~ - USCCSSdTys TGVsbcu
BoItOn, somewhat startled at the stern abrupt
tone Of the speaker. But what is the nature
Of the business. and where arm to go?'
THE natuf. is oncommon-the place, the
Lookup
Bolton felt chilly presantiment of the
worst but he would not give up while there
was chance.
ABR said he thoughtfully, 'some poor
Fellow in trouble, and who wants help
What is it? Debt or felony !--or what?'
Felony 10 the first Degree replied Tikc.
holding up his thick foot, which matched with
his fingers to the flame, while he applied his
handkerchief TO his nose.
is he IN prison = demanded Bolton, for
the purpose OF sitting more thoroughly tho
enigmatical meaning of the officer
Hes as good as in, replied MIR. Tike, feel
ing the key in his pocket. Hell soon be;
| he's Took
Again the Attorney experienced that fore
| bodiDg OF i'll which had SO nearly unnamed
him when he heard the first step of his visitor
IN the passage. But single glance at the
halt closed aud watchful eye Of the police
man showed him the necessity Of rally ing all
his energies for the slightest tremOr, or a
single equivocul word might lead him to the
! gallows; and assuming a careless manner.
he approached the peg where the overcoat
hung, as II for the purpose Of taking il down.
Then pausing he turned 10 the officer and
said:
AS this person is not yet in prison, and
have several matters of some Importance to
attend to, would be glad if you would send
some one to let me know when he is in. II
would save my time which is precious and
l would 70 to him immediately
1T aosnt do Mr.. Bolton replied Mr.. Tike,
with sOmething between wink and leer.
He's took, as snid afore.'
We'll, then, why all this triAing; Why
not say 90 at once! When was he taken and
wherer demanded Bolton, sternly 'aad
what does he want with me?
In reply to these Undergraduates, Mr.. Tike
quietly drew the door key from his pocket,
| and placing it against his nose, ogled Bolton
through the handle.
He was captured about ten minutes ago,
in this ere room, by this ERE key; and he
wants you to go to prison as his substitute
Bolton threw hasty glance about the
room. The windows were all closed and
high from the ground. lie glanced Mt his
own spare frame, and measured its strength
with that of the ponderous and muscular
man before him. He looked about for q
weapon Of defence. On the top of n desk
opposite him, lay an old haichct, which
had once aided in murder, whose perpc-
traitor he had screened from justice. His
eye rested on it for moment and his pur-
pose was fixed. So was that Of MIR. like,
who had watched his eye and saw the wea-
pom.
Without changing his position, or alter
ing muscle, Bolton turned 10 the officer
and said
This is n strange enigma. Sneak out,