Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-10-27
CHAPTER XVII.

A broken contederacy-THe Niser ~ rorse
tr0ubie-Thc missing NaR-PaGlic cldmor
and public panic.
Allan Wngfcd was sadly at loss to ac-
for the strange conduct Of his servant
he was almost satisfied he could see the unms-
taxable evidences Ofmsdaqes written in his face. /
The day passed and he did not sec rs servant
he thought il best to let him rest undisigrbed
in his silent room. The night passed and the /,
morning sun shone brightly on the city, and the
miscr thought he would call his man to his |
presence again and yet he fcured-feared to
meet the finishing gIanccs of his restless laugh
ing eyes. The old cane raped sharply or the
floor, as it had hundreds Of times before, sig
nal from the miser to his man. The miser wal
ted the coming OF his footsteps, but the quick
step was not heard on the stairway, rs it had
before. Again and again the cane raped sharp
ly, and louder and yet louder; but the servant
came no.. The miser rushed to his room, ey-
pecting to find him in the cold sleep of death
lie forced open the door and found that his
servant was not there lie searched his trunk.
and ne found that his papers and all his valua-
bes were gonc-the widows manuscript and
other papers the Frenchman had so highly
priced, were gone and the mser was perplex-
cd. On a stand was Il note. addressed to the
mscr, in the unique and elegant hand of the
Frcnchman. Its contents were as follows:
FRIDAY NIGHT.
MASTER WWGFIELD, Sir:-H encelorth and
FOR aye, ourco nirderacyis dissolved You will
scarcely see Rudolph Leycre again for his
name will have perhaps pershed in the earth
ere you see him. As parting blessing, here
by warn you to settle by a legal gift, the sum
Of fifty thousand dollars upon Julia DeVail, in
whose veins flows your own blood, which fact
she is ignorant ofond which is only known to
yourself and servant Lcyere. Settle the
amount upon her for the wrong you done her
wretchcd mother in years long since past
You can and mast send the Bill TO me through
the Post Office, payable to her. / will then
acknowledge its receipt and honestly apply it
TO the purpose intended. You may rely upon
what tell you, master; an immediate com
pliance on your part, or an exposure before
Monday. The French servant is rot juking
now, master; you are in his power and you
may depend he is in sober earnest. Refuse it
ut your peril. RUDOLPH.
The miser cursed and tore the note in shreds
he rayed and cursed the day that brought the
Frenchman to his door; he was guilty of sin
and he saw the danger OF detection he was
miserable, and he plucked his gray lock- from
his head and trampIcd them under his feet
As much as he hated to give mp his gold, he
thought it best; for he saw ne was in the
power Of the Frcnchman and in danger of
losing his life. Ae wrestled with the thought
OF it for some hours and i. haunted mm--he
was wretched and felt condemned to the death.
He enclosed a Till for fifty thousand with his
curses, TO Levcrc, and in the evennghe receiy-
ed the following reply.
SIR: Your compliance and bill for fifty
thousand, has been received. and the amount
placed in the Savings Bank for Miss Julia De-
Vail, who has been educated with the money
eNtorted from you, to pay for the doing o
your desperate deeds. You are Il wretch, Al.
ian WingHcId, to curse me for it but you have
complied with my requirements and the dav
betray you for your sins may the name of Ru
dolph Levere perish forever. This Was my
oath when Joined league with you, the brave
bandit of THE CAVE OF SKULLsp No mor
forever from, RU UDOLPH LEVERE.
The note quoted the fears of the miser; TO
he Interpreted the sayings of the Frenchmai
favorably, that when he revealed his secrets. Il,
might die and perish in the earth. He was con
tented though hccurscd the thought that he WIZ
forced to buy this content with Il bill for fft
thousand-hc cursed, but ne tried to feel con
tent for the mouth of Lcyere was closed am
no one else knew of his sin and guilt no on
knew that he was highwayman, Il member q
the mountain bandtri, and one who helpe
people the mountain cave with the skulls of th
victims of pIundcr no one knew he was tn
father Of the widows ioster-daughter--thea &C
compshed Julia-who was now attracting nc
tice in the circles of the refined /; no one kne,
of his thousand sins no one knew of his plaI
ming the obstruction Of Layton no one knc,
this but Leverc, and he had prayed that whe
he revealed it his name might die and perish
the earth. The miser laughed, and werhe
his bags Of gold in his hand, and counted i
shining pieces.
A few days passed aud Emma Layton b.
came alarmed at the absence of her husban
She hastencd to Walter and told her fears III
news spread from ear to ear among the ctizel
of A. and surmscs and gossipinr co
lectures were oHoat. 1t was known by MAJ
that Layton had money, and although Emu
told that she had his money in her keeping. V
It was generally believed that he was killed Il
IT, These eonjectures spread from breast
breast like panic, and the citizens were eaq
10 trace out the pcrperator of the deed. III
panic continued from day to dav with increa
ing fervor for the citizens believed that son
outlaw was in their midst and each feared f
himself it was the daily comment ofthe pre-
and the hourly gossip of the citizens. TT
news was sooE atlOat that Layton was last SCI
entering the Tavern, hanging to Allan Win
heds arm, and no one had seen him afterwarC
Public prejudice Immediately became raving
gainst the miser, and a mob was gathered
round his Tavern, hooting loud for blood a
justice. The authorities interfered, and to ca
the excited passions of the mob, the 1aye
was searched, its deep vaults and dark roo
were each examined, and in one of them ha,
kerchief was found, in which was worked
name of the missing man, and Emma said 5
had wrought the letters with her own hanC
Some dark STAINS on the floor of the same no,
werealso found-dark ,spIattered LOOKING stai
that very much resembed blood, though D
haps it was not and all this more and M
enraged the mob, and they marched to the
house where the mser dwelt and called lou
for him and shouted for his blood Public =
judiee waged high against the miser, and