Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-05-09


NEEDN'T cool your fingers either. You
leave: this old rat.trsp tomorrow. don't
ysup
aTes."
Very good. Then we'll give your
and,ady proof Of solid regard. Hero :"
apd be took o piece Of coal from the
hearth as he spoke" I'll chalk out the
old lady on the closet door. Load your
pistols-Its about twelve PAGES from the
other side Of the room-and well put
more balls into the old feminine than
she puts pepper corns into her mock
turtle soup"
4 general yell Of approval greeted bis
novel proposition, amid which Tom
grayely proceeded to sketch what be
called a remarkably correct portrait of
the mistress Of the house and Harry
Pierce set to work to load the pistols.
When Harry had finished, he clsimed
the first shot for his pains, which Tom
ciaimed for the same reason. insisting
that he had set up the wind mill he
ought to tilt at it. A mock alteration
followed, which was finally settled by q
toss up, which Harry won he grasped
the pistol accordingly, and fred.
A noise Of something followed. The
concussion had disturbed the body, which
IN falling had struck side shelf, and
| overturned some books We all started.
Needham, however, did not notice il.
and presented his pistol. fred agair, but
entire y too low, exclaiming when he
saw the result" There's ball in her
ladvship's calf, by Jupiter"
Harry turn d to me as white as ashes.
and " Did you hear anythinga"
:" did," / replied, "the ball from
your pistol, and be hanged to you. has
has upset some of my books, | suppose"
"Oh, my God :" exclaimed Barry, II
have terrible presentment. Suppose
my brother should have hid himself in
the closet. And he sank down on the
chair as he spoke. We gathered round
him and Tom Eeedhsm burst into q
fit OF laughter.
Upon my SOUL" said he. "you are
worse than the bakers dsughter,' Here
ne cried IN q squeah ing tone, =" If / were
by married. and were to have o little
baby, and it were 10 come here and get
INTO the oven and then be burned 10
| death-boo-boo. Then resuming his
| natural tone he exclaimed, " You are the
most ridiculous fools, the whole of you,
ever saw. Have you any brandy in your
deU! must have a little 10 revive me
after this scene. You'd better give Harry
sore. Lord knows he needs it +"
My heart tbrob5ed with strange de-
light. The wei Of ny ficpl,icS was
oslns rspj lily uGraveiled-my escape was
ilmost certain; h'It what if they should
| discover the fTactare2 | walked ooldly
| forward to the Closet and placing my
hand on the catch Rob, said" la order
to dIssipate your doubt, II open the
mystery" As spoke threw the doos
vide open.
Mine was sn affected shout, but not 80
that Of tbs resI. shall not forget the
zliG Shrek ca despair which left the bo-
sem Of Harry Pierce as he knelt forward
waId and rs,>ed The body Of hs brother,
nor the terrible tones of that hoarss
whisper, in which he said, % m Cain:
God forgive my foliy!' and then sank
into the arms Of Tom Needham.
Ny companions examined the body.
The ball of Harry had evidently gone
through his heart. The absence Of
| blood was at once accounted for by the
inward bleeding: and as We were sIsm-
ming the body, we heard the shrill voice
of our hostess lady outside scoldiug be.
couse We were firing pistols and shrek.
ing in our room.
A debate now ensued in regard to the
disposal Of the dead body. knew that
the blow on the head would be discoy-
cred, If the thing was suggested that we
had better bury the body secretly.
told them that it could be packed in the
long box which lsy there; and that one
Of Us could meet the conveyance out of
town, take it to some out-of the way
spot, where | could assist to bury the
body. In the meanwhile, Needham
could purchase coffin, and other neces-
sary materials as though to seRd-it of
to the country, and 1t night We could
bury it.
Harry Pierce made no opposition, be
was incapable Of anything, the plan was
carried out, as / suggested, and each
parted. I he rest was convinced and are
still, that brother hai been the unwil.
licg murderer of brother. Harry Pierce
died last year in a mad-house, and sm
here, twenty years after, with grey hairs
On my head, and an unclouded reputa.
ton, to tell the tale.
Pill TAKERs.-There are people in