Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-10-24

1 then replaced the boards 50 cleverly, SO cum
ningly, that no human eye-not even his
could have detected nything wrong. There
was nothing to wash out--no stain of any kind
no blood spots whatever. I had beer, too
wary for that. A tub had caught all-ha! ha.
when had made an end of these labors It
was four o'clock, still dark as midnight As
the bell sounded the hour, there came a knock
ing at the street door. / went down to open 1t
with light heart; for what had now to fear |?
There entered three men, who introduced them
selves with perfect suayity as officers Of the DO
lice. A shrek had been heard by a neighbor
during the night; suspicion of foul play had
been aroused; Information had been lodged at
the police Office, and they (the Ofcers) had been
deputsd to search the premises. ., ... ..5.
smiled, for what had | to fear? / babe the
gentlemen welcome. The shrek, said, was
my own, in a dream. The old man L men
toned, was absent in the country. l took my
visitors all over the house. bade them search
search well.-~At length 1 led them to his
chamber. showed them his treasures secure,
undisturbed In the enthusiasm of nv conf
dence brought chairs into the room and de-
sired them here to rest from their fatigues;
while L, in the wild audacity Of my perfect tri-
umph, placed my own seat upon the very spot
beneath which reposed the corpse Of the victim
The officers were satisfied. Ny manner had
convinced them. 1 was singulsrly at ease
They sat- and, while answered cheerily, they
chattsd Of familiar things. But, ere long, L
felt myself getting pale, and wished them gone.
My head ached, and 1 fancied a ringing in my
ears; but still they sat and still ohatted The
ringing became more distinct; / talked moro
freely to got rid Of the feeling; but it continued
and gained defniteness, until at length found
that the noise was not within my ears.
No doubt now grew ueyY pale; but talked
moro fuently, and with Frightened voice.
Yet the sound increased-and what could do1
1t was a L0U, dull, quick sound-much such a
sound as a watch makes when enveloped in cot
ton 1 gasped for breath; and yet the officers
heard it not. talked more quickly, more ve-
hemently; but the noise steadily increased. I
arose and argued about tribes, in high key
and With violent gesticulations; but the noise
steadily increased. Why ,sonld they not be
gone? paced the floor to and fro with heavy
strides, as if excited tofury by the observations
OF the men; but the noise steadily increased
God what could do? Ifoamed-I raved-
Iswore swung the chair upon which had
sat, and grated it upon the boards; but the
noise arose above all and continually increased
1t grew NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.! And still
the men chatted pleasantly and smiled. Was
it possible they heard not, Almighty God =
no! no! They hsardAthey suspected-they
kne1c. They were making a mOckery OF my
horror This thought, and this think But
anything better than this. agony! Anything
was mere tolerable than this derision. could
bear those hypOcritical smiles no longer Ifelt
that must scream or die. And now-again.-
bark louder louder. louder louder VII
lains," L shrieked, ''dissemble no more, ad-
init the deed tear up the planks here here.
it is the boating of his hideous hearth