Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-01-26


 solved to open little, very, very little crevice in the lantern. So opened it-you cannot imagine how stealthily, stealthily-until at length single dim ray, like the thread of the spider, shot from the crevce and fell upon the vuture eye.
 It was open, wide, wide open; and I grew furious as gazed upon it. saw it with perfect dlstinctness-all a dull blue. with hideous veil over It that chilled the very marrow in my bones; but l could see nothing else of the old mans face or person, for had directed the rav as if by instinct, precisely upon the damned spot.
 And now-have 1 not told you that which you mistake for madness is but over acutenoss of the senses?--now, say, there came to mv ears low, dull, quick sound-mucb sucb 2 sound as watch makes when enveloped in cot. ton. l knew that sound we'll too. 1t was the beating of the old mans heart. It increased my iury, as the beating of drum stimulates the soldier in courage
 but even yet l refrained and kept still; I i scarcely breathed. held the lantern motion- less tried how steadily could maintain the ray upon the eye. Meantime the helish tattoo or the heart increased. It grew quicker and louder and louder every instant. The old mans terror must have been extreme! It grew louder, say, louder every moment! Do you | mark me well! 1 have told you that am nervous--so l am. And now. at the dead hour of night, and amid the dreadful silence of that house, so strange noise as this excited me to uncomfortable wrath. Yet for some minute longer, l refrained and kept still. But the beating grew louder, louder 1 thought the heart must burst!
 And now new anxiety seized me- that the sound would be heard by neighbor His last hour had come! With loud yell threw open the lantern and leaped into the room. He shrleked once--only once. In an instant I dragged him to the floor and pulled the heavy bed over him. then sat upon the bed and smiled gaily to find the deed so far done But for many minutes the heart beat on with muf- fled sound. This, however, did not vex me. it would not be heard through the walls At length 1t ceased. The old man was dead removed the bed and examined the cornse Yes, he was stone, stone dead I placed my hand upon the heart and held it there many minutes. There was no pulsation. The old man was stone dead. His eye would trouble me DO more.
 If you still think me mad you will think so no longer when describe the precautions I LOOK Tor the conceament of the body. The mght waned, and 1 worked hastily. but in si-
 
 cut off the head, arms and legs I then took up three blanks from the flooring of the cham. Der, and deposited all between the scantlings. I then replaced the boards so cleverlv, so cunning ly, that no human eye-not even his--couId have detected anything wrong. There was nothing to wash out-no stain of any kind--no blood spots whatever. 1 had been too wary for that. A tub had caught all-ha! hal
 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 knocking at the street door, l went down to open it with a light heart; for what had 1 now to fear?- There entered three men, who introduced them selves with perfect suavity as offices of the policy. A shriek had been heard by neighbor during the night; suspicion of foul play had been aroused; information had been lodged at the police office, and they (the oficers) had been deputed to search the premises
 smiled, for what had to fear? I bade the gentleman welcome. The shrek, I said, was my own, in dream. The old man mention ed was absent in the country. I took my visi. tors all over the house. I bade them search well. At length led them to his chamber. I showed them his treasures, secure, undisturbed. ln the enthusiasm of my confidence brought chairs into the room and desired them here to l, u- dacity of my perfect triumph, placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim
 The officers were satisfied. My manner had convinced them. Twas singulary at ease. They sat, and. while answered cheerily, they chat. ted of familiar things. But ere long, felt mv sell getting pale, and wished them gone My head ached, and 1 tanced ringing in my ears: but still they sat and still chatted The ring. Ing became more distinct; talked more freely to get rid of the feeling; but it continued and galned dehnteness; until at length found that the noise was not within my ears.
 No doubt now grew very pale; but I talked more huently. and with frightened voice. It was toeo, dull, quick sound much such sound as watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I gasped for breath; and yet the officers heard it not. l talked more quickly, more vehementlv; but the noise steadily increased. I arose and agured about trliies, in high key and with violent gestlculations; but the noise steadily in- creased. Why aoouM they not be gone? I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides. as 1t excited to fury by the observations of the men; but the noise steadily increased, o, God! what could l do? 1 foamed-I raved- II sworei l swung the chair upon which had sat- and grated Il upon the boards; but the noise arose above all and continually increased. It grew louder-loader-lou still the men chattered pleasantly and smiled Was it possi- ble they heard not! Almighty God!-no! no. They heard-they suspected-they knew-- They were making mockery of my horror.- This thought, and this think. But anything better than this agony! Anyting was more tolerable than this derision could bear those hypocrtical smiles DO longer. I felt that must scream or die And now-agan! hark! louder! louder! louder! kouderi "Villains.n I
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