White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-03-11

skull, and although no blood had flown-his
thick csR5vhich be had not removed during the
conversation, deadening somewhat the blow
he was evidently dead.
A moments reflection convinced me that one
of two things must be done--either to conceal
the body1or to discover the fact and proclaim
that had done the deed in selEdefence. The
fear that could not well make it appear SO to
the public, deferred me from the latter course.
had stated the day before to my landlady. THAT
intended to send a box full of papers TO my
uncle's residence in the country; and the large
packing box procured for the purpose then stood
in my room. determined to put the body in
this, and thus dispose Of it. As was about to
do this, heard a ringing at the door-bell-
Thrusting aside the window-curtain, put my
head through the window, which was luckily
halEhoistedYand saw that my companions of the
night before had come to pay me visit. knew
that they would at once come to my room, and
take no denial for entrance. In an instant my
course was determined on hastily dragged
the body to the closet, placed it upright, and ia
king my duelling-case from the place of its
usual bestowment, closed the closet door. /
then threw on my great coat, put on my hat, and
tossed the chairs in confusion round my room.
had scarcely done this when heard the steps
Of the party on the stairs, and, as they entered
the room, gave tremendous oath, with every
other evidence of counterfeited passion.
"Hallo" exclaimed Harry Pierce, "what is
the matter with you7 Going outp'
al have this moment come in" said l, " to
get my pistols. thought I'd practice this NOR
ning-and some vagabond has been in my room,
and turned everything upside down. It's too
bad, by JoFe; there's whole pile of shirts, just
from the wash, tossed on the floor"
Ny friends bust into wild laugh, and Tom
Neeuham exclaimed:
"Served you right. What business have you
to own so many shirtsl l have only one. In
fact that was what kept me from you yesterday
so long. had to lie in bed while it was being
washed and homeland the woman kept il two
hours beyond time, because owed her a little
BILL" -
"well,n -said /, i" wish you'd stop your
nonsense and fix up matters; and Wen go out
and take crack or two this morning"
"Not with me-" answered Tom. It's too
cold for the fingers. Tell you what wen do
wen have a game Of whist. There's just snug
partys l wonder where Fred isl" ~
II don't know said I; "he promised yes
to-day to come and see me-"
am bet a sous cried Jack Fry, " that he
was the Robin Goodfellow who upset your ward
robe"
"Just like him." replied; " but neverthe-
less, am bent on shooting this morning"
$50 you shall shoot, old fellow" cried Tom
Needham, /" so you shall; and you needn't cool
YOUR fingers either. You leave this old rat-trap
to, morrow, don't your" i...5 -,- -. "A
Yes"
"Very good. Then Wen give your landlady
a proof of our solid regard. Here" and he took
a piece of coal from the hearth as he spoke
"Tll chalk out the old lady on the closet door,
Load the pistols--it's about twelve PAGES from
the other side of the room-and well put more
balls into the old feminine, than she puts pep
per-corns into her mock turtle SOUP
a general yell of approval greeted this novel
proposition, amid which Tom gravely proceeded
Ito sketch what he called remarkably correct
portrait of the mistress of the house; and Har-
nv Pierce sat to work to load the pistols. When
Harry had finished, he claimed first shot for his
Mains, which Tom claimed for the same reason,
insisting that as he had set up the wind -mil, he
ought to tilt at it. A mock alteration followed,
which was finally settled by. toss up, which
Harry won. He grasped the pistol accordingly
and fired.
A noise of something followed, The concus-
sion had disturbed the body, which, in falling
had struck side shelf, and overturned some
books. We all started. Needham,, however
did not notice it, and presenting his pistol, fired
again, but entirely too low, exclainipg when he
saw the result, There's ball in her ladyship's
calf, BY JUPITER ,-i5ss o.. -,
!. Harry turned to me as white as ashes, and
said: .rsii. II 3f. -5 sa.E
"Did you hear anything" sa e.rf-
Il did, l replied, {" the, ball from your pts
: toll, and be hanged to you, has upset some of ny
books, suppose" sd 5.r r-r-, estsea 81
I" oh, my Godr' exclaimed Harry, hay'
a terrible preseniment. Suppose my brother
: should have hid himself in the closet" And
. he sank down on the chair as he spoke W.
. gathered round him, and Tom Heedham burs
: into ct of laughter. -s) lir--. g
sUpon my soul,'' said he, you are wors'
than the bakers daughter" Here he cried, Ii
a souesking tone, aft were to be married
# and were to have little baby. and il were =
}. come here and to get into the oven and be burn
: ed to death-boo-bco" Then resuming m
!, natural tone, he exclaimed, r You are the mos
:, ridiculous fools, the whole of you, ever saw
0 Have YOU any brandy in your den7 must hav'
!. little to revive me, after this scene. YOU
i better give Harry some. Lord knows he need
IT,"
G NV heart threbbed with strange delight
L The web Of my difficulties was being rapid
: anraveled-my escape was almost certain; bu
d what II they should discover the fracture,
e walked boldly forward to the closet and placini
e my hand on the catch-knOb, said; " In orde
1t to dissipats your doubts. win open the mystic
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