The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-01-28

i the streets with more than his usual frenzy
Of conduct; insulting all, threatening all,
i tiously displaying the pistol belted about
: his waist. In those times such sights were
$ not unusual, and in the absence Of public
Q regulations, none esteemed it their duty to
q interfere with the desperado, 80 that he was
2 left to wander in undisturbed freedom. At
Z last, tired out with whooping and bowling,
n sought the still da, kness Of the home, which,
humble as it was, he could only defle by
, bis presence, and as nothing more was
!, beard of him, it was presumed that he sank
a into the deep sleep Of drunkenness.
Next morning, which dawned bright
and sunny day Of spring, while the majority
of the villagers were partaking Of their
e early breakfast, there rang out, sharp and
4 quick on the still air, two shots in rapid
Y succession. 1t was not an uncommon sound,
: but in less than IN oment, how, none could
t have told, the rumor spread that they let
9 out a human life, and in On equally incom.
[prehensive manner numerous footsteps
turned toward Ross house, where every one
knc he lay dead.
9 Among the first to arrive, found Ross
{ fallen in a heap at the bedside, as though he
had staggered to it after being shot, and
= at the same instant saw some one pick up q
pistol lying in the middle Of the floor, and
: heard them exclaim, in surprise, "Perciyal's
. pistol, by the powers !"
glance showed me it was one of q very
+ fine pair l had often handled ut his room,
and which bore his name on silver plate on
l the handle.
] felt overcome by agitation, for, knowing
| what did, did not doubt the truth of the
!, thought which seemed to rise to all, that
Percival was the murderer. Fearful of
? committing myself, or compromising him,
walked into tho next room to endeavor to
| regain my composare.
The shutters were still closed, and the
/ room in comparative shadow.
} Walking u hasty turn or two, my ear
caught sobbing moan, and with quick ened
attention may eye bacame conscious Of the
, movement Of a white object crouched in the
:. darkest corner.
To spring to it required but an instant,
, and then raised in my arms a raving,
, gibbering maniac, the dreadful wreck of all
chat had once constituted woman of the
: finest type.
"Dead at last" she said, with horrible
laugh that froze my blood. .sDead at last
killed, kiledr' wreathing her slender
r fingers, Enthusiastically through the heavy locks
, Of her black hair.
'Did you know he struck his own death
signal?" she asked, quickly, with the sharp,
penetrating look which is so often seen in
insanity. "Did you know he was warned?"
| "Poor thing, ou rave" half murmured,
| as gently attempted to lay her on rude
' couch standing at one side Of the room.
0 ''Who said loved Percival ?" she ques-
toned, showing me roughly aside and strug-
| CLING to rise. "Let me see-let me see,"
sinking her brow in the palm of her hand
meditatively. "'Twas not my own heart,
for trampled it in the dust, if it dared but
. whisper as much. Some one--some one
! but he's dead, he's dead-killed, killed."
] And that was the burden of ever thought
8 ':Do you know where he struck his death
8 Knell Here-here 70 And tearing the
! white wrapper from the swan-like neck and
breast, which rivalled its whiteness, she dis
closed dark, purplish red spot, evidently
? the result Of blow.
There was the cause, but who did the deed?
' ... CHAPTER III.
. The crowd soon overran every part Of the
premises, but seeing the piteous state to
: which Mrs. Ross was reduced, had the deli
: cacy TO vacate the room wherein had
found her, and where, after sending mes
senge! for female assistance, which soon
arrived, left her. The crimson glow of
fever on her face, the lurid glances Of her
eyes, the wild gesticulaticns, the muttered
and sometimes half. shrieked CALCULATIONS,
betokened her craZed state too well for her
words to be listened to by any save as raw
| ;pr of pI rhora Jatb cd
and yet, to me, holding the slight clue did,
' they had fearful significance.
I Conviction seemed to rest on every mind
! that Percival was the murderer, and the
r desire that he should be apprehended was
t openly expressed. The greater part of the
crowd soon left with the sheriff, who had
t arrived at the scene Of the occurrence, to
witness or assist in the arrest OF the supposed
9 criminal, had he not fled.
Contrary to general surmise he was found
at his Office, pale and agitated, though,
when the sheriff Informed him of his mis-
sion he manifested much surprise, and
seemed on the point of demonstrating and
disclaiming: but, as if Influenced by some
after thought, accompanied him without a
word.
As the day wore on, popular feeling rose
high against Percival, and whereas if he
had shot Ross down in the street, no one
= would have given it a thought, except to
rejoice at being rid of this desperate, now
they called him murderer, and seemed ca
/ ger that justice should be executed on him.
e Those who had hitherto been loudest in
praise and admiration for him, denounced
: him in the most uncompromising terms !;
Q those whose interests he had most advanced,
: constantly proclaimed the fact that they had
r always lacked confidence in him, and he who
: had hoated on the high tide of popularity
t but few hours before, found himself
wrecked, and at the mercy Of that fierce
and tickle wind, called public opinion.
In the dusk of the evening, when wonld
t be most unobserved obtained an interview
r with Percival, in the rough cell of the little
0 log Jail. Listening a second to the retreat
r ing step of the person who had accompa-
, MED me to the door, he said quite calmly.
"Eustis, have not done this thing"
| "The pistol?" queried.
''Is mine, certainly. but she persuaded
, me to give it to her, on pretense that in n
: hasty moment might use it on him.
, know now-hard fate-it was for her own
] protection. a..
r There was an air of veracity about him
, which, coupled with the bruise on the
breast of Mrs. Ross, and the remembrance
5 of the vague words thnt one day she might
take vengeance in her own hands, compell-
ed me to blieeve him. s s-.g
: "How is she?" he questioned eagerly.
, "Do not ask" replied.
7 s'l must see her once more, at least"
r "Would you escape were means provided?
"Yes, for am innocent, but could not
prove it without inculpating, at least, arous.
ing suspicion in connection with her, and
( that would not do for life, no, nor for eter.
, nityr" ss s =. .r s...a -s... .
: tMoney can do much,"I replied, not
> thinking it necessary to tell him in short
time she would be beyond the power Of
, earthly tribunals. r5" - *s#..s
"Use it, then, without stint" fl.
did so. There were few men in that
r community who did not have their price,,
5 and perhaps the Same state Of affairs may
4 exist, very generally at the present time;
: but let that be as it may, by midnight had
3 so arranged that Percival was freed from
. bis -. \ Gaat borSa sto pl;p,. eold1,J