Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-11-09
FIFTY cLNTs IN ADVANCE.
VOLUME 27, NO 81.

another victim was to fall so easily into his
trap.
4" You are determined on this step. per-
ceiyc."M Berrett remarked. after he had
gone. Well. will not attempt TO dis
suade yon, since | know you cannot be
moved, but promise you, should you be
missing in the morning, will burn this old
rook,ry to the ground, and baDg the VIII
liinou, Innkecper upon his sign post, as
surely a. ! shall myself live ill then :"
Take whavever steps you please when
you find mo missing, NJ. Berrctt-until
then. leave the matter in my hands. Bat
there Is one material service which you mnst
not fail to render me. You will. II you
please, conceal yourself, with two or threO
trusiy men, in the room next TO this, which
| occupied last night, and there await my
signal. When you hear from me you will
instantly rush in and assist me TO secure
whoever you may fnd."
These arrangements were at tho proper
moment put fully into operation. As even.
,ng drew on. saw that the sub.agsnt and
his men wero properly seerctol, and frs. en-
joinins vigilance upon them, ! entered tho
mysterious and fatal guest chamber The
lamp which carried served to reveal every
part Of It, and I quickly became aware tha.
there was nothing unusual about tho az
polranco Of the room. IL was very much
such bed chamber ~ nigh. be met with
in almost eyory village inn. Nevertheless,
I resolved to put no faith in appearances,
and Immediately commenceia systematic
examination searched eyerywhere--un.
der the bed. IN the closet. and behind the
window eurtains-bu, my search revealed
nothing. was certain that no one was
concealed in the room. and there as esriain-
" seemed no place for ingress save the door.
was beginning TO become anxious. ! re-
hected that the danger nigh, come upon mo
unexpectedly and from an unsuspcctsd
source | at down, aud for half an hour
wailei--waitcd IN restless expectancy for
the appearance of the assassin, but still |
waited in vain. Looking at my watch, I
perceived that il was nearly midnight. My
accustomed vigil had woaried me. and plac-
ng mypistols beneath the pillow, laid
down on tho bed without removing my
clothes. was not long in discovering that
the bed was " somewhat singular construc-
iion-tho formation Of the top being rather
conca,c than otherwise, and - adjusted that
the occupan, could not possibly res. in it
any other way than upon his back, In tho
middle.
Upon hb Bltl' That seemed rather SIM
sular discovery to make just at that mo-
meu,. Had not every one OF tho murdered
men been stabbed through tho baek7 Yes
and each Of them mus, have received his
death wound while lying in thi, very bed,
ju.t ~ l.
Clok-CGd-ChkI
Three sharp. distinct sounds, apparently
near at hand. interrupted my reflections.
knew their meaning in an in,iant-those
sounds needed M Interpretation rose
quickly ami silently. ani "Iiing my pistol,
awaited the next movem mt Of tho unseen
a..a.sins. Click-Click-.,hat noise ag1ia.
AMI now Ike the crcakins of hins' NeI;
there W.. shuilling sound which made mo
aware that there was man beneath ths
bed-inI the next ns,an. saw tho blaic
Of dagger driven through the thin mat
tras., in the very place where had been
lying gave low groan, which was an
.wcrcd by a chucklo from beneath the bed.
"An easy death! Now for the 'Poils"
heard the same voice ay and a, the samo
instant the head and shoulders Of tho inn.
keeper were thrust out from the bed hang
Ing. Covering him with the murllc OF ono
Of my pistols, sad
Come forth, sir. aud deliver yourself
up! Your innocen; rues. is no other than
a detective officer! Don'stry 70 escAPs-I
shalt certainly fire il you do7
But be did try, and .peoiily sent pi'-
tol ball after him. The report was succeed
ed by deep groan, anl instantly NJ. Ber-
rot and his assistants rushed in. 4 hasty
sear.h was sufficient TO discover the land
lord under the bed wolIerins in his blood,
and the hosiler was seized before he had an
opportunity to close tho secret panel in tho
wall through which 10 endeavored to e.
cape.
This panel, as short search disclosed to
us. opened directly into hollow partition,
which communicated with lower room.
By means Of this strange conirivanee' tho
a.sa.sins had always been able 70 enter this
particular chan bcr. at any timo-lnd once
through the panel without having disturbed
the un.uspecting sleeper, their work was
easily done. The bed was, as have said,
constructed IN such manner that sleep
er could maintain only one position in it--s
hole had Teen worn for the passage OF tho
dagger. and single powerful thrust had
been in every instance enough to transhx
the heart OF the victim. After riding the
body Of everything valuable, the murderers
were accustomed to carry IL out in tho
darknes. Of the night and leave IL on ono
Of the public streets OF the town. And 90
adroi,ly had thi. game been played that no
shadow Of suspicion had rested on the real
criminals. The innkecper recovered from
the wound which gave him, but 1t was
only together with hi, partner in guilt tho
ho.,ler-,o receive one Of much more Sc
t.,.- fan, ,ha hands Of the pub-