Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-04-13


ed 10 silencing his objections, IL not 10 salts.
flying his scrupples
"You have, believe" then replied, "a
considerable amount OF money with you"
Yes, Non Dieu! had this rascally land.
lord known it last night, might now be as
cold as poor Lemare Can it answer you
any purpose ?'
"A very important one. Lend me your
Still holding it in my hand, I descended
the stairs, the sub.ageut closely following
me. The innkeeper was sitting behind his
bar, seemingly half asleep aud half awake,
but the instant he saw the pocket book bis
dull eyes lighted up with an eager CLEAN,
aud be watched my motions with strict atten
tion.
1.-The amount is correct,"1 said aloud to
NJ. Berret. 1.-TWO thousand francs--this,
then, discharges the debt" Then walking
up to the bar said to the innkeeper THE
goom which you have given me does not suit
me in the lenst--have you not o larger one
where can lodge ?"
Yes, Monsieur" the man replied, with
remarkable alacrity; II should have spoken
1t myself There is large, peasan. chambe
next the one in which you slept last uight-
DO me the favor to occopy it as long as you
please"
"I ou bad better decline before il is too
late" Nj. Berret whispered 10 my ear. 81
Tear you VIII not occupy it fot more than one
night. III you do, you will accomplish what
10 person has yet done"
SHOW me the ROOM" l calmly replied,
paying no attention TO the anxious whispers
of the sub. agent
There seemed nothing remarkable about
the room when be had frst entered it. 1t
was trlfle larger than the other chambers of
the house, and the furniture was of more
antique pattern, especially the high. posted
bedstead.
IL think this will answer" | said, after
surveying the apartment and its belongings.
will you lodge here tonight then Mon.
sieur 2"
"Certoiny. The room suits me in every
particular"
1.-THE dark Drowned host had entertained
any suspicious OF my intentions, they were
certainly by this time entirely dissipated /;
and he left the room, have no doubt graft.
fed that another victim was to fall so easily
into his trap.
You are determined on this step, per.
celve," M. Berret remarked after he had
gone. "Well, l will attempt to dissuade
you since know you cannot be moved, but
promise you, should you be missing in the
morning, l will burn the old rockery 10 the
ground and hang the villainous innkeeper
upon his sgn.post, so surely as shall myself
live till then"
"Takswhatever steps you please when you
6nd me missing, M. Berret-until then leave
the matter in my hands. But there is one
material service which you must not fail to
render me. You will, if you please, conceal
yourself, with two or three trustworthy men
10 the room next TO this, which | occupied
last night and there await my signal. When
you hear from me, you will instantly rush 10
aud assist me TO secure whoever you may
find"
These arrangement were, at the proper
lime, put iully into operation. AS evening
drew on, ! saw that the sub agent and his
allies were properly secreted, and first enioin.
ing vigilance upon them, entered the mys.
terious and fatal guest chamber. The lamp
which carried served tV reveal every part ol
il, and quickly became aware that there
was nothing unusual about the appearance OF
toe room. IL was very much such a bed
chamber as might be met with in almost
every village i'm. Nevertheless | resolved
TO put no iaith IN appearances and immedi.
ateiy commenced systematic examination
! searched everywhere-uud the bed, in a
closet and behind the window curtaius-but
my search revealed nothing. i was certain
that no one was concealed in the room, and
there seemed TO be no other place Of ngress
save the door. was beginning to .become
anxious. reflected that the danger might
come upon me unexpectedly, and from on
unexpected source. ] sat down, and for an
hour waited-waited in restless expectancy
tor the appearance Of the assassin-but still
] waited IN vain. Looking at my watch,
perceived that it was nearly midnight. Ny
unsccustomed vigil had wearied me, aud
piaclng my pistols beneath the pillow, lay
down upon the bed without removing nv
clothes. was not long in discovering that
this bed was of somewhat singular construc.
tlon-the formation of the top being rather
concave than otherwise, and so adjusted tha,
the occupant could not possibly rest in 1t any
other way than upon his back 10 the middle
Upon has back That seemed rather a
singular discovery to make just at that mo
ment. Had not every one OF the murdered
men been stabbed through the back? Yes
-and each one of them must have received
his death wound while be was lying 10 thi.
very bed just as l.
lIck-click-click!
Three sharp; distinct sounds apparently clost
at hand, interrupted my reflections. knew ,hei
: meaning in all insiant-thess sounds needed nj
Interpreter. | arose quickly and silently, anl
gTssping my pistols, awaiting the next movemen
OF the unseen assassin. Clck-cck. Tha
Y noise again, and now like the creaking of ,
I hinge. Nextthere was a shutting sound, whici
D made me aware that there was a man beneatl
: the bed, and the next instant ] saw the blade o
D a dagger driven up through the mattress, in th,
very place where | had been lying gave ,
Z low groan, which was answered by O chuckl,
7 from beneath the bed.
IAN easy death! Now for the spoils," hear
/ the same voice say. Al the instant the head an,
0 shoulders of the inn keeper thrust out iron
Q the bed hangings. Covering him with the muz
4 zle of one of my pistols, | said:
"Come forIh sir, and deliver yourself up =
1 Your innocent guest is no other than a detectiv
othcer! Don't attempt to escaPe-l shall Ger
{? tainly fire ifyou do"
!. But he did try, and | speedily sent a p;sto
ball after him. The report was succeeded by
deep groan, and instantly NJ. Benet and hi
' assistants rushed in. A hasty search was suili
y cient to discover the landlord under the bed
= wetering in his blood. and the hostler wa
J seized before he had an opportunity to close tn
l secret panel in The wall, through which b
Q attempted to escape.
. This panel, as short search disclosed to Us
J opened directly into a hollow partition, whic
. communicated with lower room. BY means
0 this contrivance, the assassins had always bee
able TO enter this particular chamber at any time
o and once through the panel without disIurbin
B. the unsuspectng sleeper, their work was easil
l.. I l. III