Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-11-06

the gloom of the chamber he could moi
perceive me; and finding the light ex.
tingushed, Isuppose he thought / was in
bed, for be closed the door very softly
and descended the stairs again.
1 was now worked up TO the highest
pitch of excitement / felt certain thai
something was going to happen. re.
membered my lonely sitdation-the in
quisitive questions Of the men below
There was no possible means for me to
escape, except by going through the room
in which they were seated-and such a
course 1 knew would be perfect madness
summoned up all my philosophy, and
determined TO wait the denoument, and
tried to persuade myself my fears were
groundless. But when Thought of the
significant looks that had passed between
the men when they saw my gold watch,
must confess that the effort was a fail
ure. And then the thought suddenly
struck me, if, after all, the clerk had re-
cognized me, it was certain that he would
never let me leave that place alive
Five long minutes passed away, and !
heard nothing. AT that moment light
flashed before my window I went d.
rectly to it, and saw the uncle with Ian
tern digging in the garden. / watched
him with eager eyes; be was digging a
hole about six feet long and three broad.
Good God ? / exclaimed to myself,
'he is digging my graveP
l now felt certain that the young man
had been left in the room below to pre-
vent my escape. But l determined to
satisfy myself if such were the fact or
not. Iopened the door noiselessIy, and
stole cautiously down stairs in my stock
ing feet. / glanced through the keyhole
of the door which opened into the room,
and saw that my suspicious were well
founded, for the absconding clerk sat be-
side table with a revolver a / ready
cooked within his reacK / returned to
the bedroom again.
l again took my position at the win
dow. Five minutes more Of agonizing
suspense ensued. l had nothing with
which to defend myself, and was COM
pletely at their mercy. A sudden calm.
ness now took possession of me. Isup-
pose it was the calmness of despair, but
wiIhal my faculties were perfectly clear,
and turned over hundred plans to es-
cape the doom that awaited me. All
this time l was eagerly watching the
actions Of the uncle.
The soil was very light. and he soon
succeeded in deepening the hole at least
four feet. He then threw down his
spade and entered the house again. II
expected every moment to hear them
ascending the stairs, and had made up
ny mind to sell my life as dearly as
possible, when purring sound attracted
ny attention.
l now perceived for the frst time
hat the light from the room below pen
,trated through several ehinks in the
loor. ! lay down on the ground, and
ookng through one Of the cracks, found
hat 1 could perceive everything in the
partment One of the men was sharp
ming large knife on a grindstone, and
was this that made the purring sound
bat / had heard. He felt the edge,
nd finding it sharp enough, discontn-
led his employment. They then began
0 converse. / could hear every word
hey said.
Are you certain, Charles, that it is the
etective?' said the uncle.
Perfectly certain 7 returned the clerk.
know Brampton as well as Ido you
1T is certain he must die then. | sup {
ose he has plenty OF money with him {
esides his gold watch a
Yes, he must be well provided with a
Inds, and his business here is evidently {
D arrest me-
'Come, then, let us finish the business I
t once said the uncle. IL
do you think he is asleep yet: re- |
lrned the clerk. II
No matter if be IS not, he'll sleep
'ell enough afterwards, anyhow
The clerk laughed-hideously, I thot. /
'Will you do it, or shall ~ said the I
ephew. Il
%, you may go; but be sure you make q
o mistake. Bill, you know, lies next {
le wall be has nightcap on, the de- |
,ctive has none. Leave the light out, O
de the door, for fear Of waking Bramp- c
IN; and above all, be quick about it, |
In a moment my plan was formed a
i'll was fast asleep. ] gently turned G