The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-04-06

Had Charlie found help alreadyp No.
The three men were standing close
to the kennel, and during the mo
ments silence that followed the mans
exclamation, l remembered that ]
had dropped my muf. tried to
stop the hard, quick humping of my
heart, which felt certain they must
hear, and then, as if fascinated, ]
raised my head from my knees-for
till that moment I had been crouch
ing at the fartherest end Of the ken
nel--and saw hairy, fierce looking
face glaring in at the entrance of my
hiding place. l tried hard not to
scream and succeeded but in an
other moment | should have tainted
if the face had not been withdrawn.
10 my utter amazement, as the face
disappeared, the owner said
Il thought that some one might
be hi,ing. Th0ts a lody's trum.
perry. What can it meanp'
Evidently i had not been seen
thanks to my dark dress and the gath
ering twilight. l breathed freely
now, for, unless something unforseer
occurred, was safe.
Some one has been here and drop
ped IT, voice said quickly. That's
all on account of your cursed fool
cry, Dick, it went on angrlly. Why
couldn't YOU stop at the door, as
told you 2
Wcll, let's do something now the
third said, anxiously, 'or we shall
be having some one here
The three men then went back into
the house again, and presently !
could hear them speaking in low
tones; presently the voices grew
louder, and they were evidently quar-.
reiing. In another moment they
came out, and from what could hear
they began to search in the farm
buildings and out houses 70. the own
er of the muir.
There's no one herc,' at last ont
called out. They must have gone
away again. Go to the gate, Bill
and see if anybody is coming tina
way
After a moment Bill returned t.
the other two, who were now stand
ing talking in low whispers at tn
back of the kennel, and saids IN
there's no one coming An N.
heart sank rs ! thought how lonll'
would be before succor co,ld arri
, 'Thc fellows late one of thea SAID
c after minute or two; but we ha
? better be on the watch now. Mint
+ both of you, that he's down from h
gig before he sees u.s.
4 They walked away along the lin
: of houses toward the other entranc
Q by which Mr.. johnson would come
a and /, thinking they had gone to TAX
n up their hiding places, put my hea
!, cautiously out of the mouth Of IL
d kennel and looked around.
:. Surely / could reach the hou:
= without being seen, | thought, an
J, if could reach the big ruinor
{ drawing room, which commanded
2 view of the fields the farmer wouI
u cross, might be able to warn HI
i back from the fate which awaito
G him. ] must warn him if / coult
it was too horrible that another mu
,, der should be done.
/ 1 was out of the kennel and in I'll
/, kitchen before l rccollected that
should have TO pass close TO the mu
+; dcred woman, before could ga
$ the door leading to the hall, which
must cross to gain the room. l shu
d dered as | passed the table and DIRE
l. near TO the horrible scene but
d my utter surprise and no little te
ror, Mrs. johnson had vanished I
+. dark cleaning pool OF blood and +
dead dog were still there, but I
huddled up bundle of clothes W
,; gone.
?, What have they done with itp
l. spite Of the urgent necessity the
} was for immediate action, j stot
y motionless for minute, besitatil
5 to cross the dimly.lightcd hall.
Suppose it should he there. l h;
Ot never seen death before, and Z
y thought of again seeing the de
DC woman looking so shastly and hor
bic with that great gaping across h
u throat, was ut that moment more Il
G. rible to me than the thought Of Il
ie murdercr's return.
Whilst | stood hcsitating, sha
ln nu, noec.l on.Aou fhn fret xuinIA
and looking up quickly, to my ht
,d ror | saw the three men in anotll
d, moment pass the second window.
h ! had no time for thought. In {
MS other minute they would he in I
y, kitchen. ] turned and fled down {
ut passage and across the hall, rushi
into the first open door, which hi
ch pened to he the drawing-room do
)y and instinctively halt closed it behl
MS me as / found it. Then | glanC
us wildly around the room in search
ng shelter.
- There was not q particle OF fur
ht ture in the room, and it quite emf
except some apples on the floor, q
or few empty hampers and sacks
ia the farther end. How could hit
.ht heard the footsteps crossing
tie hall. and then, as they came neal
ed with the feeling of desperation | 81
'ly noislessly across the room, laid do
of Hat behind the hampers, and, as
'ar door opened, threw an empty 5,
Or over me felt must he disco,