The weekly Butte record., 1866-04-21

which showed that CO the table the tea-things
we're set fos tea the kettle was Kissing away
merrily, and some tea cakes stood to keep
warm on low stand before the FIRE. Every
thing looked snug and cozy. Evidently Mrs.
Johnson had prepared everything ready for tea
when the farmer shonld return from d market;
and was now gone up stair. to CLEAN herself.
/ had time To make these observations over
Charles shoulder, before be gave a sudden
start, and strobe with . low exclamation to o
bundle of clothes which lay at the further and
darker side Of the kitchea. on the smooth stone
foor A bundle of clothes it looked like, With
Jip lying asleep beside it in very strange at
titude
/ shall never forget the horror Of the next
moment HuddIed up, evidently in the atti-
tude in which she had fallen, lay Mrs. John
son, with gaping wound across her throat,
from which the blood was still trckug, and
Jip, with large pool of blood Dear bis head,
lay dead beside her. st
| stood for moment, too paralyzed with
horror-such intense, thrilling horror, that
only any one who has experienced such feel
ing can understand it-and then, with low
scream, sank on the floor. and put up my
hand to try and hide the horrible sight.
Hush !" whispered Charlie, sternly, taking
hold of my hands. and forcibly dragging me
on to my feet again; "you mustn't make a
sound. Whoever has done this can't be far
off you must run home. Cissy, as hard as ever
you can. Come y
He dragged me to the door, and then l
turned sick all over, and tumbled down again.
felt as if could not stir another step.
Its 90 use, Charlie, can't STIR" l said.
Leave me aud go without me-
Nonsense! Try again.
| tried again but it was no use my legs
positively would not move, and precious time
was being wasted.
You fool p Charlie said, bitterly aud pas
sionately. How was boy of fifteen to under
stand a woman's weakness? "Then l must
| lt0Nc yOu ~ oouuSoh AOuey .dSy ny
doubt want They wouldn't murder if they
could help it, and johnson will be back d.
rec,ly."
Yes yes. Co. said, understanding that
he wanted to fetch help before the farmer
came. | will hide somewhere"
In the kennel there" he said, looking
round quickly land don't STIR"
He pushed me into poor murdered Jip's ken
mel, and then he disappeared, and | was left
alone in the gathering darkness with those two
PROSTATE forms on the kitchen floor as my
company. and perhaps the murderers close at
| hand
combatted the faint feeling which Charlie
could not understand by pinching my arms
aud sticking pins into them, and after little
judcious torture of this sort, the sick feeling
went off aud could think again. Il will take
off my boots" thought, after moment; they
make such noise, and l may have to move, ;"
for already glmmering plan had rushed
across my brain of how might warn johnson.
So rose a little from my crouching position.
uulaced them and slipped them off. l had
barely done this when | heard the sound Of
voices, and the sick trembling feeling came on
so strongly, that the pin torture had to be
again applied. In another minute three men
came out of the back door, and | could dis
tiuctly hear every word of their conversation.
Hes late, think, said oue IT he dosent
come soon, we must go; that grill be home
soon. heard the old woman tell her not to
stop
What's it signify ?" said another. ave
can soon stop her mouth"
| 1T isn't worth so much blood Dick" said
the third We've only got fifty pound by
this, aud the farmer'll not have any more"
He ought to be coming now, said the first :,
anxously, coming step or two nearer the
kennel.
| "Hallo, What's that's"
The tone made ME turn sick again. Had
Charlie found help already? No. The three
men were standing close TO the kennel, and
during the moments silence that followed the
mans exclamation remembered that had
dropped my muf. tried to stop the hard,
I quick humping Of my heart, which felt Ger
! tain they must hear. and then, as if fascinated
raised my head from my knees-for til that
moment had been crouching at the furthest
end of the kennel-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 another moment | should
have tainted if the face bad not been taken
away. To my utter amazemsnt, as the face
disappeared, its owner said
Il thought some one might be hiding
That's a lady's irumpery. What can it
mean2'
Evidently had not been seen, thanks to my
dark dress and the gathering twilight. l
breathed freely new unless something very
unforeseen occurred was safe.
"Some one has been here, and dropped it,
voice said, quickly. That's all on account
of your cursed foolery, Dick, i, went Oh angri-
ly. "Why couldn't you stop at the door, as