The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1866-11-22

~ o AZ 0i' HouI VI 30 became
annoyed by a restless desire to escap.
from some sound, Of what kind I hard
'y distinguished, and which at first
thought must be tho wind whistline
through some crevice or kcyholo. A.
the night advanced the house seemed
TO- become lonely. The curious sound
became more distinct, and evidently
= came from the outside. I throw up
I the window to listen, and then found
| that the dismalest Of all sounds, the
vail of a dog, proceeded from the closed
and dark No. 80; smothered wall, as
though the animal was shut into some
room. With an impatient exclamation
| again resumed my reading. But
felt worried. Why should people keep
bowling dogs to be nuisaace to their
neishbors? It really seemed as if
should never get through the brief Of
Box VS.: Cox, case Of disputed joint
tenancy. Then luminous idea cross
ed my brain. would smoke half a
cigar on the stoop, and thus: fresben
myself up. Two minutes later l was
standing by my open front door, all the
better for the cool night oir Still the
dog howled, and in more dismal man
ner than ever: began to form theo-
RIGS as to the cause, and by the time I
had traced the sound OF the policeman s
heavy tread from half dozen blocks
off till it reached me, I had made up
n'y mind to- say a word Or two on the
matter. ."Oh, it's you, Peters," said l
as [ recognized the officer, sergeant
WHOM knew: very we'll. "Anything
newt" i; !
"Nothing in our line," he replied
| ''You are working late, as usual, sir.''
EYES," I said. ''But I am horribly
disturbed by dog that seems shut in
over the way"
"Dog seems in trouble, don't he ?"
Said Peters.
"House always shut up-qucer peo-
ple; old woman and girl live there by
themselves"
"Just 10, French, I believe"
eyes. I don't know, but, Peters, I
can't help thinking there's something
unusual that makes that dog SO uneasy"
Peter merely replied, "Shouldn't
wonder;" and then slowly sauntered
across the street, swinging his club by
its string He looked at the windows
and tried those within reach, and then,
mounting the steps, the door. To my
surprise, he instantly knocked loudly at
the latter with his club, and then push
ed the door wide open, calling loudly to
me as he did so.
Forgetting that I had but light slip
pers on, l Immediately joined the off,
Ger. He was evidently excited and
as he pointed to the sill of the door his
hand visibly trembled. I heard him
articulate under his brearh, "What
fool was ; what an everlasting TOOL"
"What is the matter, Peters?"
':Matter enough" he answered.. "as
you will soon learn. Last night ar
rested a-well, young woman, who
was lettering in very suspicious man
ner about this house. Her business she
would not explain, and her whole ap-
pcarance and agitated manner pointed
to something unusual. She wore
black dress Of some wooden stuff, and
the right arm of it was half torn away.
Her hand bore marks of blood. We
kept her few minutes, but there was
no real evidence to justify OBTAINING
her, so she was let out. Now look on
that step; there's blood. And look
here on the floor is piece of black
stuff suddenly torn from dress sleeve"
"What of it-at all events let US find
out something more. Stay-I will get
a light" said |.
So I returned to my own house, and
hastily dragging on my boots and seis-
ing my bat, lantcr" that ] used to
look to the house fastenings before 60
ing to bed, and small but efficient re-
volver, rejoined Peters. He had mean
while, been rejoined by the patrolman
on the beat, whom Peters desiredtv re-
main outside No. 80, and if we whistled
to rap for help.'' ...!
| Cautiously stepping into the narrow
| passage, we nearly closed the door be-
hind us, and began our search, There
were two rooms on the first floor, and
We looked over them thoroughly. Next
the basement, also Of two rooms. But
in neither Of the four was there any un-
usual appearance Of any kind. And
then VIC resolved to 60 up stairs.
an not nervous man, I think, but
there was something about those stairs
that made me feel strange. looked
Peters in the face, and lie me, as VIC
placed our feet on the FIRST step. We
both knew that some horror was in store
for US, I saw in his eyes the strange
dilation with which men gaze at sud.
den accident. And the: dog too, heard
US, tor, it began to yell frantically and
to spring at a door as if it would tear it
down: We both knew that the room
in which the dog was-a small bed
room-must contain something But
We searched all the upper portion Of the
house before that room. AT last we
stood before its closed an1 apparently
locked door. -. .......f
| "Shall we knock ?" said l.. ..,z :,
! "No matter aud less HARM" he an