Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-10-26
III istrllanrou Us.
The Dead Letter.

Which direction shall I take ? a,ke]
Mr.. Burton. presently.
Ascend the narrow dclilc 10 the right },
called out his companion, pressing altcl
him. but be cautious oi your footing. \
mi,stcp may llurl vou upon the rocks be,
low. In three minutes We shall he in Il
literally, trcAding silver tloor.'
IA he spoke thus, he drew nearer, but
the path was too narrow to allow him to
take the advance. aud Mr.. Burton contil-
ucd to lead tie way.
The subtle perceptions of the detective,
a magnetism which aInountcd almost to
the marvellous, have 50 frequently rcfcrr-
ed to. that nv reader will understand how
it was that Mr. Burton, thus in the van,
and not lookng ut all at his companion,
felt u curious, prickiy sens .tion run along
his nerves. He came to the narrowc.t
part Of the dangerous path. An immense
rock reached up, n mighty wall, upon the
right, and to the left, far below the Uneven
stonv and bricr grown ledge along which
he was picking his steps. ioaned and roar
ed the torrent, over rocks which thrust
til .nlsclves here and there above the ycasty
water. Directly IN front arose an obsta-
Gle in the shape of i projection OF the rock
soiue three or four feet IN hight, covered
with tough little bushes, one uf which he
took hold OF to draw himself up by.
However, instead Of pulling hinslcf up.
as his action seemed to indicate that he
was about tn do. he turned and sraspcd
the arm of DR.. Srtzcr. His movement
Was rapid as lightning, but it was not made
Il In n
held in a clasp of steel was raised To strike,
and Spanish dirk was in the hand.
4 stealthy. murtcrous light, almost red
in its intensity. burned IN the eyes which
now sunk before his. An instant the foil
.d assassin stood surprised then com
mcncrd struggle between the two men.
DR., Selizer made desperate efforts to hurl
his amta.onis: into the torrent beneath !;
hut. though frantic with rage and hate, his
violent cxertions did not effect their OBJ
ject. On the contrary. Mr.. Burton, calm
aud self possessed, despite an instant'sa as
constituent. pressed his adversary back
ward along the narrow path until they
were both on safe ground, in the middle of
little grassy plateau, which they had late
" ,ravcrscd. where he held hm, having
dlsarmcd him of hi. knife
Who, had caused his mOmcntary aston
.h acnt Was the fact that DIR. Scitzcr knew
him and suspected his object, which truth
he instantly comprohendcd, upon turning
and rcndin. the nurdcrous eyes that met
his. Now, as he held him. he remarked {;
Another stab in the back, George Thor
ley
well, and what did yOu come here for,
you accurscd New York detective ,
Il came to persuade You to turn State s
cvi lcnce.'
What about !'-thcre was slight
change in the voice. which told, against
his will, that the adventurcr felt relieved.
Il want you to give your written and
sworn testimony as to who II was hired
YOU. for tho sum OF two thousand dollars
10 murder Mr.. MOrelamd. at Blankvillc, ON
the Eth of October, 1857
.Wln said murdered him lIumph
YOU must think I'm decidedly simple to be
coaxcd or heightened into co'nnntlng my
SELF
.Wc'T not waste words, Thorlev. !
know you. all your history. all Your bad
dce,ls-or enough of them to hang you
have n warrant Tar Your arrest III my
pocket, which brought from the States
with me. coald have brought an escort
from Acapulco, and arrested you at once
without giving YOU any chance for exPlan,a
tinn. But have my own reasons tor de-
string to keep this matter 4uict-one OF
which is that do not wish amy premature
report to alarm your accompllcc, man or
woman, whichever it is, nptil can put my
hand on the right person.
what makes you think that did it :.
no matter what makes ne mink SOL
Jont think, | kaor. have ths instru-
ment with which YOU committed the act
with your initials on tho handle. l have
the letter you wrote to your accomplicc,
claiming your reward. In short. I've proc pr%.
enough to convict You twice over. The
only hope YOU have OF any nercy from me
is in at once doing all that ask of you
Which is to give full, written statement
over your real name, OF all the cIrcuMslan-
ces which led to the murder