Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-02-15

'iJ -hi .. oouAsOll udu prepared ever
thlng ready for tea when the farmer shoul
: return from D. market and was now gon
up stairs to 'cleah" herself
had time to make all these observation
: over Charles shoulder, before he gave
sudden start and strode with a low excla
e nation to bundle of clothes which Law a
r the further and darker side of the kitchen
on the smooth stone floor A bundle O
clothes it looked like, with Jip lying asleel
beside 1t IN very strange attitude
shall never forget the horror of the
next moment. Huddled up, evidently il
the attitude in which she had fallen, lay
Mrs. johnson, with gaping wound across
her throat, from which the blood was still
trckllng, and Jip, with a large pool OF
blood near his head, lay dead beside her
stood for moment, too, paralyzed with
horor-such intense thrilling horror, that
only any one who has experienced such a
feeling can understand it--and then, with
a low scream, | sank on the floor, and put
up my hand to try and hide the horrible
sight.
Hush !" whispered Charlie, sternly, tax
ing hold of my hands, and forcibly dragg-
ing me on to my feet again !; "you mustn't
make sound. Whoever has done this
can't be far off; you must run home, Cissy,
as hard as you can. Come I"
He dragged me to the door, and then |
turned sick all over, and tumbled down
again. | felt as if could not stir another
| step.
" It's no use, Charlie, l can't STIR" said.
Leave me and go without me-"
Nonsense Try again"
| tried again, but it was no use :: nv legs
positively would not move, and precious
time was being wasted
You fool !" Charlie said bitterly and
passionately. How was boy of fifteen to
understand a woman's weakness? Then
must leave you. It's Johnson's money
they no doubt want They wouldn't muir
der if they could help it, and and Johnson
will be back directly"
Yes, yes. Go" said, understanding
that he wanted to fetch help before the far
mer came will hide somewhere"
" In the kennel there" he said looking
round quickly "and don't stir"
He pushed me into poor murdered Jp's
kennel, 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 muir
derers close at hand
| combated the faint feeling which Char
lie could not understand by pinching my
arms and sticking pins into them, and after
a little judicious torture of this sort, tie
sick feeling went off, and could think
again. al will take off my boots"
thought, after moment "They make
such a noise, and | may have to move" for
already a glimmering plan had rushed
across my brain Of how might warn John
son. So | rose little from my crouching
position, unlaced them, and slipped them
off. | 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 an
other minute three men came out of the
back door, and l could distinctly hear every
word of their conversation.
He's late, think" said one "If he |
doesn't come soon, we must go that gill
will be home soon, heard the old woman
tell her not to stop"
What's it signify 2" said another. 1--WE
can soon stop her mouth"
1t isn't worth SO much blood, Dick"
said the third We've only got fifty
pound by this, and the farmer'll not have
more"
He ought to be coming by now," said
the first, anxiou>ly, coming a step or two
nearer the kennel. Halo What is
that ?"
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 muff tried to stop the
hard, quick humping Of my heart, which |
felt certain they must hear, and then, as if
fascinated i raised my head from my knees, |
for till that moment had been crouching at |
the furthest end of the kennel, and saw a |
hairy, fierce-looking face glaring in at the
entrance Of my hiding-place | tried hard |
other moment | should have tainted if the |
face had not been taken away. To my ut
ter astonishment, as the face Disappeared |
its owner said
81 thought some one might be hiding |
That's lady's trumpery. What can it
mean 2"
Evidently had not been seen, thanks to
my dark dress and the gathering twilight. |
| breathed freely now unless something
very unforeseen occurred, was safe
Some one has been, and has dropped
it," voice said quickly "That's all on
account of your cursed foolery, Dick" it !
went on angriIy. "Why couldn't you stop
at the door, as | told your"
Well, let's do something now," the |
third d.said, anxiously "or we shall be hav-
ing some one here"
The three men then went back into the |
house again, and could hear them speak
ing in low tones presently the voices
grew louder, and they were evidently quar-
reling. In another minute they came out :
again, and from what | could hear, they |
began to search in the farm-buildings and |
out-houses for the owner of the muff.
"There's no one hear" at last one called |
out. "They must have gone away again.
Go to the gate, Bill, and see if any body is
coming that way"
After a moment, Bill..returned to the other |
two, who were now standing talking in
low whispers at the back of the kennel, and /,
said
"Ne, there's no one coming" And my
heart sank as | thought how long it would |
be before succor could arrive
The fellows late" one of the others
said, after a minute or two "but we had |