The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-10-02
/ What other idea could occur to him 7

hooked one OF the lanterns. w hen he had
t in his hand he did not dare to advance. and
remained full minute trembling in his place.
Ut last he presented his lantern at the door,
and stifed cry ESCAPED from his breast He
Tell upon his knees in the melting snow.
..Towah - he said. while livid pallor
spread itself over his features.
lie saw the four Bandits piled up, the one
upon the other. all ha, ing the same wound,
large and deep. separatingthe windpipe. They
had died without uttering single cry.
Their heads, which We're hanging over. were
bloody AID completely naked. Somebody had
taken off their scalps.
NJ Benot knew too well the custom of the
red skins not to recognize here the hand OF
Towah the Pawnee
But there was something superhuman III
the fact that four men with their threats cut.
me after the other. without the death of the
first being known to the second. and the strug
gIes Of the second not awakening the third,
and the agony OF the third not opening the
eyes of the last one!
-Four blows. sure terrible, all alike!
Benoit felt cold perspiration all over him.
He looked around with terror. fearing the tat
tooed face OF the savage would show itself to
him somewhere in the darkness. But he was
alone.
Four men had died by Towah's hand, in
the open street. under the balcony Of the Ho-
rel de- Rivas in the midst Of carriages sta
toned there for the guests of the fete!
He was alone His cold and benumed hand
sought for the pistol which was in his BOSOM
but he had no faith either in himself or III
his weapon The silence was uubroken save
by the noise OF the wind Visiting through
the leahess branches OF the trees and the
monotonous murmur of the water rolling
through the cutters.
Benoit let 90 his pistol, and took the key
of his house. The door was only two steps
behind him, but it seemed to MIN that he
could 10, turn round and open it.
The frenzy Of fear seized him. The dark
ness seemed to him full OF pfantons. He
said to himself. If l were once on the other
side of tie closed door would be saved"
Heather that he was he mechanically in
vnked the aid Of Heaven. 10 pass that
door he vowed that be would give one fourth
Of his crowns.
The key grated in the lock, which he found
Notwithstanding the trembling of his hands
The door turned upon its hinges and he re
closed it violently. Then his hair stood on
end, because lie could see nothing for he had
left the lantern on the other side Of the door.
Benoit felt his terror rednuble.
Grinder v he called timidly; and the
sound of his own voice frightened him.
Grinder did not answer the call He heard
no noise in the adjoining chamber, although
a bright light came through the key hole. :
"Grinder!' repeated Benoit, in distress
Tho there!"
Nothing! Benoit made bold to put his
eye to the key hole. A large fire was burn
my upon the heai,hstone. A lamp was on
The table in the midst OF BOTTLES with broken
nccks and halt empty glasses.
..Ah,' said Benoit little terminated by
the anger which such IL sight created, 1.-The
wretches have broken ope:l my wine cellar"
lie opened the door roughly, but there was no
Que i'll the chamber, and the place was full OF
the remains Of a drunken orge
But Benoit noticed only one thing-his
disoldertd bed. and by the bedside yawning
hole in the wal. Clasping his breast he re
COliCu LID CtCS S'5CluCu dDOut StdIliHS IIOUl
their sockets lie uttered L huarsc howl He
Was no longer afraid
"My money! he cried with groan, "my
money! And he tel upon a seat. The
tears ran down his check.
And it was [. p he SAID Il who introduced
them into my house y
Suddenly he rose like a mailman. He wish
ed to rush in pursuit and singly attack them
all four. lie felt himself strong as IA lion.-
But at the first step which he made with his
pistol in hand, his foot struck against life
.ess and heavy object under the table, and he
lcll
The light Of the firepl,ce made objects Wis
ible under the table and Beuot. paralzed
with establishment. did not rise. His money
was there. all heaped up!
-Four dead bodieS rested their naked heads
upon this golden pillow!
Bcnoit had stumbled over the legs Of the
Grinder!
They had not been killed there, for their
clio; hes We're soicd with mud.
Benoit had placed the bandits in ambush
in thicker, t" surprise Towah at the moment
when he should scale the wall Of the garden
from he direction o. St Juhn street. and the
Grinder and his companions had died at their
posts. They had been dragged to the house
after they were dead.
All four had been killed by the same sort
of wound. rendering all cutlery impossible
the same sort Of wound which had killed the
Jour men in the landau.
Bennit Looked at his money The light Ct
the fire threw Il shade upon the group formed
by the four bodies. Meanwhile he had heard
no noise.
Before he had time to turn round a cord
was wrapped around his throat! He uttered
IL pl,intlve aud feeble cry. Towah was stand
my before him, sonbre and grand, like a Wis
ion Of Vengeance!
Benoit whose hand: were free, casped them
aud begged for mercy T"wah said:
.Towah killed his wife Lille, whom he low
ed" He then tied Benoit's hands and legs
He went oct to the street door -FOUR tunes
Each time ON his return. he brought upon
his shoulders one OF the dead bodies from he
landau He deposited them among the 9th
ers in the manner OF star with eight points.
the center of which was the pile of gold.
This done he took Ratchet down from
the wall and cut in pieces the table, the chairs.
the bed the other furniture-;ll, III fact that
the room contained.