The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-03-09

tlon IN MS voice as he spoke. The VII
lain evidently was proud OF his work.
A strange impulse impelled me to go
on. 'E'....
How | asked, trying to put the
question mildly, "hov did yon dispose
of him ? How did you force him to
render up his last breath?
He hesitatei for moment, and then,
without speaking, initiated the motion
of knocking down man with club ;
and then, with horrible suggestiveness,
drew his hand across his throat.
l began to feel faint. He had knock
ed his unfortunate victim on the head
with a club, or some heavy instrument,
and then cut his throat. Horror Of
horrors! Could such things be in this,
the civilized nineteenth century? He
saw my looks of aversion and rose to
60
Remember" he said threateningly,
mot word Of this, Sprouts, or perhaps
you-"
He frowned darkly, menacingly, and
was gone.
Perhaps What did he mean =?
That l, perhaps, might be the next
victim?
began to feel that my duty was
without doubt, to Immediately lodge
information against him. The only
obstacle was that ! didn't know his
name or residence What was to do ?
While in this dilemma, an old custom
err Mr.. Strants, entered.
Strants was cool, shrewd sort OF a
fellow and so | determined to ask his
advice. did so. told him the story.
He looked surprised and incredulous :;
thought was joking at first. but soon
convinced him that ! was in earnest
Then looked serious.
What am | to do, Strants? ]
asked.
Him r said he, rejecting, that
hard to say. You say he is Il rough,
burIy fellow
Very" said /, "and extremely viii
demonstrating.
"Then, said Strants, we could
hardly hope to secure him, and hand
him over to the police
said | would rather not try it.
"Then when he comes again. said
Strants When will that be-?
Next Wednesday, probably.
II will be here, said Strants, land
when ne goes ont ! will trace him TO his
house.
Good said !, pleased with the plan.
The next Wednesday Strants was ut
my shop He sat at the window, look
ing ont, and | sat beside him.
Presently saw my strange customer
approaching.
Here he comes said nervously.
Where p asked Strants.
There said |, pointing.
"That!' exclaimed Strants. You
must be mistaken; that is
Just then my strange customer en-
tered my shop.
"How are you, .StrantS?'' said he, nod
ding.
"Good morning" said Strants, az
fably.
Nv customer turned to me and whis-
pered:
To-day, killed another
"Anotherr | shrieked.
Yes" he said tiercely; "a young
female.
"a child | exclaimed, shuddering
You have murdered a poor innocent
child! 0, this is too much You hear
him confess his foul crimes, Strants.
Assist me, Strants, and we Il secure TIE
ruffianly assassin.
Come, come, said he, remonstrant-
inglv, that's rather a hard word to call
man for just working at his trade
"You hear, Strants, said !, che adj
mits that to be his trade. How many
he has slaughtered no one knows
80, yes said he, 81 know, keep a
regular count. Nearly four hundred
during this year.
-Four hundred " ] screamed with
wild horror.
but, Sprouts" said Strants, smiling
You don't understandable. Colgan isa
butcher
II know it," said ] "the wretch :!
"And he only kills COWS and sheep,
said Strants, laughing. You have
made mistake
Cows and sheep" | repeated, wond-
eringly.
"Of course" said Mr. Colgan. why,
what did you suppose killed-men 2
sank back into my chair, and ! be-
lieve | swooned; at any rate, was laid
up for several weeks The disappoint-
ment was so great. And then the story
got wind, and all the boys congregate in
front of my shop nearly every day, and
60 through the pamtomime ofknocking
each other on the head, and then cut
ting each others, threats, winding up
with grand howl: Blood | think
I'll move out of the neighborhood.