The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-01-31


The offer appeared to dazzle the Mex.
ican. His mouth gaped eagerly, and he
claspcd his hands in speechless suspense
"All that shall require you to do in
return for this sum-" said the other, smil.
ing wolfshly as before, I" is to forget
whatever happens here to night. Mind,
| don't affirm positively that anything will
happen; but if unforeseen circumstances
should occur-if the gentleman, my COM
panion, should meet with an accident
you are to remember nothing. From
first to last all is to be as if it had never
occurred You agree ?"
My memory has been bad one from
a child" replied the landlord; cit is in
our family, l think. My father had a
bad memory-a very bad memory, senior.
| am his son in all things The silver is
mine %
Not yet my friend" said the travel
er, tranquily. IF the senior, my friend,
should lose his life in an unhappy quar-
rel, he must have lodgings for good, and
all at your expense. You can handle a
spade, l hope?"
The worthy host smiled assent. He
had been educated to dig. His father
before him was digger. The prairie
soil was soft and free to all who chose to
occupy. No lease required no questions
asked.
" 1t is WE'LL" said the dark bearded fel-
low, in a tone of satisfaction. NV friend
shall have a life interest in the soil. We
are agreed. Now let us have our sup
per" And while it was preparing the
pair Of worthless were rejoined by the un-
suspecting object of their treachcry.
Half an hour later the travellers were
seated at rude table, discussing the mer-
its of supper, the host having left the
room In obedience to glance from his
superior. The two conversed freely of
their affairs, and listener might have
gathered that the light stranger was
MIR. Guy SOmers, and that he had an i'm
portant mission in San Antonia, namely,
the accession to handsome fortune, the
legacy Of long absent brother, who had
emigrated from the States years before,
and dying Of a virulent fever, had left
his worldly all, to his only living relative,
his brother Guy and the others name
was Hickson, avowedly a trader and citi-
zen Of Sacramento. The two had scraped
an acquaintance on the plains, and Hick-
son had improved it to such advantage
that they had agreed to finish the jour
ney together.
An hour passed in canvassing the
events of the morrow; and fatigued with
their long ride, the travellers retired
Hickson was accommodated with an ex-
temporized bed in one of the rooms,
Somers sleeping in the room we have al
ready mentioned The highly seasoned
Mexican viands having parched his pal
ate, somers complained of thirst and
asked for water The host was sorry, but
the cabin contained none; he had used
the last to cook the travellers supper, and
the spring that supplied them was mile
distant. Yet, stay there was some coffee
left from the meal. So the coffee was
brought, the cup hastily drained and
Somers turned into the room with the re-
mark, " What villainous flavor that cup
had. Bah these Mexican abomiua-
tiOns
The plot arranged by the two scoun,
drels was as simple as it was effective The
drug administered by the Mexican having
taken effect, llickson was to possess himself
of Somer's papers, and push on for San
Antonia arrived at which place he could
with their aid easily establish his sup.
posed identity, Somers being stranger
to the authorities. Once in possession of
the estate, he meant to convert it into
ready funds, and start with his plunder
for parts unknown. The Mexican left in
charge of the drugged man was to see
that his victim never left the house alive.
Guy Somers undressed and laid down
a few moments suAiced to make him con
scious Of deadly languor and drowsi-
ness; he struggled against it involuntari-
ly. There was something horribly un-
natural in the feeling lie raised him
self on his elbow and peered around him
the dim flicker of the lamp still feebly
lighted the miserable room and he lay
gazing at the flame until strange confu-
sion Of sight and sense entirely ovorpow-
cred him. In the doorway suddenly APP
peared two iaces-Hickson's and the
Mexican's. He stroye to speak, but the
power of utterance was gone, and he only
could gaze with eyes dilating and brain on
fire upon those two faces, familiar as his
own; but mcrciful heaven, how distorted !
What could it mean? Why should the
eyes of the Mexican burn so deep into
his own? Why should---come, come,
this is vision-a nightmare--We know