The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-04-26

uated, was CLOSELY enVelOpeu Ill loIlS
threadbare mantle, bearing the signs o
time and use. Mrs. Barry, the house
| keeper, stood puzzled and surprised for |
moment, and then seated herself III hel
/ accustomed chair
| who are you What do you want Z
she asked, as the woman stretched out heI
| thin hands towards the fire, and fixed hel
eyes upon her curious expression upon
her face.
'Who am a vagabond, maybe, but q
woman like yourself, and a starving one
The kindly sympathies Of the house
keeper ware aroused, despite the unfavor
able impression the strange visitor had
created She arose from her seat and
soon had small teal pot boiling over tht
fire Then, having produced various dish
es, she bade her guest eat.
You will take a cup Of tea wit me Z
pleaded the woman, and, the house-keeper
nothing 10th, for the sake Of company, pro
cured another cup Ond saucer. Unobserv-
ed by her, however, the stranger, with a
dexterous movement " her hand, reached
over and dropped a little white powder in
the cup.
You have fine place here, said the
stranger "What is the owners name z
Mr. Thorndyke."
The strangers eyes emitted a strange
CLEAN, but she said nothing.
And a good master, too, continued
the house keeper, volubly. He is un-
well, tonight, and has retired early. The
rest of them have gone to ball IN Maple
grove"
The stranger grew confidential. She
related her own experience. She was a
stroller she said and had reached Maple
grove that evening She would not stay
all night, but she could not help admiring
the beautiful mansion.
transporting Mrs Barry, thus encour
aged, entered into detailed description of
the house. informed her guest of the exact
location of Mr. Thorndyke's room, and the
other apartments Of the village residence.
Then, suddenly, Mrs Barry began to
feel an unaccountahle sleepiness stealing
over her. Her visitor watched her, as
would cat a mouse, and, as she saw her
hpstess's head drop on her breast, she NUT
tered
The powder has done its work y
Then. stealthily, she opened the door
leading to the upper hall way, and q osing
it after her, disappeared from view, her
face hendsh, exultaut, i'll its expression Of
intense hatred and determination.
Eleven o'clock twelve --two--three
O'Clock, and the footman and the female
servants entering the house awoke Mrs.
Barry from a slumber profound, and look
ed askauce al her queries As to where the
strange woman was! They sat down to
GOSSIP a little before retiring. however,
and the footman was voluble IN his oundi-
ton of an adventure he had had when
coming home He was startled, he said.
by man hurrying past HIM. and he found
that 1t was Robert Thurston, had called
upon him, but the young man, who had a
small carpet-bag III his hand, sped On rap
idly. ana did not answer.
Mrs Barry hustled around and dis
persed the gossipiug servants. With the
statement that u was late, and bidding the
foutman accompany her - the door Of Mr..
Thorndvkes ; room, as was customary with
her when Mr. Thurndyke was i'll. she tap
ped at the door to ascertain If anything
was wanted before the servants retired.
No reply being vouchSafed, Mrs Barry
carefully entered the room
Then n loud scream echoed through the
house. awakcnin: reverbrations which sent
a chill to every listening heart There
Was the rush of many feet up the staircase,
the prevalence of low whisperings. and
murmured CALCULATIONS Of anxiety and
terror and then, as the servants entered
the room Of the master of the household
they heheld upon the bed the m ptionless
form IF Mr. Thorndyke, from whose side
trickled slowly stream Of blood.
They gazed upon the white rIgidity II
the well-known face lying before them with
a horror which drove the blood from every
face, and caused every lip to qtl,er With
agony, fer Mr.. Thorndyke had beeh a gen
erous employer, a kind hearted man, and
then, stunned, awel, by the awful sight,
they turned and conversed III low whis
pers.
| For it was evident that Mr. Thorndykt
has been murdered. But by whom
ITO BE CONTINUED