Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-05-10

IortaDle thoughts.
''He viii confess to you alone, as
his confession is about a case you
worked on once. VIII you go!"
l hesitated. The woman might be
sincere, or she might be q decoy to
lead me into a net set by thieves
and murderers, who wished to rid
the world of me. But that case ]
had worked oni l started. Per-
haps he knew about the great Mar
tin mystery, upon which | was en-
gagged for two years.
Without answering the woman's
question, 1 asked one.
"Where is your friend?"
81 viii not tell you sir. If you
will 90 say as much, or he viii die
with the secret untold"
"What is his name, then?"
"Ah! You doubt my sincerity.
will CO."
And she stepped away.
reflected moment, and resolved
to accompany her, let good or evil
be the result. Isprang forward and
touched her arm.
81 viii accompany you"
Thanks" she said turning. GAL
low me to bandage your eyes,"
And she produced a kerchief.
L protested against such a pro-
ceeding, but finding her inexorabIe,
| suffered myself TO be blintl-
folded.
On, on we went. 1 tried to enter
a conversation with my mysterious
guide but was unsuccessful. l gain
ed no information save that the man
to whom was being conducted lay
dying in abasement. After walking
some distance, a mile or two,
should judge we stopped. My guide
knocked at a door, which was open
ed. Down a flight of steps / was
led till another door was reached,
which opened. 1 was pushed for
ward, the woman saying:
''IIe is here"
heard the door shut, the lock
turn, and steps ascend the stairs. l
tore the bandage from my eyes, and
looked around. l was in small
room, evidently a cellar, in poor
portion of the city, for the apart
ment was very small. a lamp
burned upon a rude table, upon
which lay writing materials. But
what attracted my attention most
was two masked men, a few feet
from me, directing two pistols at my
breast. | had been deceived, and
drawn into a murders net.
Quick as thought my hand moved
TO my revolver, but the omlnous
click, click, checked me.
1.-Two can play at that game, Tom
Howard" +" said one of the masks.
"You know me, then~
"Of course we do, and take pleas
pre in informing you that your life
is in our hands.
"And you intend to deprive me OF
it?" ventured to say.
"Well-no-yes. If you sign 8
certain instrument of writing you
live-if not, you die"
al would like to know in whose
presence stand," said |, stepping
forward.
'EThe murderers of John Roys-
ton the banker" replied the masks,
1 recognized one of the voices in
stantly as belonging to a tall dark
faced fellow who for some months
had followed like sleuth-hound.
"Hal" 1 cried, 'It is you my GOV.
ey. Two days more, and your ca.
reer of crime would have ended"
"You must catch a man before
you hang him, my dear Howard, .
was the taunting rejoinder.
Gwen see, sir"
ga truce to;this bandinage," said
one of the men, stepping up to the
table, while his companion kept {
pistol at my breast, 'EYou must sigI
this paper if you value your life"
went to the table and read the
following oath, written in an un
even, but legible chirography:
81, Thomas Howard, a detective
do solemnly swear that will desist
from the pursuit of the murderers o
John Royston, banker, for the pc
riOd of one year, so help me God.
.'Signed with my own blood, this
the 18th of July, 1S5-."
| l turned to the men after reading
and said:
"What does signed with my owl
blood mean?"
Exactly what says" was the un
calculating reply"
"Then refuse to sign"
"You are rash. Tom Howard
The bond is good for one year only
Sign it, and live"
There was something so signifi
cant in his last sentence, that
changed my resolution.
81 will sign" L said; "but at tn
end of the year mentioned in m
bond, l will dunt you down an,
bring you before outraged justice.
mo boasting, sir; make ready +
have some blood Spilled" and on
of the assassins laid aside his pisto
and produced a lancet.
l barred my arm to the elbow; bu
he laughed, saying:
''Not your ar!i, Howard; tn
blood must ccne nearest the heart
Bare yOnr BOSOM"
'Js this another Shyleck affair?
mo sir; we want no f1esh-mere
| Iy blood"
L barred my breast; he made an in
cision directly over my heart
caught the blood in a spoon, dippe
pen into it, and placed it in m
hand. l bent forward and signe
the bond. The bandage was the
replaced over my eyes, the woma
who had brought me then appeare
and conducted me through seVera
streets, when she suddenly left me
| removed the kerchief went I
headquarters, and announced my in
tention of sticking to my oath. Tn
Royston case was put into the hand
of Dick Clay, while l was detaile
to work up a burglary.
Time passed, when one mornin
[ was summoned to the city priso
to hear the confession of a WOma
who had attempted suicide. Sh
was dying but faint smile appear
ed on her hectic checks as l enIere
the cell.
Mr.. Howard" she said, 81 hav
laid violent hands upon my life an
am dying. l sent for you. Let m
see, this is the"
eleventh of july" 1 answcre
seeing her hesitate.
zone year ago come tomorrow
night, you signed bond, to desis
from pursuing the murderers c
John Royston."
81 did"
"The bond is null and void tC
morrow night, and you are at libel
ty to pursue them"
(Which l intend dong"
'Listen, then, to my confession
Last January two men entere
John Royston's house, and murder
ed him. l assisted them. We el
capped detection until you got in ou
tracks. We intended TO leave th
city, but you remember how yo
fOiled Us. You were weaving you
web around us, and there was. on
course left by which we might e
cape. decoyed you into that ce
lar, where you gave a bond not /
follow US.
''The men left the city; but 1 +,
mained, as L did fear Dick Clay.
| rras " hn sent him n Nh o.