Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-02-05

and listen attentively. Yes-there could
be no doubt about it; there was sound
of stealthy football upon the stairs.
He hastily Lit his candle again and his
gaze was turned towards the door, which
he had locked after it was settled that
Warren should remain. He saw the
handle move.
In a flash of thought he asked him
self what this could be? London thieves
would never dream of running the risk
of entering house in which there vas
absolutely nothing to steal. To phys
ical fear Col. Somerville was a stranger,
and so he at once snatched up the short
heavy poker from the fireplace, ana
without waiting TO arouse his servant,
whom he saw was sleeping heavily, he
went quietly to the door, unlocked and
opened it suddenly, prepared to capture
the intruder. But the passage outside
was vacant and silent.
Being a man of more than ordinary
strength, and thoroughly accustomed to
danger, he did not hesitate about con-
tinuing the search. There were only
two other rooms upon this floor these
he entered, and, as they were destitute
of furniture, glance was sufficient to
show him that there was no one there.
Then he went up stairs, carefully exam
med Warren's room then he went down
stairs, walked through the drawing
room, dining-room, and study, then into
the offices, but he encountered nobody.
Then he proceeded to examine the doors
and windows of the basement, and sat
isfied himself that nobody could have
entered there. His examination of the
lower part of the house occupied him
about a quarter of an hour, and then be
arrived at the conclusion that he had
been the victim of his own imagination.
Then he yawned and began to think
that he felt really sleepy, so he assembled
from the offices, thinking that he should
get few hours rest at last. Just as he
put his foot upon the first step of the
stairs leading from the hall, something
glittered from the floor. He stopped
down to see what it was, and he picked
up what appeared to be a needle Of
about four times the ordinary length,
with tiny steel button at one end. He
examined it curiously, for he did not re-
member ever to have seen such animple-
ment before. The point, he remarked,
appeared to be slightly furnished. With
this, the sole result of his search, he
returned to his bedroom. He entered
and locked the door after him, and was
about to throw off his dressing-gown
when to his intense establishment, he
found that Warren, whom he had left
sleeping soundly, was gone.
He opened the door again and called
loudly. No answer. He hurried up
stairs to his servants room; no trace of
him there indeed no trace of him any
where, and Col. Somerville never saw or
heard of James Warren again. He had
no reason to suppose that there was any
motive for his mysterious disappearance,
for he had not robbed or defrauded his
master in any way whatever. The next
day the police examined the house thor
oughly, but nothing of importance
transpired. Need add that Col. Som
erville's new house was up for sale again
Immediately.
Three facts remain to be recorded !:
First, the Strengthening needle which
the Colonel found was subjected to
chemical inspection, and the furnishes
upon the point were pronounced to be
human blood. Secondly, when the house
had been for sale for about six weeks,
Col. Somerville received letter from
the agents, announcing that the house
was sold for the same amount that he
gave for it. The Colonel being man
of strict honor, thought himself in duty
bound to make the purchaser aware of
all that had occurred, and hurried up to
town to the agents for the purpose of
procuring the name and address of this
person. All that the agents could in
form him was that the purchaser was a
gentleman named Williams and appear
ed to be an American. He gave check
upon well-known bank for the amount
and it was duly honored. The only
popularity about Mr.. Williams was that
he had remarkably pale face. Thirdly,
the house has never since been put up
for sale, but it remains, to all appear
ance, untenanted, though I understand
that the deaf old woman is still the
care-taker.
To the lovers of mystery, 1 commend
this story.-LOndon Society.