The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-03-19

ham, big enough for . shark-bait, was
stuck on the point of carving knife,
and thrust down his throat with the
audacity of sword-gwallower. Another
and another followed, till nothing re-
manned but bone, which he crushed with
his teeth, and then sucked the marrow.
IS Now for punch I" he cried.
There is no hot water" Richard
ventured to say.
!" Water !''-who asked for water
Bring me a lemon, some sugar, and q
kettle"
The kettle was placed on the fire.
The stranger filed it with brandy, add
ing lemon and sugar TO suit his taste. As
the liquor boiled over, it caught fire, set
ting the whole in blaze. Richard jumped
up to take it of; the stranger caught his
arm, and flung him back as if he had
been child, instead Of substantial citi-
zen of fourteen stone.
IS What are You about7" he exclaimed.
IS The punch is doing well enough"
Sc was only afraid the house might be
| burnt
T" Bother the house" replied the little
man; Sc there's no danger"
ss Your health, Dick Z" at length he
said, and, raising the kettle all blazing to
his lips, he drank like dromedary.
'' And now, Dick, It's yos.s. turn" he
said, after long breath. Sc You must
drink my health now"
Richard drew back
ss Drink - shouted the stranger, hold
ing out the vessel.
Poor Dick took single Qulp. He
left tbe skin of his mouth on the brim of
the kSttle, his throat was scorched as with
liquid fire, and his hair was singed by
the blaze.
And now to business said the
stranger, resuming his seat, and leaving
Dick to SIT or stand as he chose. You
knew John Walter, believe"
Yea-yes, stammered Richard" ;"
once knew a person of that name
6 You and he went to California to
gether.' .
Richard acknowledged the fact.
You made money, and he didn't.
believe was the more fortunate of
the two"
You and he started to return to-
gether, and he died at San Francisco.
Richard bowed.
His wife and child are now desi-
tute, the stranger persisted.
can't help that. )"
Of course not. It was has boy
you gave the good advice to to-day I
hope the young scamp viii profit by it. I"
The scene with the little beggar, Rich
one. How the stranger had found it out
was past comprehension.
You're quite sure John Walter died
poor?" the stranger went on.
Oh, quite" said Richard Il paid
his funeral expenses myself"
That's lie, " retorted the little man /;
sc they were paid by the public. It's an
other lie that he died poor. He had
twenty thousand dollars with him, which
you stole.
at deny it !" Richard fairly screamed /;
and defy you to prove it. +"
Prove it | What effrontery! Why,
/ saw you do it.
It's false. There was nobody pres
ent.
g Be careful, Dick, or you'll COM
NIT yourself. I saw you do another
thing"
Richard shrank shivering in chair,
but said nothing.
ss%John Walter would have survived his
illness, but you put poison IN hts naedd-
cine -
A sudden fury took possession of
Richard Whinstone, when he saw the
secret of his life in another's keeping.
The carving knife lay within his reach.
He seized it, and springing on the stran-
ger, with desperate plunge, sought to
/ DuTy the D1au0 IN MS 0OAFC, DuL II Suh1CSu
as from plate armor, and In an instant
| the little man was on his feet.
'tOh, no that's your game, is it p
And with a trip that sent his heels
| spinning i'll the air, Richard was thrown
headlong, with force that shook the
house to its foundation. The club foot
was planted on his stomach, and what a
horribly ugly foot it was! It aOGs cleft
like the hoof Of an or, and seemed to
weigh ton.
Then you are the"
pray keep civil tongue In your
head, and come along" said the little
man.
Richard tainted.
When he came to himself, day was
breaking The old housekeeper, who
had found him groaning and sprawline
on the floor, had, with much difficulty,
shaken him into consciousness. She as
sisted him to bed /; but Richard never
was himself again. The surfeit of pig
had brought on fever, of which he died
IN eight days. His last rational act was
the execution of viii by which he left
the bulk of his fortune to John Walters
widow and child which, after all, was q
simple act of justice, for the Demon OF
Nightmare had told the truth.