Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-07-24
THE MYSTERIOUS LODGER.
By EVA EVERGREEN.

Hearth and IIomc.l
Il don't like it and the more think
oft the worse it gets" exclaimed Mrs.
Benson, looking up from her sewing;
"thcre was Il mystery about him from
the first, and now with that young feller
visitin' him and actin 50 queer, it looks
dangerous That comes of being Il lone
widow woman with no protector! I'm
sure when he come here so respectful,
and offered q good price, and didn't mind
if the accommodations weren't lirst-c.aSs,
| could never have been expected to
imaginC-'
4 sudden ring at the door caused her
to hurry out into the hall. \ rather
misunderstanding young man, with
piercing black eyes, luXuriant hair, and
carrying 4 mysterious paper roll, stood
before her.
MIR. Brown in? Don't trouble your
self to call him; III 90 right up
Mrs. Benson fell helplessly back, and
the visitor went upstairs with ponderous
strides. A door above opened and shut,
and the landlady, in state of increased
perpleXity, returned to her sewing. The
subject of her soliloquy, a prepossessing
young man Of thirty or thcreabouts, by
name Brown, had engaged lodgings of
her some months before. His pay was
prompt, his hours and manners unex-
ceptionahle, and his wants few, and the
good lady's heart had quite warmed
toward him. But after while he be-
gan to stay out late, his passing saluta-
tions had, to the widows sensitive ear,
an element of mystery, and latterly he
had received long and frequent visits
from the stranger just admitted. Once
or twice she had tiptoed up stairs after
him, and listened at the keyhole; but,
failing to catch anything ineligible, and
fearing detection, she had been obliged
to retreat unenlightened.
81 can't feel it my duty to let this 60
on any longer" she said at last, " there's
no knowing what dreadful plot may be
Matched in my house. | might be ar
rested, too, as an accomplice. It's well
| thought of that closet-the good-tor-
nothing wretchcs, I'll circumyent
'em; yes, and get 4 reward, perhaps"
Inspired with these mingled ideas, Mrs.
Benson stole softly upstairs. The room
adjoining her lodgcr's containeda a closet,
from the wall of which some Of the
plastern had fallen. leaving small
aperture. Creeping cautiously in, and
bending down with her ear to the wall,
she heard Mr.. Browns voice:
Yes, that will do; leave no trace of
suspicion. Did you use poison?"
"Poisonw gasped the lady; 81
thought he looked like 4 villain"
"No; l thought the dagger was better"
"What sort of one was itw queried
the lodger.
ooh, the regulation kind-Italian
with ieweled handle. | left it so as to
implicate him, you see; and abducted the
girl and carried her to a lonely house on
the moors. hope she feels comfortable. .
Ha ha! ha ~
"Merciful powers" :" choked Mrs.
Beacon; " that's the girl they've adver-
tised in the Herald this week. To think
what awful characters I've been b,trbor-
ing and abetting it's just a MIRACLE that
Pm alive to tell ofit~
"Well." she heard next, chow about
tie viii and jewels ~
"They're secure; I'll divide the spolls
tomorrow"
"Not forgetting me-" laughed Brown.
"Well, is that the end Fittings ~
"Notquite. I've one more project to
develop"
"Why, what an Unsuitable fellow you
are; is it another murder"
"No: want to secure an easy, un-
suspicious body Of middle age to look
after the heiress. One with alittle bank
account that | can withdraw after | get
her safe, and have it given out that she
is moved to the country"
"Yes, very clever you are coming on,
Moore How will you manage it"'
"Oh, III come in a carriage with an
invitation for her to spend the evening
out somewhere; andif she gets suspicious
and makes any trouble, I'll just give her
a little distilled sleep and carry her
off nOLeaS rOleRs ~
"First-rate, only don't make the dose
/ too big" replied the lodger.
"NO danger; and-I tell you what,
"Well, what? don't keep fellow in
suspense .,n
son-your worthy landlady!" !"
Mrs. Benson's heart stood still. HOY
did the wretch know that she had a
little money? Breathlessly she listened
for the next words.
"Ha! ha! hap roared the lodger
"what would she think to hear that
81 think she considers me sort of sus-
picious being already, but [ regard that
idea as nothing short of an inspiration,
Brown. III step inand have a look at
her before go, and also arrange for
Mrs. Benson could endure it no
longer. The only safety for her life was
to have these villains arrested at once,
and. staggering from the room, she
closed the door. In her perturbation she
did not hear the other door open at the
same instant. The hall was narrow
and dark, and plunging forward, she ran
violently against something, heard q
stifed exclamation, and felt herself
seized by strong pair of arms
"Murder murderp shrieked the land,
] lady, hysterically.
I "Hush, madam" spoke the visitors
voice "we're only