The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-02-12

lfgood men, as have said, are some
times superstitious, why, you ask, did
think this man superslitious alsog First
answer, because | had accidentally
thrown him off his guard ana read hi.
soul, and secondly, because he was moi
naturally nervous and credulous. Feal
Icpuld only arise from the seli-conyicted
knowledge OF past wicked deed. The
man was even then criminal. But lei
me hasten along 10 the deDOuement.
1t CHANGED that no other person was
present when this conversation occurred
about the superstitinus fancies OF men,
and as soon as we were interrupted by
the entrance of another customer, my
dark visitor left somewhat abruptly
After that he did not come as often as he
did before, and never renewed the con-
yersation tharkad so agiiated him, and
learned that he had been so fortunate rs
to secure capital ''lea,," from WINCH
with his partner, another young man, he
was taking out gold in quantities that
Promised to enrich both, and that both
had the good will and esteem Of all who
knew them.
One dark night, about three or four
weeks alter this, l was startled from my
| sleep by wild, prolonged Shrieks, and
cries of"murder! murder! helpl lhelpW
L jumped, seized my revolver, and
darted out into The open air, The cries
| and screams still contnued, coming from
a bend OF the river about u hundred rods
beloN. In minute was joined by five
others, all well armed, ana together we
ran as hard as we could TO the place from
which the ulalm proceeded. When we
arrived there at least thirty men were
| collected in and around, the tent of the
dark man / have been describing, and he
himself it was who had given the alarm.
His partner and companion had been
murdered and robbed, and he himself
had been slightly cut across lhe face
and gashed ON TIE left ARA, and Ne WAS
all excitement, lamenting his. dearest
friend, and v0wins vehgealoe against
the assassin. 1t was some time before
we conld get AT the ticulars, and then
we learned that both had been sleeping
side by side, when an unknown rubber
had crawled under the light canvas,
stabbed one to the heart, and taken
large bag OF gold from under his head.
With this he was escaping. when the
present narrator awOke and seIZed him
and received the wounds which had com
PEELED him to rellnquish his hold. Lights
were brought, and there, sure enough,
was the bloody confirmation OF all that
had been related.
Shall make no attempt to portray the
intense excitement, The Wild rage and
CONSERVATION, which this daring murder
accustomed. Every man felt that il the
ASSASSIN escaped without his Just pun
rity Tor any one in OUR hitherto quiet and
peaceful valley, and solemn oaths were
taken to hang the wretuh, il found, to
the nearest tree.
A large reward was offered iOr his de-
toctIons and every gambler tnat had ever
been about there WIS. more III less suS-
pected, and believe that had any man
been arrested on the following day, he
"Oula have been hung first and tried "a
terWard. ] said less, than any, for had
my own suspicious, and | conirived my
plot in secret, ana made u cOntidant OF
no one.
The murdered young man was as de-
Gently buried as Surrounding cireum-
stances would permit, ana his compan-
ion, my superstitious friend, grew more
moody with gridi, refused to work his
"lead" any more, and proposed selling
Oft his rock and tools and quitting the
country altogether. l think he would
have gone at once, only that told him
it would not look we'll to leave without
an effort to discover the murderer, as
some people might be malicious enough
to say he knew something oil the matter,
very pale, and declared he would stay u
year ii he thought that by that means he
could discover The assassin oil his dear,
dear friend.
On the second afternoon following the
tragedy, almost every individual in the
vicinity, the friend of the murdered man
among the rest, assembled at my store at
my particular request. l had told them
them / had something to communicate
concerning the foul deed, aud thought
it not unlikely l should give some clue
to the assassin.
When all had collected, :rd arranged
themselves as ! had directed, in semi
circle before my door-eager, expectant,
excitoa-l came iorwaru, holding in-my
hand an egg. Then made them short
speech on the syperstitions of mankind,
which cQDteNded had the origin in mys-
terious facts revealed from the other
world by Gods good providence for the
protection Of the innocent and the pun
ishment Of the guilty, and among things,
L mentioned how the ghosts OF their VIC
tins would often haunt the murderers,
compelling them to reveal their crimes
how land and sea bad been known tc
give up their aw full secrets--and how 1t
had been asserted that ii the guilty
wretch place his hands upon the body of
the man he had secretly siain, the wounds
would bleed afresh.
"And now, gentlemen" l continued,
IL hold in my hapd as sure test as any
nave named. This simple egg, 30 fair
to view, contains the murderer's secret.
Let him but tahe it in bis hand, and the
frail smell will crumbie to pieces and
show to all that it is filled with the blood
OF his victim. You will excuse me, gem
tlemen, tor putting you all 10 the test.
We do not know each others secrets
the murderer of the young man we
buried yesterday may be among us; but
only the guilty need fear the trial. the in
nocent VIII surely pass the ordeal un-
harmed"
AS said this fixed my gaze upon
the dark visitor, my suspected man; |
never saw Il more wretched and ghastiy
countenance, nor greater struggle in
any living being to keep u calm and un-
moved exterior.
The egg began its round. Some took
it e, avelY, some lightly, some turned
deadly pale and some laughed outright.
But OH it went, and came nearer 10 the
man for whom it was intended. l could
see that he was trembling-that his very
lips were getting white.
ut is your turn nOwW l said in u
cold, stern tone.
I "Mine! he answered, with a ghastly
. tlA t,x ,l...t III