, 1876-07-14

sweetheart, whom he had not met since
| the night he had been betrayed. 1t was
Winter time and there had been heavy
fall Of snow for several Gays, which was
so far in his favor that the sentries were
not likely to move far from their boxes !;
and off he started to the old spot one
night when all in his room were fast
asleep, Chamber TO the top of the wall
and dropped safely outside. The rest
of the story can tell you better in his
own words:
"'When l got down. he said, I
wrapped my cloak we'll around me, for
it WAS bitter cold, and was Just prepar
ing to start on the road, when, directly
in front Of me, saw a footstep in the
snow 1t was not mine; 1 had not stir
red an inch, and my first thought was
that somebody else had chosen the same
way of getting out. Wondering who it
coul be, commenced to walk forward /;
but hadn't got half dozen yards be-
fore l stopped short, with sweat pouring
down my forehead for all it was SO cold,
for l saw first one footmark, then an
other, proceed in the snow before me,
as though some one was walking in the
same direction with myself. Had it
been in the opposite way 1 think 1
should have been glad Of the excuse to
escape it; but, as it was, summoned
up all my courage, and followed at a
smart pace, which was necessary to en-
able me to keep up with the spectral
footstep, for such, in spite Of all my
efforts to believe the contrary, felt
convinced it was. 1 think could have
faced the hangman, knowing that a few
short minutes would end my life with
dogs fate, and being less afraid than. l
was of that mysterious proof Of an un-
seen presence before my eyes, for, be-
yond the impression in the snow, moth
ing was to be seen. After a minute or
two, however, my fears gave place to a
feeling of overpowering curiosity, and
I determined to follow the footstep, no
matter where it should lead me. At the
same time could not walk directly in
its track, but kept we'll away to the
other side Of the road, the ghostly tread
preceding me, showing sharp and clear
every step, though-and that was what
frightened me most-each one disap-
peared completely as the next was
formed. 1 had nearly reached the Bag
O. Nails, II could see the lights shining
out of its red-curtained window-when
the thing turned into gap in the hedge
and Continued along inside. I kept
close to it now, and, excited as was,
felt new, strange thrill as the footstep
suddenly stopped against q low brick
wall that surrounded the garden Of Mrs.
Brandon's house.
"'From here the steps became slower,
now hesitating, growing fainter and less
clearly defined, till they stopped alto
gether at q spot about the center Of the
wall, when, asf looked upon them, they
seemed to fade away before my eyes,
till looked upon nothing but the pure,
untrodden snow, that lay piled up there
in heap.
"What possessed me, don't know,
but the next moment 1 was down on my
knees, my heart full of wild excitement.
What I expected to find, 1 can't say,
nothing like the faintest shadow Of the
truth entered my head, but that there
must have been some reason for the
strange guidance 1 felt assured, and
tore away at some loose bricks that I
found near the ground Is though my
very existence depended on their de-
struction. At last, succeed in dislodg-
ing one Of the largest, followed by 9TH
ers, and putting my hand into the cavity
thus made, drew out little canvass bag
containing money, as I could feel, and
the smiths hammer that killed Dick
Brandon
"And so you sea, sir, that was how it
was found out. Phil made up his mind
on the minute: he told me that IL seemed
to come TO him like o revelation; and
before half an hour was over, the ham,
mer was in the hands Of the police, and
Tom Dillon, who was found In his old
corner at the Bag O. Nails lodged in
the lookup.
There was no trouble in proving his
guilt, for he confessed TO it the very next
day, and it turned out that he had left
barracks by the very same spot that Phil
picked upon.
"Yes, it was q lesson to Phil, sir; he
was never the same laughing, careless
scapegrace afterwards. It seemed 70
sober him, like. Dillon was hung 1t
Maidstone for the murder; and Mrs.
Brandon, who had no near relations ex-
cept Mary, gave her consent to the girls
marriage with Phil, buying him out Of
the service first, though; and when she
died, left them the business, and I'm
glad to see as he's doing 30 well; though,
as you say, sir, he looks like q man who
never laughs; and small wonder, too,
for that nights work must have been 9
terrible experience"