St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-12-22

INSTANTLY acquainted MN with my
business. He looked serious and inter
ested.
"Humph ~ he said, drawing me lit.
tie aside Il have only visited thi,
place once or twice, but | Own have
had my doubts of its respectabilitv
We medical men see strange scenes
Still | don't fancy the poor woman and
her husband have had any connivanco
with the people below. He IS a brick
layer. Though, of course, III such mat
ters You are the best judge. Such per
sons are capable of all manner oftricks
1t Is, of course, your duty to make GER
tam. Only, in case you are wrong, be
gentle with the wretched wife and
mother. Come in"
We entered. The room was almost
devoid of furniture, and barely suppli-
ed with the cOmmOnest necessaries OF
existence. . is,l,ts,. ,,.
At one side was Il miserable Sujattress
laid on the floor, and stretched On !,
was the dying man. s4ss.
kneeling by him, her head bowed
down to his, her black hair streaming
over the tattered patchwork covering.
was the young wife weeping bitterly
as she pressed her baby to her bosom.
I'm not hardhearted, and the sight
took me back, especially the counte-
nance of the husband, upon which the
hue of death had already settled.
was following the doctor, when, ab-
ruptly, he leaned forward, then draw
ing back, placed his hand on nv arm.
~ thought us much" he whispered.
''all is overw
The words were scarcely audible, vet
they reached the wife's ears.
shall never forget the scream she
gave. Starting up on her knees, she
gazed wildly i'll the face of the dead,
thtn Shrleked, turning appealingly to
the doctor.
"Oh. no. no: not dead, Don't tell
me that. Not dead, Oh, Tom, Tom
dear Tom; speak to me-speak to Liz
zic ~
And casting herself on the body, she
went off into violent Mysteries.
Poor thing" said the doctor. raising
her. PRAY. my good fellow take her
to ii chair, while close the poor mans
eyes"
That done he rcjoined me.
You want to search the room," he
said. Its pity that this should have
happened AT such time, but duty is
dufy. Pray. do yours quietly before
l MS poor woman RECEIVERS. Her troub-
le is enough without any addition"
puty was duty; Yet felt like ii
iiaid-heaIted. spirited cur us
performed mine, and protcssed to have
lacked my usual acuteness. for more
than once the disciple of Galen aided me
IN my suggestions.
Nothing. however came of it. could
not lind Il trace.
Yet" said, "I'd take my oath the
dies are i'll this house, and its one hun
bred pounds i'll my pocket if find
them"
Then most decidedly should try"
said the doctor. That sum is not to
be got every day"
No; and I'll keep II watch in this
house till I've found them"
''In this room ?" he asked
NO. | amt quite made of stone"
lcjoined. il bit hurt. But | shall in
spect all who 20 out or come in
Quite right: and wish Won success.
Tor there's no telling the suticriugs thcs,.
'oincr> OCCASION.
We then descended. and the doctor
eft. after telling the old Irish woman
ne would call as he went home, on the
parish undertaken and give the ncces-
'ary orders for the funeral.
Well needn't lcugthen out my story.
rented the parlor (by compulsory
If the landlady, and established
watch night and day upon who and
A hat won. nut ,,t anal .,t.,..l H..
Jim Bradley came and went, of
'oursc. unmolested. and chatfed me
when we met, while with
'ut the slightest demur he let me visit
lis room whenever pleased.
What did it mean!
also made Il call now and then on
he widow.
Poor thing, she was always crying
md So meek and full of grief as she .
moved about the room where her coffin .
-d husband was, for she wouldn't leave |
t, that the sight was pitiable.
The medical attendant dropped in
'nce to enquire how | got on, and
hook his head on hearing my want of
ucccSS.
Il fear if the dies ale really here" he
aid, ''the fellow you call Bradley is
90 deep for you
''Not if know it," SAID. Il have
applied ut headquarters for permission |
q make II better search, and I'll take
Up the flooring"
81 fancy that's the most likely place.
" hat is that ?" he asked.
"Only the undertaker's men," | said,
putting the door open. ats the poor
cllow's funeral o-day."
''Indeed. All, they hasten these mat
erS with the poor
just at the moment the wretched |
otfin and its bearers passed along the
passage, followed 10y the weeping wild
Nv, leaning on the old Irish woman.
They were the sole mourners.
The doctor respectfully removed hi..
at, and we stood in silence until it had
,One by.
''Poor-poor thing!" my companion
emarked, with a sigh then, giving
ne his card, and asking me To call if
rovcd successful, he went away.
Well, the hours crept by, and the 81
ence of the house began to surprise
he. Bradley had gone out early, and
adn't been home since. My assistant
anne III about eight but neither the
'idow nor the landlady returned.
| waited and waited. Eleven O'Clock
truck.
| began to get suspicious.
Had | been done?
| turned hot and cold; then, Selling
ne candle, darted up stairs. Bradley's
pom was as usual but the attic-thet
Sht of it made me feel ready to drop.
Done - cleverly DONE" | cried,
'aving my candle around.
Yes; bitter the humiliation-I had
cen duped {! had been the victim of
and Il clever trick