The Van Buren press., 1876-08-08

off the dampness. A Atremor seized upon
him. Hark was that the dripping OF
water z No! A sekly smile played over
his countenance lie went to the table,
and tapped lightly with his fingers us he
had done before In another moment
the taps were answered, und he involan
tarily counted as they came, one--two-
fve-six-sevcn--the all
was silent He made the call second
time he tried it over aud over and ~
each response it licked seven times, new
er more, never less. but seven times,
clearly, distinctly. Sud denly he sprang
up, and. through shut teeth hissed
"The seventh day, by heavens! But
I'll cheat YOU'LL not kill him!"
He darted noiselessly down the stairs
and strsck out through the woods. In
half an hour he emerged on the edge Of
the clearing, a dozen, yards. Sfbm shop
pcrs cabin. Creepihglstealthily the
door, he shook It. then, after morlsnts
irresolution. cried out:
Peters Peters look out for Shidet
He has sworn to murder ou'to.night.'
Without waiting for a reply, he sprang
away, aud was quickly lost among the
trees.
A moment afterward tall form arose
out Of taa shadow Of stump near the
cabin, and passed rapidly in an opposite
way.
At the summit of the hill east Of Aga
tina, steep preipice is formed by great
bare, projecting rock. From the valley,
its outline resembles an enormous face
in profile. and they call it " The Devils
head The full moon rendered the un.
broken mass of cloud translucent. produ
cling peculiar, sinister effect. The mist
still blew through the air, but in the &c.
NTH there was dull, ashen hue, and the
surrounding cloud was the color OF the
earth. The far.of hills loomed up ma
jestic, terrible. against the gloom; OBJ
jccts were strangely magniticd in the
tawny light. At the foot Of this phan.
tom crag on terrace, is the ore bank
amp blackencd coal shed. Below rose
the metal stack, from whose stone hearth
a waste of sand sloped gently to the
creek. The furnace squattcd grim and
black. Its blood shot eyes was shut its
throbbing pulse was stilled--thc fierce,
struggling monster was dead The only
bright spot in al! the valley was the yell
low circle made by the walchman's Ian.
tern in the coal shed
After leaving the choppings,' Monk
threaded his woy through the forest,
coming out at last on the open road.
This road led directly over the F" DEVILS
Head" and entered the valley by steep
descent half u mile to the south. At the
precipice Monk paused. The wind cd
died with mournful wall, and the con.
stant motion of tall trees gave the scene
almost the wavering, unsubstantil appear.
ance OF vision. There was something
| oppressive In this strange midnight twi-
light. but Monk did not feel it. He only
felt relief, inexprcssible relief; he only
stopped there to breathe---to breathe free
ly once more with the heavy weight
thrown from him. After moment he
ran carelessly down tIc hill, passed under
the ore cars aud into the coal shed. He
hailed Patterson the watchman, and the
lantern threw gigantic shadows Of the
two men over the ground. Then he
walked along the narrow cinder road
leading to tho bridge over the creek.
Sometimes the willows that grew on eth
e: side swept their damp hair against his
face, An hour ago he would have start
ed convulsively, now he needed not, for
he was free aud light of heart.
Monk reached the stairs. and ascended
to his room. As he passed in, the pow.
erful figure OF Shihet sprang upon him
from behind. There was scuffie, some
muttered oats. then heavy fall. Monk
lay stretched upon the floor motionless,
lfeless, and the echo of fleeing steps
died away. leaving tho place as still as
the now silent death watch