The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-11-16
d" MY MURDER.
A TRAVELLERS STORY.

Most people who have been to Switz-
erlapd will understand where the hotel
of Les Trois Sages is situated. They
will know what is the chief hostelry Of
the large town at which the majority of
tourists entering and returning from the
region of the Alps usually halt, at least
for night, as from it diverge the main
channels lie ding to the choicest scenery
of the little republic. They will recol-
lect that the inn is charmingly placed on
the banks of the Rhine, and that its bal
comics aud windows look out upon and
absolutely overhapg the rushing river,
not one hundred miles from it's falls at
Schaffhausep.
The superfuous energy of Briton
six-ard-twenty years of age, six feet two
in height, and strong in proportion,
finds no better outlet than scrambling
over peaks, passes, and glaciers; and 1
had been doing this, on the occasion of
which 1 write, to my hearts content for
five or six weeks. 1t was not my first
experience of the Alps by many; but it
had, on the whole, been the least enjoy
able; the companion who was going with
me disappointed me at the eleventh
hour, ana l started alone, the limited
time for my outing not brooking delay;
and although at times I fell in with
pleasant people L was bored by my soil
tude. My temper, too, always peppery
che at the best, was considerably ruff1ed
by the loss, toward the end of my jour
ney, of my remaining circular notes. l
most stupidity fiicked the little case con-
tanning them out of my breast pocket
with my handkerchief as 1 was leaning
over the side of the steamer coming
down from Flueln to Lucerne, and had
the modification of seeing it sink into
the blue lake before my very eyes. My
remaining cash was only just sufficient
to carry me to-well, say, Les Trois
Sages; so Immediately on reaching Lu-
cerne I had to write home for more
money, directing that it should await
me at the aforesaid we'll known hotel. I
therefore timed my arrival there accord
ingly; and it was not an hour too soon,
for | could ouly just avoid overstaying
my leave by starting for Paris by the
first train the next day.
Hence it was with no little anxiety
that on reaching my inn demanded of
the concierge whether there was any
letter for me, and my satisfaction was 80
handed me one that l tore it open then
and there, displaying the nature of its
contents to the throng of walters, por-
ters, aud idlers usually hanging about
hotel halls.
1t being late was soon shown to my
room-a luxurious one, for an alcove,
where stood the bed, was divided from
the salon by a heavy portiere, thus
making two apartments. l took little
heed, however, of these vanities at the
time. 1 was to be off early the next
morning, and ere long was in bed and
my light out. The loss of the money
tended to make me now unusually care
full of that which 1 had received; so,
though l left my watch, ETC., on the
table in the salon, laid the packet of
notes on little stand at the head of the
bed.
Sound asleep Sound is not the word
for it. Dead asleep would be nearer
the mark; that sort of sleep which
comes to a strong man in perfect health
and training after fatiguing days
journey. What it was that aroused me
from it shall never clearly understand; |;
but my belief is that it was an instinct
rather than noise which caused me,
without altogether returning to con-
sciousness, to open my eyes. My face
was turned away from the wall against
which one side of the bed stood, SO that
Hooked straight across the little alcove,
and through the half drawn portiere
into the salon. The moon must have
risen, for there was a much stronger
light in the rooms than when put out
the candle, and deep shadow was cast
across the opening between them. Her
rays thus flooded both apartments by
the single window in each.
Now was in that curious state that
although l knew 1 was awake l thought