The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-07-04

IA fig for your orders" answered
the stranger, rudely pushing past her.
"pm Macbeth Sweeney, and my father
was the husband of the lady who lived
here, as she claimed, but as / doubt.
At any rate, have right here, and
it will not be well for you to dispute
it."
"Be you Miss Sweney's son ?" asked
Aunt Jerusha, as with pale, scared
face she followed him into the parlor.
"The Signora Sweeney is my mother"
he answered haughtily. "And now be
SO good as to open these blinds and
bring me some breakfast. But first
show me to bedroom"
"Thero's no room ready but the one
tlAt used to be Miss Sweney's," said
Aunt Jerusha, tremblingly, "and no.
body's slept there since we laid her on
the bed there with that great cash in
her throat. We never found out who
murdered the poor lady. Is it that
yon have come about ?"
"Will you stop your prating and
show me the room, woman?" exclaim.
ed the stranger, advancing threaten
ingly. And Aunt Jerusha was com
PEELED to unlock the door of that room
associated in her mind with such
dreadful recollections, and usher him
across that threshold only to be cross
ed by her, with awe and trembling, on
her days of cleaning aud inspection
In half an hour she brought him
breakfast, aud he detained her to an
swer numerous questions relative to
the late inmate Of the house. But he
calculated too little on the native
shrewdness of his witness. Aunt Jo-
rusha was firmly determined that no
information should be given until she
knew whether this intrusive guest was
a friend or foe to her late mistress. On
this subject the nature Of his questions
served very soon to eonvice her. Mac
beth Sweeney was the son of the man
whom Mrs. sweeney had once called
her husband, and it was very evident
that his feelings were inimical to her,
land that his enmity had followed her
beyound the grave.
At the close of their conference,
Aunt Jerusha went back to her kitch-
en-, shaking her head. She by no
means liked the present aspect OF
things, but she felt herself powerless.
Mr.. sweeney had surely some shadow
of right and she had none that could
avail against him. All Gay she heard
him rambling about the house and
the sounds from the late Mrs. Sweney's
room indicated that he was moving
heavy pieces Of furniture, and insti-
tuting a general search among the de-
ceased lady's effects. Her clothing and
all papers which did not seem of i'm.
portance, together with other articles
of small intrinsic value, had been left
there, Aunt Jerusha regretted now
that she had not attempted to fit up
some other room for her guest.
But one remedy for her momentary
weakness suggested itself. A tele-
graph liae had lately been erected in
the village. She resolved to summon
the lawyer by means of this mode OF
communication. She had no sooner
furnished the stranger with his dinner
than she set out for the village, where,
after ascertaining what it was necessa-
ry for her to do, she eoncocted the fol.
lowing message, which speedily was
flashed along the wires:
"There's a feller here with black
hair like that you know on. Come as
soon as you can"
This done she returned to her home
quite satisfied with her GRAND, and
quietly sat herself down to await the
result. She knew that she must wait
at least whole day, bat she resolved
not to relax her vigilance and permit
this man to escape.
Her precautions, however, were in
vain. He remained throughout that
day, and in the evening called Aunt
Jerusha for some purpose. She found
him sitting in the parlor. answered
his questions, and provided him with
another nicely trimmed lamp and fuel,
After securing the doors she retired
and, though she slept i'll, heard no
alarming sounds until the following
morning, when she arose, and having
prepared breakfast for the stranger,
carried it to his room.
To her surprise it was vacant. Mac
beth Sweeney had departed and left no
trace.
That afternoon the lawyer arrived,
accompanied by an experienced detec-
tive, and before nightfall a pursuit
was organized. If found, the stranger
would at least be arrested for robbery,
for, though there had been little of
value for him to take, it was quite ev-
ident that Mrs. Sweney's escritoire and