The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-04-27
deaf as a post.yer honos, as,d don't hear

4 bit. Who do do YOU want?
@One of your respectable lodgers, Mrs
O'Brien," answered, entering the pas
sage and putting my foot so as to pre-
vent the door closing. Thanks, old
lady; 1 wont trouble you further
Giving a preconcerted whistle my
men came rapidly forward.
oh. the perleese, oh, holy St Patrick
have mercy upon lone widder woman.
Oh, good gintlemen, what's the matter
sure?' shrieked the hag.
Paying no heed to these CALCULATIONS
l placed one policeman on guard and
with the others sprang up the stairs.
Reaching the landing found all dark
save faint glimmer which issued from
under the door in front of us. I tried
the door. II was locked.
"We have him this time,,- I whisper.
ed, exultingly, for 1 caught the sound Of
Jim Bradley's voice. Il have examined
the house we'll, and there is no means Of
egress either by the roof or by the win.
dows. They are trapped. Open in the
Queens namel" exclaimed aloud
"Hollo, is that you my dear Spindler:
cried Jim from within. Happy to see
you, I'm sure. Remember what / said
Hold me when you catch me-, old boy
The thing is to trap your birdl'
Il will take care of that Mr. Jim,"
rejoined- @Open or We will break in the
door"
"Oh, place jintlemen-dear, good, jim
tlemen, for the love of the saints, don't
make noise. There's poor old SOU
just parting this life up stairs, and hi:
poor, young widdy's almost distracted
Sorra one Of ye jintlemen have any
pity. Don't terrify the colleen, nor the
partin' soul, who, sure, has trouble
enough
Silence, you old crone." exclaimed
@and fetch light or I'll have YOU arrest
ed as an accomplice"
With a regular howl of disappoint
ment, she hobbled away, declaring she'd
do anything for us. imploring pity foi
a poor, lone. woman, and compassion fol
the partin soul up stairs.
We didn't wait for her to return
Aware no one could pass us on the
stairs and believing Jim might be try
ing to spoil the moulds, we put oul
shoulders againt the door and drove the
lock from the door.
l had prepared for the light to be ex
tinguished and a rush made.
1 was disappointed. Jim sat compos
edly at the table, with another man play
ing cards.
"Hollo! you don't stand on ceremony
John, my friend" he remarked laugh
ing. al thought every mans house wal
his castle"
$50 it il, Jim until he makes it shield
for law breaking" ] answered.
prove your words, my man."
Il intend to, hope; so you will con
slider yourself my prisoner while
search"
please yourself, and take the conse
quence," he replied, and carelessly wen
on with his game.
Putting my men on guard, began tC
examine the apartments.
l sounded the walls, CROPPED up the
chimncys, tried the flooring.
No, not sign" while Jim Bradley.
utter indifference, own perplexed me
Done again. l muttered, when
heard heavy step in the room above.
What's that up stairs?" / asked.
You should know by this time an.
swered Jim. Il can only say that con
founded Irish hag is always screechin
as chaps a-dying, which amt much
concern of mine, as long as he keeps his
self to hisself, and don't groan two loud
Ugh low game, without even the Jack
Phil" he added to his companion, put
ting down his cards.
The sick mans ruse, perhaps, thought
/.
"Come, lads" said aloud, we'll &C
NJ.
Regardless ofthe old woman entrea
les not to disturb the poor dying so'i!,
we mounted.
The black attic was bare as bare
could be. When / was about to enter
the other, the door opened and grave
looking, respectfully. dressed man cross
ed the threshold.
Hush" he said ina low tone. May
| ask the meaning of this disturbance?
The poor fellow here has but a few mo
ments to live. His unfortunate young wife
is distracted"
looked keenly at him.
"lf it isn't an impertinent question,
sir" l asked, pray who may you be?''
who am I?' he smiled. liam Doc
tor Alexander, of Jude street, close By.
Now, in my tnrn, who are you?'
instantly acquainted him with my
business He looked serious and in
terested.
"Humph" he said, drawing me lit
tie aside: Il have only visited this place
once or twice, but own 1 haye had my
doubts of its respectability. We med
ical men see strange scenes. Still
don't fancy the poor woman and her
husband have had any connivance with
the people below He is a bricklayer.
Though, Of course, in such matters, you
are the best judge. Such persons are
capable Of all manner Of tricks. Ii is, OF
course, your duty to make certain. Only
in case you are wrong be gentle to the
wretched wife and mother. Come in.
We entered. The room was almost
devoid of furniture, and barely supplied
with the common necessaries of exist
ence.
At one side was a miserable mattress,
laid on the floor, and stretched on i, was
the dying man.
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.
LIN not hard hearted, but the sight
took me back, especially the counte-
nance of the husband, upon which the
hue of death had already settled.
Twas following the doctor, when, alb
rup,ly, he leaned forward, then drawing
back placed his hand on my arm. =
Il thought as much" he whispered,
all is over
The words were scarcely audible, yet
they reached the wife's ears.
I shall never forget the scream she
gave. Starting up on her knees she
gazed wildly into the face of the dead,