Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-05-26

cut yourselI
"'It's somebody else that's cut, I'm
thinking and l told her about it.
"'Go right away to the police 7 she
exclaimed.
"'And get myself locked up for life
as witness ? That's the way they serve
you in New York. I'll wait first and
see if the papers have anything to say
about it 2
Strange Mr.. P don't come for
his boots, said my wife. I wonde, if
you could be mistaken about his calling
for them 2
"'Perhaps he has forgotten it himself
and is waiting at home for them; and
here it is three o'clock
$50 saying, I took the boots and
started for my customers house. I had
a good way to 60, but hurried as fast as
1 could, thinking all the time of the
spot on the greenback and the spot on
my finger, for l thought I ought to wash
it off.
Il mounted the steps and rang the
bell.
1.-The door was opened so quick that
it started me. and there stood a sweet,
pretty girl, fourteen or fifteen years old,
dressed for traveling-hat and all on.
"'Papa is not home yet, and it is SO
strange! she cried. Il was watching
for him. We were to leave for Boston
by the quarter past three express train,
and it is that now. Papa is always so
punctual, l can't think what to make of
it.
"She appeared to be more thinking
aloud than talking to me.
Probably business detains him,
Miss-something unexpected, no doubt.
81 could not help casting glance at
my finger as | spoke-I mean the finger
that had the spot on it. looked from
the finger to the young girl.
DO you think anything has hap
pened to him :? she demanded earnestly.
Happened to him? No, indeed.
Sure to be home in few minutes
The words nearly choked me. How
l got them out don't know. | left the
house as quick as possible, holding the
finger separate from the other fingers till
l reached my shop.
Something awful has been going on
wife. We will see it for certain in the
papers,
Peter, said she, be sure you don't
wash that finger
why not 2 said l, my teeth chat
tering.
"'Good gracious, Wife says I, have
got to be all night with my finger so ?
l shall not sleep a wink
"'Yes, you have says she. and i
will do it up with rag, so nothing can
rub the stain out
".Pease don't do that, wife. 1t
makes me feel strange
"But before l was done speaking, she
had the rag on. Then she got supper
but not a mouthful could eat.
"'lt's of no use, can't work 1 may
as well 60 to bed,' | said.
81 did not light up the shop, but
went into the other room and got in
bed. laid awake nearly all night, in
terrible state with my finger. At last
fell asleep, and dreamed it began tc
swell, and kept growing larger and
larger, till it was bigger than my head
l was in great trouble. A doctor came
to cut it off. and, just as he was CON-
mencing, | heard a scream which woke
me. There was my wife standing over
me, with newspaper in her hand.
1.-The awfulest thing that ever hap
pened = she cried Mr.. p was
murdered yesterday afternoon, and II
was his murderer you did that job for
Read p
"The account was short. Mr.. 2 -
had been discovered in the basement Of
his warehouse, near his vault, quite
dead, stabbed ever so many times. The
vault-it was where he kept his valua-
bles-was open. Everything disposablt
was taken, of which was large sum il
bank bills-a tremendous robbery. From
the basement into the vault you crossed
an area, covered with an iron grating
which let light into cellar below. The
murderer's heel must have caught be
tween the bars during the scuffle. Il
was wrenched off and found stuck there
There was no clue whatever to the mur
derer except the heel. This was the
whole story.
81 jumped out of bed.
"'Now, Peter. what are you going t
do?' asked my wife.
al am going to see Lawyer E.
(he was one of my customers), and tel
him all know
That's right, said she.
81 hurried off as soon as I was dress
ed. Lawyer E. was not up
waited for him. As soon as he cam
into the room told him my story. H
took it coolly enough but that was be