The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-13
THE DEANS WATCH.

friend Witfred, ms d0uote~Dass siuhS efei
his shoulder, aud / with violin under my
arm, were on our way TO Hefdeioerg 10 lake
Dart in the Christmas festivities. An eHtra
ordinary quantity OF snow had 1aileh lna'
season and we toiied on with the snow III
10 our knees and our spirits sinking ioWet
every moment. The heights ABOUT he'9ei'
berg had begun to appear, ana we nopea W
reach town about nightfall. "ncn ABOVE tIs
whistle OF the shrill north wilma we heai u
Tho gallon of horse. Nearer and nearer II
.ame. soon fine rider was within twenty
stems. he slackeued his pace, examining
ms out of the corner OF bis eye. we also
examined him out OF the same. Imagine q
bic man with red beard and hair, wrapped
in a brown cloak; on his head superb
cooked hat: his hands buried in fur gloves
I'D to the elbows.
..Hey, nv lads +" he cried, "you are 60
inc to Heidelberg, I see, to try little mu'
sic"
Wilfrcd eyed the traveller askance.
"That is no affair Of yours, sir,' an
swered he gruffly.
eyes, have piece OF advice 70 give
you"
for" retorted Wifred, quickepinS his pace.
.. NV TREND" began the stranger again,
addressing me; "my friend, the best thing
YOU can do is to return whence you came.''
"Wby, sir?"
"The famous singer Prininti, from Italy
has arrived. He is to give grand Christ
mas concert. Everybody is going. You
will not have hearer."
ga fig for your Italian" cried wired
"This boy here is worth dozen OF him.
"Hear! Hcar!'' laughed the stranger. -
alt is Just as tell you," SAID Wilfred
starting off in run.
The stranger followed Just long enough
to shout with harsh voice:
"Whatever your talents may be, do moi
80 to Heidelberg. We have vagabonds
enough already, without you. 1t is GOOD
advice l give yoH; you had best profit by
it," With which words he touched bis
horse and was soon out Of sight.
About O'Clock we reached Heidelberg,
There, in fact. we found posted on all the
walls Prlninti's flaming placardS: "Grand
Concert Solo," &c.
We met our old comradc Brewer, and
were soon engaged to play in bis band, and
while I made the arrangements wired
went to engage a room for Us. 1t was on
the sixth story Of Il little tavern we'll known
to us, and was only 4 garnet, though luck
ily it had an iron stove, in which we light
ed fire TO dry ourselves. While we were
sitting quietly over the fire up came little
Annette, the pretty maid at the inn. We
were old friends, Annette and |, for we
were from'the same village, and had long
ago lost my heart with her bright eyes.
Il saw you come up" said she. "Here
am !, come to bring you some wine and
have minutes talk"
With that she began string OF questions
about every one in the village; and not
until the clock struck ~ did she leave to as
sist Mother Gredel to shut up the house,
and then | had TO promise to tell her the
rest in the morning. "Ah!" she cried,
turning back as she reached the door, II
forgot to tell you-have you heard ?"
"What? ?"
"The death OF our rector"
"Well, what is that to us?"
"Only you must have your papers all
right. They will come tomorrow morning
to look at them. The police are on the
alert, and have arrested-oh, so many peo-
pie during the last two weeks. The rector
was assassinated yesterday evening. Last
week the old priest, Ulmet Elias, who lived
in the Jews quarter, was killed the same
way. Only few days before, the doctor
and ieweller OF Main street. So have care
to your papers, Kasper," and with a tender
glance, Annette FASTENED down stairs to
her mistress.
Wilfred and I looked at each other in
some uneasiness. Then we looked again
ut orr papers, and finding them all right,
finished our wine and went to bed. Will
fred was asleep in minute, and soon fol-
lowed him to dream OF Annette and my viii
iage home.
fIn linn I
awakened by a strange noise. AT first
thought it n rat running along the cutters,
but my ear being close to the rafters i
could not long remain in doubt. Some one
was walking on the roof. I touched VIII
fred 10 wake him.
Hush !" whispered be.
He had also heard the noise. The IRE was
Just dying out; the last feeble fame nieSer'
ed on the wall
1 was on the point OF sprincing from the
bed when. at single blow, the i'ttlc T7n-
dow, kept closed by brick, was opened. a
pale face with red hair and cleaning, pros
phorescent eyes appeared In the openha@
and looked about the room Our fright WEE
SO great we could not utter souna:
The man passed through aDe wnhdoW ans
descended into the room so carels'iy tns
not board ereaked. This man, with
Y.
and set. like q tiger ready 10 sprissg, was
none other than the rider who had over.
taken us on the road TO Heidelberg. Bu'
what change in his appearaneel In spite
OF the cold. he was In his shirf-sleeses, q
Dair OF breeches belted about his waist. A
long knife, Geeked with blood, .as iii his
hand.
Winired and 1 gave ourselves up fo1
lost.
The intruder seated himself ON a ehaii:,
covering and shiyering in strange WAY
Suddenly the greenish yellow eyes fixed
themselves on me; his 'nostriIs ditated for
a moment, which seemed aa age; he stared
at me; then turned With q husky cough,
like that which a cat makes, and seemed to
warm himself ut the Ere.
Presently be took watch from his pocket,
appeared to look at the hour, laid it on the
table, and rose from his seat. The blood
stood still III my veins. But after looking
uncertainty at the window he opened the
door and went out. sprang up TO fasten
the door. but already his steps we're eseak-
Ing on the staircase.two stories below. An
irresistible curiosity oyercame my terror.
l heard window open which opened upon
the courtyard. / fastened to the garrett
window on the same side Of the house. A
high wall sixty feet high divided the court
yard and Joined ahe inn to the neighboring
house. The summit OF the wall lust
reached the window which The marander
had lust opened, and frembIed as i saw
MIN come out OF thas window and run along
ane WAL, reach the roof OF the next house.
&na snser window Of i, bis long hair ny.