The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-08-16
ale Gntd6aetnan
THE DEANS WATCH.

THE A WATCH.
The day before Christmas Of 1882 III
friend wllfred, his double.bsss slung ovt
his shoulder, and 1 with violin under IN
arm, were on our way to Heidelberg
take part in the Christmas festivities, A
extraordinary quantity Of snow had tallo
that season, and We Oiled on with III
snow up to our kneesRnd our spirits sinl
Ing lower every moment. The height
about Heidelberg had begun to apes
and we hopedt to reach town about nigh
fall, when above the whistle Of the shri
north wind we heard the gallop Of q horst
Nearer and nearer 1t came, soon the ride
was within twenty steps, He alackene
his pace, examining US out Of the corne
ot qis eye. We also examined him on
OF the corner Of the same. Imagine a bi
man with.red beard and hair, wrapped Il
q brown coat; on his head a superb cock
ed hat; his hands buried in fur gloves u
to the elbows.
"IIey, my lady' he cried, "you are 20
ing to Heidelberg, l see, to try a little mu
sic."
Wilired eyed the traveller askancc.
'That Is no affair Of yours, sir" answer
ed he, gruHly.
eyes; | have a piece of advice to Civ,
you:m
FOL, retorted Wilfred, quickeniug his pace
"My friend" began the stranger again
addressing me; tiny friend, the best thinl
you can do isto return w%henCeyou came
"Why, sirP"
"The famous singer Priniati, from Italy
has arrived. He is to give grand Christ
mas concert. Everybody l. going. Yor
will not have a hearer."
"a fig for your Italian" cried Wilfred
"This boy here is worth q dozen Of him."
"Hearl Hearl' laughed the stranger.
ut is Just as Itell you" said Wilfred
starting oil In a run.
The stranger followed Just long enough
to shout with a harsh voice:
Whatever your talents may be, do moi
go TO Heidelberg. We have vagaboudt
enough already, without you. It Is good
advice | give you; you had best profit By
It" With which words he touched hiE
horse and was soon out Of sight.
About { O'Clock We reached Heidelberg
There, in fact, we found posted on all the
walls Prininti's flaming placards: "Grand
Concert Solo, &c.
We met our old comrade Brewer, and
were soon engaged to play in his band,
and while | made the arraa gements vii
fred went TO engage q room for US. Il was
on the sixth story of a little tavern vel,
known to MS, and was only agarret, though
luckily it had an iron stove, in which va
lighted n 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 I, tol
wO were from the same village, and I had
long ago lost my heart with her bright
eyes.
~ saw You come up" said she. 'sHere
am |, come to bring you some wine and
have q minutes tall"
With that she began q string OF Uues,
tons about every one in the village; and
not until the clock struck12 did she leave
to assist Mother Gredel to shut up TIE
house, and then ] had to promise TO tel
her the rest in the morning. H"Ah!" she
cried, turning back as she reached the
door, ~ forgot to tell y%ou-have you
heard2-"
"What?"
'"Thc death of our rector" y
swell, what is that TO u.s."
"OnlY you must have your papers al
right. They will come tomorrow morn.
ing to look at them. The police are OIL
the alert, and baVe arrested-oh, so many
people during the last tYo weeks. The
rector was RsSassinated yesterday even.
ing. Last week the old priest, Dlne Of
Elias, who lived in the Jews quarter, was
killed the same way. Only a few days be,
fore the doctor and jeweller Of Main
street So have a care to your papers,
Kasper," and with . tender glance, An
natte fastened down statfst 10 her mistress
Wllired and | looked again OF each 9thel
in some uneasiness. Then We looked
again at our papers, and finding them al
right finished our wine aud went 10 bed
Wilfred was asleep in a minute. and l soor
followed him to dream Of Annette Rnt
uy village home. .g'
About two o'clock in the morning l was
awakened by a strange noise. AT first J
thought it a rat running along the cutters
but my ear being close to tho ralters
could not long remain in doubt. Somt
one was walking on the roof. l touchet
Wilfred to wake him.
"HushM whispered he
He had also heard the noise. The lirC
was Just dytngout; the last feeble tlamC
tickered on the wall.
l was On the point OF Springing from tht
bed when, at a single blow, the little van
dow, kept closed by a brick, was opened
A pale face with red hair and cleaning
phosphorescent eyes appeared the open
ing and looked about the room. Gu
fright was so great we could not utter
sound.
The man passed through the windov
and descended into the room so'carefult,
that not a board crealed. This man, witt
heavy, round shoulders, his face wrinkle,
and set, like q tiger ready to spring, wa
none other than the rider who had over
taken US on the road to Heidelberg. Blu
whata change in his appearance! In spit
OF the cold, he was inF'his shirt-sleeveS,
pair of breeChes belted about his waist !
long knife, aeCked with blood, was in hi
hand. 4cEgT 1Il
Wilfred and l gave ourselves up 10
lost. H-5fsL 1.ltl ,
The intruder seated himself on a chair
covering and shivering in a strange way
Suddenly the greenish yellow eyes tixe
themselves on me; his nostrils dilated 70
Ia moment, whichseemed mage; hestare
INF me: then turned with a husky cough
Hike that which a cat makes, and SCENE
TO warm himself at the fire.
Presently lie took o. watch from h:
nocket, appeared to look at tie hour lai
Il ON the table, and rose from his sea
The blood stood still in my veins. b
after looking 0~neortainly at the windo
he opened the door and went out.
bis steps we've efeaking on thsigtaitcal
two stories below. An irresistible cur
osity oyercame my terror. Eheard a vii
dow open which opeuedI upon the ,cour
AH-atraNa