The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1880-03-27

be left at home that We finally de-
cided to do so. She was 80 thought
ful and Trustworthy that had no
fears in leaving her, il being only a
few minutes walk to the nearest
house, and the neighbo"hood being
Il very quiet one.
On account of the scarlet fever
being in my brothers family,which
neither of the children had had, We
stopped over night with M acquain-
tance, returning the next day.
When wc reached home we found
the doors locked and the windows
darkened, and not n sound Of life
anywhere around. Considerably
surprised at this, it being near the
middle of the day. we rang and
knocked until pretty vel! CON
vinced that there was no one within
To hear us. Then wo went down
towards the gate, being met by Mr..
Brown, our nearest ncighbor, who
had seen us 90 By. and who told rs
that Polly had left the key of the
house with his wife last night, say
ing that she had to 90 away.
/ thought u little strange ofthis.
but supposed the child had get
lonely and gone 10 her stcr-moth-
cr's, who lived about two miles dis
tant. On entering the house We
found every available point bnrri-
cadcd below, as if in expectation Of
siege. Against the back door Il
heavy bureau was drawn, on which
chairs were piled.
John and / laughed at roIIy's
extraordinary efforts TO make every
thing secure. Our next discovery
was not so pleasant; every bit Of
silver hnd vanishcd-not even Il
spoon was left! The discovery
that followed was more startling
still. On going outside John saw
the figure Of mnn suspended from
the si!l ofonc Of the back Windows.
Communicating his discovery to
Mr. Brown, who was sitting on the
front porch, the two men went up
stairs. and | followed slowly and
with beating heart. As l looked
into the room | saw the head Of u
man Just inside Of the window, the
heavy sash Of which was resting on
his neck. lie was not only quite
dead. hut there WAS every indica-
ton that life had been extinct for
several hours. lie had evidently
died from strangulation-the lea-
lures, blackencd and swollen near
~ out of a!l semblance Of liumani-
ty, presenting a terrible spectacle
on which never want TO look
again.
The shed, which ran beneath it.
showed how he had reached the
window, and the position in which
he was found how lie had met his
terrible fate. But as it was clearly
apparent that he was killed in the
act of entering, the disappearance
Of the silver remained Il mystery.
John lost no time in notifying
the authorities; and the news,
spreading like wild.Iire, for several
hours the house was thronscd by
IN excited crowd, most of them
drawn thitlIcr by curiosity. Byn"
one was the body recognized; in
fact, it would have been difficult to
do so by the face, so distorted was
it. Two or three Ind seen man OF
similar build and appearance hang
ing about the ncishborhood. As
they mentioned this | recalled to
mind the tramp that Polly had fed.
aud whoSs form and dress strongly
rcsembled the deceased.
But the people had gone nj last,
to my great rclief. As | stood at
the window watching the last one
60 down the steps, | felt touch on
my arm.
On turning I saw Polly standing
Just back Of me, and looking in the
dim twilight more like ghost than
81 living child.
"Whcre is he, tho man that was
killr,l?n she said.
John pointed to the door OF The
room where the body lay. With
out saving another word Polly OPP
cned il and went in. After Il mo-
mcnt's hesitation John and l fol-
lowed.
With blanched cheeks and eyes
lilatcd with horror, Polly stood
there us silent and notionless ms
:he ghastly thing stretched out be-
fore her.
John placed his hand on her
shm, ltler, saying. with Il sternness
which lie regretted 4 moment lat
er:
"Do YOU know this man, Polly?%
Polly lifted her eyea appcalingly
to mine.
Its my father she gaspcd,
sliding forward to the floor.
With Il feeling Of sclf.cnmpunc-
ton that was clearly yisitlc in his
honest face, John took up the little,
limp form us il it had been a
feather and laid it upon the bed in
our own room. II was rot Il faint
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