New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-11

| ing the arms of the chair with convulsiye grip
ali a sham What was that on the ioor that
all dark line creeping slowly from the chair TO
| the fire : A fearful idea possessed his brain he
| dropped Oh his knees-he touched tit wet
| il was red. He. the strong man, staggered TO his
| feet rushed to the door shrieked for Help helpr
was inst conscious of people running of lights of
] noise. and then sank in dead faint, overpowered
| bv the slow growing suddenly realized horror of
| that dreadful night.
The next day, will be imagined. all was con-
steInation in Bedford College and throughout the
University The bolt had fallen. bnt whence
| Why had hlameless lad been singled out what
was the motive Of the perDetrator AMI why above
all had that particular moment been selected for
| the deedf Ii was soon discovered that the blow
| had been aimed from behind. Sydney. who was
not dead. but dangerously wounded and lying nm
conscious. had been taken at once to the Presidents
| house where he could have the benefits of female
no hospital in O. and indeed II would have been
wounded youth 50 far through the cold air and fog
| He undresSed and put to bed. when a large
wound, produced apparently by some sharp lnstru-
mcnt, was found Just between the shoulders, az the
| back OF the neck A great deal of blood had been
lost and the doctors gave faint hopes of recovery.
The police, such as they were at the end of TIE
| last century. put upon the scent; but the
would-be murderer had left no trace behind him.
There no appearance OF a struggle III the apart
mcnt no weapon had been found nobody had
seen any suspicious person hanging about the col
ege curing any part of that day. The college ser
exception old retainers whose honesty was well
known. fact which soon discovered
that money or other property OF the victim had
been stolen. His purse, his watch, were IN his
pocket all his goods and belongings were left in
his room Just they usually No; the motive
whatever II might have bcen-was not plumber.
The members of the College of course most
active in giving assistance. The Old President had
made the most valuable suggestion that came from
any quarter for discovering the author OF the
crime Search the College thoroughly at once he
said search every room, every attic, every cellar
And with the willing aid afforded by the Undergrad
yates this was done. Before II o'clock on the night
of the tragedy every hole and corner which could
possibly conceal a murderer had been thoroughly
explored. But with 30 result.
An undetinable feeling of uneasIness Dervahed the
whole College. Undergraduates hurried quickly
along dark passages at night, nervous chances
greeted any unlnOticed football, oaks were
'sported at unusually early hours, and the
majority attempted to Danish fear by meeting to-
gether in large numbers IN each Others rooms ana
talking loudly and vehemcntly about other sub
ects. But conversation always seemed 10 come
round to the theme: the vision OF their com
rade seated in his armchair warming himself at
his own fire and the steathy tread of mis- murderer
coming him from behind. These were the
images that He'd their minds and gave tle prevail
ing tone TO all at tenpts at uncOnstrained talk
On the third night after the event above de- |
scrbed a party Of some six or eight Undergrad |
yates was sitting in n large room. occupied by one |
of the number. on the ground floor, Wine was on |
the table, cigars and pipes were beng smoked. !
coffee circulating in large cups and converse +
ton and merrlment-tOr nothing can make youth !
melancholy for long-was at It's height. W hile !
they thus engaged another undergraduates |
entered who was welcomed by all present with !
lively marks of recognition. His name was Ruth |
ertOn a gay lght-ueaTtcd youth. " no hailed from !
across the Border, but who retained few traces OF |
his scotch parentage beyond "a sll Sht accent. tie /
was universally popular throughout tie college,
and was now greeted acquisition and add
tioreo tho enjoyment of the evening.
Enter my friend, enter, said the master OF the
chamber. Some excellent coffee very much ut
your service Where have you come from Take
n chair and cigar make yourself at home
ruth IL
Jovel it's a cold night. though he said freezing
hard Then he looked round the room in an absent
kind or way, and stopped.
What is IT, Ruthorton said his host
WHAT'S what 2 replied the new conner. I'm all
right
YOU had some dreadful news TO communicate 10 us.
1t would be so exciting, you know. Doht you
think yOu could go away ana get nurGercd Aud
then come back and tell Us 2
Murdered II No, but III tell you what said
Rutherton, suddenly rousing himself and looking
round earnestly, / shouldn't wonder IL somebody
else had been murdered tonight
What do you mean said several voices at
once
VOL I'll tell Won about IT, That's what came
for really I was sitting in my room, doing, or
irving TO do, some reading; 1t was about half an
hour ago. daresay began TO nod over my hooks
Bot I was made akeful enough before long, l can
tell YOU 10y most fearful and extraordinary noises
somew here near me. And want some of Won fell
for upon my soul would rather have somebody
with me than go searching about the college at
night by myself
All were startled and excited. Each looked at his
neighbor and asked l. there another mystery
" no could tell 7 Their sense OF horror, which had
been preternaturally awakened on the night OF the
tragedy, but had since burnt low again, blazed up
once more mt the slightest suggestion of new
cause for alarm. They followed Rutherton noise
Iessly through the smaller quadrangle 70 the gate
way. assembled the stairs, and found themselves III
his room on the first floor. These rooms were very
lofty being Immediately over the porch, which II
self was tall one so that the gateway and the
c,o,,, in wifi were O. / 4
gether reached as high the three stories OF the
rest of the college. Then above these rooms there
was the highest room In the college IN the tower
itself which rose lar above the roofs OF te rtsl oI
the building. The Tower rooms-as they were
called "a bedroom and sitting room were theh o1- |
rupied by an undergraduate named + eiIahd-
Rutherton's rooms exactly below: The lamp
at which he had been reading was still burning,
and there was a bright fire. 80 they all waited IN
a state of anxious expectancy and remained quite
,npeared bours and Ruthertoa was just beginning
~ q low voice. 1t may have been only my
fancy when q distinct and peculiar sound
struck upon heir IL was laugh pro !
metallic: coming rs it seemed, from some adjoining
chamber and deadened in its passage through IN |
tervening walls, There Is nothing one might
think very terrifying in a laugh. This, however,
could hardly he heard by the least nervous person
with equnnimityi there something SO I'M
earthly so appalling. unnatural about 1t that 1t
,haned every one of the hearers to their seats
while it lasted and at length. when 1t died OH
INTO distant gurgie, they did not str tor some
little time, but seemed OyeTpowered by the lnlu- |
moe of q vague terror.
At last Rutherton shivered. and rose up. That's
what rheard' he said. Now, what does 1t mean J |
Let me tell you that am glad to have you with
me- for that's not pleasant sound to listen to
alone. by any means
Peasant = exclaimed another. Its the most ap
Railing caehinuatiOn ever had the luck 10 listen
TO- Where on earth does IL come frOmP
oh. ii must be the porter; his lodge Is below
suggested one:
THE porter replied another not he unless hes .
uddenly taken leave of his senses Who are ia the
IL, - Of Won Rufh ton
Let me think said RuthertOn. 'You know !
hese rooms are approached by different Staircase
SO there Is "A solid wall between US hardly tenk
INV noise could penetrate. On this side and no
.oIntoS ~ tie Left Ansnn,s room would comes ON