The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-03-13


night, and the street was completely de
serted. Their interview was brief, and its
close was FASTENED on discovering that
there was a bright light in the counting
room Of the bank Some employe must
be staying or perhaps Mr.. Tennicl him.
self for Helen had not seen him come
home at his usual hour. A few whispered
words, breathing love and consistency, a
hurried agreement as TO future CORE.
spondence, and the lovers separated,
Helen hurrying homewards and Edward
watching the light in the countingroom,
for he still had his key to the employees
door in the rear of the building, and he
proposed as he had told Helen, entering
the building once more to remove some
private papers and other matters forgotten
in the hurry of his departure that after
noon. The light troubled him, however,
and he waited impaticntly for II to be low
cred, and for the individual, whoever ii
was, to take himself or After few mo-
mcnts waiting, Leighton concluded to
walk around the next block and return.
He did so, and on his return was surprised
TO SEQ the light out as il was generally left
burning low. However it was doubtless
the work OF junior clerk who had had
some extra work TO do. Leighton carried
key to the bank always. lie entered by
the rear door, and SO made his way to the
counting.room.
As he lighted the gas jet over his desk,
he started violently AS his eye fell on re-
volver that lay upon ii. He instantly
seized it, and he could hear his own heart
beat as he recognized weapon which he
had for some time lever since bold at
tempt at robbing the bank perpetratcd in
broad daylight kept in his G.-wer. He
saw at glance that it had been recently
discharged What foul crime could have
been committed He was not long in
doubt With the weapon still in his hand
he looked around, and an Undesirable
fear took possession Of him. The door
into the private Office occupied by the part
ncrs was open. He advanced toward il
and saw that light was still burning in
the inner room so recently the scene of his
last interview with Mr. Tcnnicl With
faltering steps he made his way to the
apartment, and pushing open the partly
open door a sight greeted him which
wrung from him loud exclamation of
horror. On the floor, face downward, lay
the body of Mr.. Tenniel. 1t was still
head of the murdered man and shuddCrcd
violently as the still warm blood, flowing
from a small hole in the forehead, trickled
over his fingers and down his arm. HaSti-
~ Withdrawing his hand, the face again
fell forward into the little pool of blood
which had flowed from the wound, Ed.
ward Leighton stood for some minutes
motionlcss and aghast like a man in a
dream. He Cndeavorcd to control his scat.
tered senses, and low cry of dismay
broke from his lips. What II he were 10
he accused Of the dreadful crime 1t had
been committed with his pistol; OF that
there was no doubt He was alone in the
building with the murdered man, unless,
indeed, it was still tenantcd by III, muir.
derer, thought that did not add TO his
composurc. lie looked at his blood
stained hand. There was blood on his
sleeve, yes, and on his white vest there
were red, accusing spots. Only a few
short hours before he had exchanged hot,
angry words with his employer, and had
uttered threat, or what would now be re-
gardcd as a threat, against him, in speak
ing 10 his hated rival, Richard Courtney.
As these terrible reflections crowded on
his already excited and icvered brain, it
seemed TO him as though he Shout go
mad. The blood rushed violently To his
head, he was choking-he tugged furiously
at his cravat he must have air. He
turned TO fly from the hateful spot, and as
he did so he reelcd and fell. For the first
time in his life he had swo0ned away, and
lay side by side with Mr.. Tcnnicl's corpse,
How long he had lain there when he re.
turned to his senses he could not tell.
Excited cries, the noise and din of a great
crowd fell upon his ears. Springing to
his feet he rushed into the adjoining
room, from which window opened on to
the street The tramping Of horses feet,
the fire bells, all the noise and tumut of
crowd gathering around fire warned him
Of danger Was the bank on fire? A
glance through the window showed him
that the building next door was in flames.
In moment he was at the front door of
the building, but he could not open it, As
he retraCed his steps, sudden thought
filled him with new hope. The phono.
graph!
Never for moment since he recovered
consciousness had the danger of his posi-.
ton as q suspected murderer been absent
from his mind But now he could bring
unimpcachabe testimony 10 prc-c his in.
ncccnce. The photograph, if all that was
claimed for il were true, must have record.
ed all the sounds attending Mr.. Tenniel's
murder But what if the bank should
take fire and that faithful witness be dc.
stroyed. lie must get possession of il at
all hazards. In a frenzy Of excitement he
rushed back TO the chamber of death. But
how was he 10 get possession of the mys-
terious appara,usH No signs of it were
visible Stay, what was tina, singular
aperture in The ceiing' He must get at it
IRON The room above. In less time than il
taxes to tell II, he had made his way up the
stairs and forced open the door into The
apartment Immediately over the phono.
graphic chamber The floor was uncar.
pe,eu' ana hastily Lighting match he a,
o o perceived small trapdoor in the
noor. lie could not stir II. Suddenly /,
opened; he had unwitingly struck tho
spring, and the door few omen 10 no,
hold OF the strange looking box underneath
II was the work Of an instant Blu, now a
new difficulty met him He could no, pci
the instrument away. In the darkness Inc
tugged and pulled and twisted as II for
dear life. He seemed 10 have the strength
Of dozen men, but II resisted all his
efforts. The noise and excitement outside
The building was every moment increns.
ing and now roaring, cracking sound