The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-07-06
CHAPTER VIM
rHE spAN1su AssAse1N.

down to the sunken doorway.
At the door William Gorton paused and
gave FIVE raps, each distinct and separate
from the others.
The door was opened cautiously. and
wien, wrinkled face peeped out OF the mar
row aperture.
In the obscurity of the place it vas impos-
gible to discover whether this face belonged
TO man or a woman.
sFVho is if?" asked cracked treble voice.
'sBilIr' answered William Gorton, ia
louder key.
A burst of hoarse laughter from within
greeted this announcement.
'Let him ini' cried deep voices voice
which. once heard was not easily forgotten.
''Let him inl Wen see Bill. Let him in,
Mother Mag"
The door was opened to its full width,
revealing narrow passage, the brick floor
of which was sanded. Several doors, all
low and narrow, opened into this passage.
William Gorton crossed the Threshold
followed by Maud Ovington, but the old
bag, who stood within the shadow of the
open door, stretched out her skinny and
claw-like hand and grasped the slender
wrist of the elegant daughter Of Mr.. Owing
ton.
won't do; Bill isn't alonew
carelessly. "You can't have any objection
to my giving my sister drop of brandy to
keep the cold out. She's chilled to the
bone, poor thing, for we've been out all the
evening"
''On the IsyG" asked the old woman.
eagerly.
The bag was dressed in garments of the
fashion of some thirty years before the
period of which we write; but these gar
ments, though oTttlandish in make, were
costly in texture; and it was to be observed
that double sys-glass, which hung from 0
massive gold chain round the withered
throat of the old woman, was set with bril-.
hRnts.
'sI'll take my sister into Number -Four, il
you've no objection, Mother Mag" said
William Gorton; 'tshe's little bit of lady
in her way, and she won't relish your rough
customers"
He led. the way into one of the further
rooms opening out of the passage, Miss
Ovington following him.
''Merciful Heaven, what q horrible denP
she exclaimed, looking around the room
with a shudder.
Her servant smiled strange, sardonic
smile.
cit is by no means q superb apartment,
certainly, madam" he said; ''but George
Kicker often comes here, and your brother
George is a man of refined tastes. It was in
this room that"
Miss Ovington clasped her two small
hands over her face, as if she would have
shut out both sight and hearing.
shall tell you what was done in the
next room?" asked William Gorton.
She made no reply.
''You will hear him presently" said the
servant; '.yOu are slow of belief, and you
might doubt me, but think you will be-
heve kirnP'
Miss Ovington shuddered.
"Come what may" she said, 'I must be
satisfied! I cannot endure this wretchsd
suspensei must know that 1 have not
been tricked."
''You shall know it from his own lips,
madam, answered William Gorton. "You
will wait here, madam" he said, with that
strange intermixture of respect and COM
mand with which he always addressed hiH
mistress-''you will wait here till you heaI
footsteps in the adjoining apartment; when
you do, listen.
He opened the door and left the room.
Miss Ovington seated herself near the
table, with her head resting upon her hand,
and her elbow on the rough wooden arm of
the clumsy chair in which she sat-
Mother Mag entered the apartment with q
glass of some steaming liquor in her hand
''Here, my DEAR" said the old woman,
addressing Maud, 'theres a jorum of brandy
and water, hot and strong, as we ladies
always like it, my love-" added the bag, in
an insinuating tone. 'Toss it of, my
beauty; it will do you good.
Miss Ovington with difficulty repressed
the shiver of horror which ran through her
veins as the landlady of the place ap-
preached her.
81 will try to drink it," she said.
'Of course you will, my DEAR" answered
old Mag; land you won't have to try very
hard neither, dare say Why, bless your
dear heart, it's the best French brandy, and
mild as mothers milk"
The old woman set down the glass upon
the table and hurried from the room.
The customers of old Mag were by no
means an agreeable-looklng set of gentle
men. One was a man whose blood-shot
eyes glanced from beneath dark and lower
ing brows, and seemed to flash defiance at
his fellowmen. Another sported pair of
black eyes and hideous cash across the
mouth. But remarkable as was every crea-
ture in that strange assembly, the most
peculiar of all was the man whom William
Gorton had addressed as Levinto, and with
whom he was now closely engaged in con-
versatiOn.
He was man of about forty years of age,
tall and slender, and possessed of that Won
derful hexibiity of limb which is seldom
seen in an American. His hair was of raven
black, smooth, silky and lustrous. His
eyes were of that piercingly vivid hue which
gives to the shining black pupil the appear
ance Of some flashing gem. His features
were small and closely chiseled as the fea-
lures of statue; but handsome as was the
tout eRSenlbLe Of his face, there was q hid
len something in his asneet from uhicI.
tnose VINO looked upon MIN Inyoluntarily
recoiled.
None knew the calling of this man. The
reckless wretches who nightly assembled az
this den scarcely cared to conceal from each
other the secrets of their various callings:
the burglars freely conversed about their
various adventures and escape, but not SO
the Spaniard Levinto,
Upon his own affairs this man was as
silent as the grave.
81 want to say a few words in private,
Levinto, whispered William Gorton.
What do you want to speak about"
E'The old business"
''What can you have to say about that?''
be exclaimed. at Is done, and it is paid
for; that is enough"
Not quite enough" answered William
9orton, quietly. Il have question to ask
you."
'.Ask il here, then"
''We may be overheard here. There is no
0ne in Number Five; we can talk there
''As you please, answered the Spaniard.
Maud Ovington heard their footsteps as
hey entered the room, and saw square of
he woodwork at her side open a triie.
as if pushed by deft fingers.
The Spaniard was the first to speak
Now what do you want with me2" he
Isked.
THE letters which the man who came to
his house carried upon his person.
81 tell you again, as | told you before,
hat the man carried no letters -
''But 1t is known that he never went with
,ut them"
''He was searched, said Levinto.
tWhen?"
''After he had been-quieted, answered
he Spaniard.
"And nothing was foundP"
Nothing except a few loose dimes"
There was pause; the two men remained
ilent for some moments.
The SpaniGrd was the FIRST TO rUsuIne ths