The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1882-01-07

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securely pIaieuel Then eame tlW eagnf
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VIM "a " thst Ne hiss murdered
Whom has BE- killed. hf4 MusRfutr2'
Ms p1f. Old. faithful SERVANT.
Hrdges 0nuuuol And bis aeopmpHoes
arp atfn now waiting IN mY hefse ~
murder my hien aud myself Of 1ur r.
turn. Z
Very ~ h1ffur arose from the w.
ISLANDERS My aunt looked around with
4 daRHl air.
"iihink Litlie that we arc mvnd,
she said. ya1urlJ aud then she fell In.
sensible upon the ground IN the first
aud only swp1n that her vigorous ma
iure hnd ever known.
We did not return 10 Ravenswpod
that night, as may well be imagined A
detachment Of The Waterfall police was
sent by the locul authorities 10 take
charge Of the housG and It's contents,
and also 10 superintend the removal u
the corpse " poor old Bridget My
aunt and | took refuge at the Waterlalo
Hotel. WHORE we remained 10 await tho
response 10 the telegram that was at
once dispatched TO her oldest son, who
was q lawyer In extensive practice In
New York. but II was many days be.
fore her nerves had so far recovered
their tone rs to permit Of her giving mo
a detailed account ~ MI that had taken
place on that memorable evening. Her
story, when she did tell 1t. a as fol.
lows:
"When | left you, Lizzie, TO 20 up
stairs aud make some changes In my
dress, | had no light, asyou may rcmcm-
Der. Whom | reached my dressing-room
I was unable 10 find the candle and
matches some one had displaced them;
but as the moon wasshining very bright
ly | contriycd to wash my hands and
change my collar without ringing for n
light. rs | had at first Intended. Then
| started to come down stairs, feeling
rather surprised AZ finding that Victor
had not lighted the hall lamp; but ! at
tributed bis negligence 70 the fact that
he had had so much extra work 70 at
tend IN. When | reached the foot Of
the stairs | became aware Of voices in
the buffers pantry-the voices OF SOW
cral men. talking IN u sort u half whis-
per. | was startled. and ! paused to
listen, struck Of once with the idea that
thieves had gained admission TO the
house. Standing on the mat at the foot
Of the staircase | could hear every word
that they said. They were completing
their arrangements 10 murder YOU and
me, Lizzie, and to carry or the silver.
| distinctly recognized Victor's voice,
and his peculiar foreign pronunciation.
His eonfedcrates (thcre were two Of
them, so far rs | could make OUT were
anxious to finish up the job at once
as one Of them phrascd It; but Victor
opposed H. The house was too ncar
the road. he declared; there might be
screaming, and any unusual noise nigh,
be heard by some passer-hy. Best
walt till the women are sound asleep
he urged. in their bedrooms, and then
the matter could be settled without any
tronhle.' Finally. this point was de-
cided, according To his suggestions.
AT this stage In their conference |
quilted my post and slipped noisclessly
upstairs. my intention being TO awaken
Bridyet. and TO send her out of tho
house through one Of the front drawing
o windows. to 90 and seek for help,
while the villains were still plotting Ia
lhe pantry. ! reached her room aud
entered. Bridget said. softly. But
receiving no answer, | thought aie was
still sleeping. and | approached the bed.
Tho moonlight. shining full upon the
pillow. revealed 10 me the face that rest
cd on tilt was the face Of 4 corpse.
why | did not lose consciousness ut
thai dreadful sight | cannot compre-
bend: but Providence seemed to sustain
my strength then. as afterwards. Idnew
near and investigated the cause Of the
poor creatures death. II wa not far
10 seek. Around her neck was tightly
twisted a gaily-colored silk handker'
chief. one Of A half-doznn that | had my.
self given 10 Victor. stole from the
room, hcart-sick. and well-nigh despair
ing. There we wcrr, two helpless won.
en-. shut up In the house with n band
Of assassins. and with no avenue oil
escape at hand: for, OF course. OUT
movements would be watched. and any
betrayal of our consciousness OF dan.
gcr would be followed by u instant
murder. a
And then. Lizzie, rs II by lnsplra,
ton. there flashed across my brain the
idea Of the scheme that afterward SC
fully succeeded tho story Of Caroline
Vests purposed arrival with her cele'
batri diamonds. Tho bait proved ir
nsistible TO the villains. OF rather e
their ma~ster-spirit, Victor, as had
hoped and Intended. Only n mors
woman TO put IN death. Jewels, valued
At over fits thousand dollars. would b
the reward II that Extra murder. Hui
can you realize what agony OF mind
endured when you talked Of refusing y
accompany me 10 the s~tationg
Nv story Is ended. Victor Ducang'
was tried and condemned for the nun
der he had committed. His confeder
aies esnaped capture. having probably
been on the watch for the return OF TIL
carriage. and 30 were warned OF the ap
XIV ann, nd sainksssswcod. AM
now lives in New York. vith 4 burglar
alarm In her bssi-feur and = brace Q