The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-03-03

out of the window to catch a glimpse
it. At that moment, with a heavy thmu
the coach stopped, the door flew oper
admitting a second passenger, who thre,
! himself into corner facing me, and til
coach proceeded.
was somewhat astonished that pa.
senger sLcu ID wait for the coach, in sue
a place, To say nothing of the uncom
fortabie proximity of the murder, ther
was no dwelling within quarter of
mile, and it was altogether the mos
desolate spot on the road With the in
stiuct of my profession, examined m
neighbor closely but cautiously.
There was only one smoky lamp in tn
interior of the coach, aud the possenge
sat Immediately beneath it, in the SHADOW
He appeared to be an elderly and rattle
feeble parsonage, but | could discern lit
tie more, as he was muffied up to tn.
eyes, and his hat pulled we'll down upor
his forehead.
There was something namelessly disa
greeable in his presence-a feeling of in
wand repugnance and revolt such as
had never before experienced. 1t wa,
allied to such dread and disgust as one
might iuvoluntarily draw back with from
person suffering from an infectious dis
ease. So strong did the feeling become,
that l turned away and buried myself in
my cloak in the effortto forget him. Pres
emily | became aware that he was gazing
at me with strange intentness.
In spite of myself, turned again and
met his eyes with my own, and for mo-
ment we sat stareing into each others
faces. During that moment shock pas
sed over me, like that of heavy current
Of galvanism. My flesh crept with inter-
nal cold. my hair stood up. and every
nerve in my body thrilled with something
very like horror.
| could not comprehend my own emo
tions. Why this harmless and weak old
gentleman, looking at me silently from
his corner, should have put me into a
panic, was more than my philosophy
could account for. l could, however,
trace my sensations to the stranger eyes
Though hidden beneath his hat, they
shone in their hollow sockets with deep
lurid lust:e-exactly like the red glare
often seen in the eyes Of dog In the
head of human being the effect was
startling beyond description.
Determined to overcome my nervous
ness, l ventured to break the silence
with commonplace remark:
Very cold this evening, SIR
Tie stranger made no reply, bat con-
tinued to stare at me as before. After
moment of hesitation l made another at
tompt.
"The snow is likely to block up the
roads before morning."
Instead of answering in the spirit Of
my remark, the stranger, in hollow,
far-off sounding voice, abruptly said
"The murderer of James Platt has not
yet explained his crime ~
No." l replied, "he has not yet been
40, blind and deluded humanity" he
cried with a sudden vehemence. "He
walks among you daily, respected for his
false virtues, laughing in his heart at
your weakness
What ~ | exclaimed, suddenly for
getting my nervousness in professional
excitement. Can you give me clew ?
| am detective sent here to work up
the case
g know you WE'LL" he interrupted
81 have been with you daily witnessing
your labors and your disappointment
Why have you given over so soon? Does
not the blood of the murdered man cry
out FOR vengeance?
s. have done all that ingenuity could
suggest or patience accomplish" l an
swered in secret awe. "If ;ou can give
NE a hint as to the murderer
Only to- day you clasped his blood
stained hand in friendly FAREWELL re-
turned the stranger.
Can you mean? Is it-:'
Yes" interrupted the stranger, in
my thoughts, sit is Thomas
hudson, remorseless, soulless william that
ne isr'
Il have suspected as much myself"
but there is no proof"
Yes, he replied, with startling en-
orgy, proof that will damn him.
What is it l asked in suppressed
voice. "Who can give it to mee''
"I,' answered he, quickly "Why
else am here Listen, and lose not a
word, for my time is short. From his
earliest youth Thomas Judson has been a
william, secret, selfish, dangerous, hiding
ais wicked deeds under mask of as
virtue, and defying the law with
Dharisaical compliance with its prece pts.
No man was ever kinder to the son he
owed than was James Platt to this man.
He, too, was deceived by his plausible
ways, and never until the latter days of
lis life did the unfortunate man suspect
lis evil nephew. Judson was secretly
;peculator in unlawful schemes, and in
me of them was stripped of nearly all
lis property. Ruin and exposure stared
lin in the face. In this dilemma, instead
Of taking all honorable course, he forged
/ check upon wealthy business house
md drew the money. The forgery was
discovered by his uncle, who obtained
of the check and informed
hudson of his discovery.
g From that moment, finding that he
,ould not obtain possession of the check,
he evidence of his crime, from his uncle,
hudson determined upon getting rid of
lin. On the night of the murder Jud-
ION met his victim in the village street,
md made final demand upon him for
he check, which he supposed his uncle
.arried about him. The demand was re-
used, and James Platt's fate was sealed. |
They separated, the uncle to return to |
lis home. little out of town, and judi |
on to attend church festival But be-
ore appearing in the House of God lie |
lad plan worthy Of the devil to execute.
He followed cautiously in the foot
teps of his victim, meditating the safest |
means of destroying him. Just as the
wo entered the loneliest part of the |
i l.