The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-12-01

/ dragged him to the floor, and pulled the
heavy bed over him. then smiled gaylly,
to find the deed, 90 far, done. But for
many minutes the heart beat on With Q
mufslsd sound. This, however, did not
yex me; It would not be heard through
the wall. At length It ceased. The man
was dead. I removed the bed and exam
ined the corpse. Yes, he was stone, stone
dead. I placed my band upon the heart
and held 1t there many minutes. There
was no pulsstion. He was stone dead.
His eye would trouble me no more.
II still you think me mad, you will think
so no longer when describe the wise pre-.
cautions I took for the concealment OF the
body. The night waned, and ! worked
hastily, but In silence. First Of all ! dis
membeted the corpse. / cut of the head,
and the arms and the legs. l-
| then took up three planks from the
flooring OF the chamber and deposited all
between the scantlings. / then replaced
the boards 80 cleverly, 30 cunningly, that
no human eye-not even his-could have
detected anything wrong. There was
nothing to wash out-no stain OF any kind
no blood spot whatever. l had been too
wary for that. A tub had caught alba |!
ha!
When I had made an end OF these la
bors II was o'clock-stiil dark as mid
night. As the bell sounded the hour
there came knocking at the street door.
went down to open 1t with a Light heart
for what had l now to fear2 There en-
tered three men, who introduced them
selves with perfect suavity as officers OF
the police. A shrek had been heard by Q
neighbor during the night; suspicion Of
foul play had been aroused; information
had been lodged at the police office, and
they 1.-THE otAcers) had been depu:ed to
search the premises.
smiled, for what had 10 fear? 1bade
the gentlemen welcome. The shrek, !
said, YVES my own in q dream. The old
man, l mentioned, WAS absent in the coun-
try. took my visitors all over the house.
babe them search-search well. l led
them at length to his chamber. ! showed
them his treasures, secure, undisturbed.
In the enthusiasm OF my confidence ]
brought chairs into the room and desired
them here to rest from their fatigues, while
myself in the wild audacity Of my per-
feet triumph, placed my own seat upon
The very spot beneath which reposed the
corpse Of the victim.
The officers were satisfied. My manner
had convinced them. l was singularly at
ease. They sat, and while ! answered
they chatted OF familiar things
But, ere long, I felt myself growing pale
ind wished them gone. My head ached,
md fancied q ringing in my ears; but still
hey sat and still chatted. The ringing be-
,4ne more distinct-it continued and be-
,ame more distinct; l talked more freely to
get rid Of the feeling, but 1t continued and
,ained dehnitiveness-until at length
ound the noise was not within my ears.
No doubt l now grew very pale; but l
alked more luently and with heighten.
ID voice. Yet the sound increesed-and
what could do? It was low, dull, quick
such a sound as watch
makes when enveloped in cotton. l gasp
ID for breath-and yet the officers heard 1t |
loL l talked more quickly, more ve-
lemently; but the noise steadily increased.
arose and argued about trifes in high
ley and with violent gesticulations, but the
loise steadily increased. Why would they
not be gone? paced the floor to and fro
With heavy strides, as if excited to fury by
he observations Of the men-but the
loise steadily increased. Oh, God what
could do? / foamed-I raved-I swore l
Iwung the chair upon which l had been ait.
ing and grated it upon the boards, but the
loise arose over all and continually in.
:reased. It grew louder, louder, louder!
Aud sill the men chatted pleasantly and
Imiled. Was 1t possible they heard not?
Almighty Zodiac, nc! They heard
hey suspectedl-,liey kneW!-they sus-
kneH!-:hey were making a
nockery Of my horrol!-this thought,
md this think. But anything was better
han this agony! Anything was more tol-
.r4ble than this derisior! l could bear
hose hypocritical smiles no Longer! l felt
hat must scream or di,! and now-again?
tk!-loudeI! louder! loudeil louderl-
"Villains!" l shrieked, Ensemble no
mort! I admit the deed!-.ear up the
plank there, hert!-it is the beating Of
Ills hideous hear !"