The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-06-04

felt as il my hands were already on the
collars of the murderers but also felt that
mistake, however slight, might make all my
discoveries valueless. lay quietly in wait
until she came out with a parcel in her
hand. Whatever she had was tied up in a
red handkerchief; but what ii was | could
not tell. l allowed hey to move on for some
distance, and then came suddenly up to her,
telling her that had been looking for her
all over the town. told her how unfortu-
nate was In having forgotten my things,
and that did not know exactly what to do.
was anxious 10 dispose of all my little
property, and now most of it was lying at
her house. Could she send IL to mep No,
there would be no person coming in, and
while we were talking saw piece of cord
uroy peeping out of the bundle.
My resolution was at once taken. was
right In my surmise and would now stake
all on sharp and instant action. Women do
not usually wear corduroys, and what she
carried in the bundle was intended for one
or both of the murders. left her, saying
that II could not so myself, would send
for what had forgotten. And then took
action, the result OF which you will preseat-
ly see.
1t was Saturday, and that night, in the
darkness with four others, l moved out
from the house of the ex-constable. We
went slowly through the fields, avoiding all
roads and pathways, My object was to re-
main with my men posted round the house
all night In such way as to leave the in
mates free from all apprehension. My four
companions got TO their places in the furze
and heather on the hill above, and i con-
cealed myself in some cover in a line with
one of the gables. From my position
could see through a window Into large
room. could see the reflection of lights
from other parts of the house, and occasion
ally one of the female inmates would come
into view with lighted candle in her hand.
shall never forget the wasting anxiety l
suffered during the first hours of my watch.
Every move sent the blood rushing through
my veins. The rustllng of a leaf, the sigh
ing of the night air through the bushes, but
above all any noise from the direction OF the
house set my heart humping and made me
strain my eyes in the painful attempt to PEN
citrate far into the darkness. AS time went
on the feeling of intense nervous excite
ment wore away aud became calm. / set
tied down steadily to my watch, aud began
to let thoughts of my occupation pass
through my mind. With deadly determine
ton was, people would say, st. etched
there, like snake in tie grass, waiting I'M
til my victim passed to spring upon him and
drag him to destruction. The picture was
not tiattering one, but 1t did not come
home to me as correctly representing my
position. True, there are other pursuits in
life OF more elevating character than the
pursuit of murderers. | was, however,
placed in this position In life, and now that
was engaged in performing one of the
most awful duties that could at any time
fall to my lot, l felt only that l was render
ing valuable services to the great social
body of which | believed myself a useful
and important member. l was following to
the root in this great social body a great
social disease; just as surgeon tracks DIS
ease in the human frame, and, when he
finds it, cuts 1t out, if necessary, to prevent
the further irritation and destruction OF the
surrounding parts. With thoughts like these,
the darkness passed away, and the first
streaks OF an August morning We're just sue
ceeded by light sufficient to make objects
at some distance clear, when--what?
| A shout and scream from the hillside
| A trampling and scramble through the
heather and furze! "Firel s'shoot him p
No, no; head himi Take him alivew
| Such were the shouts that reached me as
| | started to my feet and looked up. My
| four comrades were closing round man
who wac trying to fly away from them up
the hill. A glance showed me that he was
| not one of the murderers. | looked to the
house, and in the yard stood woman in
| great excitement, watching what was going
forward on the hill. Suddenly man carry
ing a gun rushed to her side. A tremor
| shot through me, searching out eyry fibre
| of my flesh. My sight spread. my knees
| trembled under me, and then, with a violent
| effort, | braced myself together. There be-
| fore me was the elder OF the men / sought.
| Our eyes met. lie started as If stung by an
adder, and, with the utmost rapidity, pro-
ceeded to load his gun. He must have rushed
from the house IN great haste, being
dressed merely in trousers and shirt, carry
| ing the gun in one hand, and in the other
what afterward found to be a shot-bag and
powderfask. / glanced at the hill, and
there were my four assistants still in pursuit
fro BE Continued