The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-24

plates of sheet lead, was at the gable end, opposite to the fireplace, and looked out into a small patch of ground, inclosed as a garden. To neither Of these windows were there any shutters.
 To return to Mrs. Barton, whose terror had so increased as to become acuteiy painful. Every story Of bloodshed she had ever heard her imagination now viv- idly conjurcd up, and increased their hc.- TOTS a thousand fold and every blast of wind that came whirling along the noun tain sides she formed into the sound of some one breaking in.
 How long she had lain she knew not, although the monotonous ticking of the clock sounded near the bed, and whose striking of the passing hours she had failed 10 note, when she was startled by .he sound of 2 heavy footfall near the house, apparently on some boards which lay under a shed in the garden. She suddenly sprung up into sitting posture and bent forward with eager intentness 10 listen for a continuance of the sound. She heard the footstep again quickly fol- lowed by the sound as oi diamond drawn sharply over a square of glass As yet not movement had the dog made, indicating a recognizance Of what was going on. Dreadful had Mrs Bsrton's terror now become as she in vain tried to call to the dog for her tongue cleaved to the roof of her mouth, and refused to utter the slightest sound. And when. a moment after, she could hear the handle fastening on the easement on the inside turn round with a sharp, clicking noise, and the dog still remained inactive, her terror became appalling. The hair on her forehead stood up erect, and there oozed big drops of clammy precipitation, as her every limb shook with nervous trembling.
 Almost instantly following the sound of the easement being opened, there ap- peared to be some one forcing his body ' through the aperture, accompanied by l. some words spoken to the dog in whis- !. pered tone. Dash replied by uttering a low growl and making a sudden spring } across the room. Then followed sharp !. cry of pain, so wild and shrill as to al- most chill the blood in Mrs. Barton's veins. Nov seemed fierce struggle. in- termingied with the continued growing : of the dog, and each moment decreasing cries of human being in the utmost ex, tremity of acute bodily anguish. In a : few moments the struggle ceased. and all became still as death.
 : As soon as the first gray tints of morn : ing shone through the chinks in the shut ter. Mrs. Barton got up and dressed. in a , state more dead than alive. Opening , the shutter. she took a seat by the win dow. overlooking one of the three roads . to await the appearance of the first per son who might pass the place, for she did
 not dare to enter the other room alone . A teamster shortly came toward her
 whom she hailed, and informed of the circumstance which had occurred. He instantly stepped round to the side or } which was the small easement. and quickly returning. exclaimed, wi,h hosro. depicted Tn his face:
 l. My God what sight have seen '. He then entered through the window } into the back apartment, and led the Wa, into the other room.
 And what scene now met their gaze
 Hanging partially through the easement ; with the fore portion ofthe body protrud ing to the inside. was the lifeless body o } man, whose throat was literally torn te pieces. It was the body of Gontran. the butcher. In his right hand he held a long knife, whose blade was covered with blood from several deep wounds he had indicted upon the brute. which had proved too faithful to his master Con. tran had come with the intention of mur- derng Mrs. Barton. so as to acquire the money she had so foolishly told him oi their possessing and to prevent, any sus- p'eion of the perpetration of the crime from attaching ,o himself, had left the dog fully believing that 1t would prove no impeachment to his entering the house !, The mistake justly cost him his life
 It was evident that the struggle be tween the butcher and his dog mus, have been most dreadful for. besides the nu- merous wounds inflicted on the latter. a a considerable portion of hair was tom from its neck and breast. and some of which was still olutchcd within the stiff ened fingers of the lifeless man. Dash was seated beneath the window, erect and mo,ionless. gazing on the corpse of his late master with pitiful look.
 As soon as the teamster had recovered from the tirs, horrible feelings inspired by the dreadful scene before him. he dressed the wounds of Dash, and then departed on his journey, with the prom ise of making known the circumstance of the tragic event to the authorities of the nearest town.
 Nor did Mrs. Barton now feel any further alarm at remaining alone. after such proof of the sagacity and courage of the noble brute. And ever after. the dog having recovered from his wounds. was treated by herself and husband with the utmost kindness; nor could any amount of money which might have been offered have induced them to part with him.
 It was subsequently, discovered tha, Gontran was the leader of the gang of marauders who had for so long time infested that par, of the country he having merely followed the occupation of a butcher as cloak 10 his more vil- lainous course of life, and as a means of acquiring information of the places