The Mineral argus., 1884-10-09

49, 10~OA ~ 0AluEts UAdluE EdING0
chairs aud a great four-post bedstead
which seamed as big as a hearse. Their
was no lock to the door, and the bolts
were rusty, so 1 could only put
the latch down I thought of putting
a chair against it. bat that seemed
childish and no protection after ali.
The night was wet and windy, and
the sky black as ink. Try as would
L couldn't get to sleep, and the1> I lev
listening to the ghostly tapping # the
ivy leaves against the window, and
thinking of the evil look in the lad
lords eyes, and all the horrid stories '
had ever read. came crowding into my
mind, when suddenly 1 started up in my
bed, wide awake enough, for l heard
something or some n climbing up the
ivy to my window, | lay with pal
pitating heart and straining eyes, list
ening to the horrible ghostly rustling
which every moment sounded nearer.
Suddenly a thought struck me; and
/ arose, hastily smoothing the bed
clothes, as though the bed had not been
slept in, 1 had just time to creep un-
der the bed, when the window was shak-
en- open, and somebody softly slipped
in. 1t was a man and, listen
ing intently, 1 heard him sigh YEARLY
to himsef, as if he were tired out.
Then he got into my bed, drew the
clothes over him, and in a few minutes
1 heard him snoring. You can imagine
how pleasant 1 felt, and the scamp had
my money bag under his pillow tool
What was to be done? / thought of my
happy home and the dear little wife
now perhaps dreaming of me, and the
thought. of her gave me courage. L de-
termined to snatch at my money and
fight for it with the unseen visitor to
the death, if need be. / was crawling
from under the bed when / heard an
other sound nearing the door this time.
In a minute the latch was quietly lifted,
the door was gently pushed open, and !
saw the landlord glide into the
room. Then q hand holding
a candle stole in at the door-only a
hand; but 1 knew those quivering fin
gers well enough. The mar crept on
tiptoe to the bed and, leaning softly
over the sleeper, stabbed him to the
heart. There was one deep groan and
all was over. The murderer drew the
money from under the pillow and
crept stealthily to the door, glancing
behind him as though he feared the
dead man would get up and follow
him.
Shaking all over and with hair on
emo 1 crawled from my hiding place,
CROPPED about for my clothes. and, af-
ter standing a moment, dazed with
horror, followed the guilty couple.
Their room was almost opposite mine,
and L could see the light under their
door, which was barely closed. l
pushed it open and peeped in. The
table faced the door, and there they
stood with their backs to me, so intent
upon the money that 1 crept close to
them without being heard.
"'Look, look, 1 heard the man whis-
per-'there is more than enough to save
our boy! How they shinel And all
ours, wife-oursp
"'No, mine, murderorP 1 shouted
with a voice of thunder, and snatching
the bag from his nerveless grasp, L
dashed the light from the woman's hand
and fed back swiftly to the room where
the dead man lay.
"Opening the window, 1 CROPPED
about with one hand for an ivy
bough, clinging somehow to the sill
with the other, and at last managed to
scramble down, reaching the ground
bruised, shaken breathless. As L rest
ed a moment to get breath, l heard
from the room above an awful cry sung
out in a woman's voice
MY boy, my boy, my only SOM
81 clambered oven the gate which led
into the street. A watch-box stood close
by in the square, and 1 hurrledly told
my story to the Waterman. He stared
in horror, as well he might, and wanted
to fetch his mate; but L told him we
were more than a match for those we
should find at the inn, 50 he came with
me. A frightened servant opened the
door to us, and 1 led the way to the
DON L had just quilted. The watch
man bent down and peered into the
dead mans face.
"'Ah,' he whispered, its as I feared!
It's their own son-they didn't know he
was home, and SO they mistook him for
you, sir
81 felt myself turn queer and giddy,
for 1 knew the meaning of that pitiful
cry, My only SON.
"And what of the murderers? They
had not so much as tried to escape, and
the door wasn't even barred against us.
The woman lay moaning on the floor;
the mar sat huddled up in a chair by
the bed. When we entered he held out
his hands to be manacled without utter
ing a word. When 1 told him how it
happened that his son had fallen a vic
tim instead of me he just stared in my
face, and made no sign that he heard
the nhnstlv tala