Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-08-20

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eyes, listening to the horrible ghostly
rustling which every moment sounded
nearer.
Suddenly thought struck me; and
l arose, hastily smoothing the bed
clothes, as though the bed had not been
slept in. Ihad just time to creep under
the bed, when the window was shaken
open, and somebody slipped in. It was
a man and, listening intently, I heard
him sigh YEARLY to himself, as if he
were tired ont. Then he got into my
bed, drew the clothes over him, and in
q few minutes / heard him snoring.
You can imagine how pleasant felt,
and the scamp had my money bag un-
der his pillow tool What was to done?
! thought of my happy home and the
dear little wife now perhaps dreaming
of me, and the thoughts of her gave me
courage. I determined to snatch at my
money and fight for it with the unseen
visitor to the death, if need be. I was
crawling from under the bed when I
heard another sound nearing the door
this time. In a minute the latch was
quietly lifted, the door was gently
pushed open, and I saw the landlord
glide into the room. Then hand hold
ing candle stole in at the door-only
a hand; but I knew those quivering
fingers we'll enough. The man crept
on tiptoe to the bed and, leaning softly
over the sleeper, stabbed him to the
heart. There was one deep groan and
ell 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
end I 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 I could see tho light under their
door, which was barely closed. I
pushed it open and peeped in. The
table faced the door, and there they
stood with their backs to me, so in
tent upon the money that I crept close
to them without being heard.
"'Look, look, I heard the man whis-
per-'there is more than enough to
save our boy! How they shine! And
all ours, wife-ours!'
"'No, mine, murderer I shouted
with voice of thunder, and snatching
tho bag from his nerveless grasp I
dashed the light from the woman's
hand and fed back swiftly to the room
where the dead man lay.
Opening the window, I CROPPED
about with one hand for an ivy bough,
clinging some how to the sill with the
other, and at last managed to scramble
down, reaching the ground bruised,
shaken, breathless. As I rested mo-
ment to get my breath, heard from
the room above an awful cry sung out
in woman's voice.
my boy, my boy, my only sonP
Il clambered over the gate which led
into the street. A Matchbox stood
close by in the square, and I hurriedly
told my story to the watchman. He
stared in horror, as well he might, and
wanted to fetch his mate; but told
him we were more than match for those
we should find at the inn, so he came
with me. A frightened servant opened
the door to us, and led the way to the
room I had just quilted. The watch
man bent down and peered into the
dead mans face.
"An,' he whispered, it's as feared
It's their own son-they didn't know he
was home, and SO they mistook him for
you, SIR
II felt myself turn queer and giddy,
for l knew the meaning of that pitiful
cry, My only SOM
tAnd 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 man sat huddled up in chair by
the bed. When we entered he held out
his hands to be manacled without utter
ing word. When I told him how it
happened that his son had fallen
victim instead of me he just stared in
my face, and made no sign that he
heard the CHASTITY tale.
"Well, sir, that's about all. The
mother, poor soul, died raving mad and
the man was hanged at Tyburn; but
not another word did he speak from
first to last, save oDce-and that was
when the judge passed sentence on him.
Then he raised his head, and, with a
look in his eyes which I can never for
get, he said:
Gan old, old man, my 1ord-my on
~ sonl'
'That's all, sir. The strangest story
you ever heard? Well, I dare say it is;
but it's all true, every word of it; for
I've got the papers to prove it, and, if
you'll be pleased to come in and see
'em, you'll be welcome as flowers in
May, that you Wilt Not now? Well,
then, I'll bid you good day. and thank
you kindly for letting me talk to you,
for it does me good to chat a bit some
times, that it do! Good day, sir, and a
pleasant walk to you!"