Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-08-24
A TERRIBLE NIGHT.

Mighty fond Of flowers he is. and rarely
proud he'll be, I know, when he hears as a
fine town gentleman has taken notice Of
EN-, All. l was fond of gardening, too,
in my time! But I'm getting an old man
now--S5 l am come Christmas-and can't
expect to be spared much longer, though Pm
hale and hearty yet, thank Heaven! All,
times have altered, sir, since my young days!
For the better, you snyi Well, things are
grander now than they were then, but some
how seem to like the old times best, perhaps
hecnuse l was young and strong in EN- And
talking Of old times reminds me of something
that once happened to me. Like to hear it,
sir. Well, so you shall, and welcome, if you
don't mind wasting an hour or SO with an old
chap like me. Sit down, then, on that bench,
and make yourself comfortable.
you've been to Chelmsford, perhaps? Then
maybe you know the 'Saracen's HeadF Well,
close TO where that now stands there used to
he an old inn called the Swan A queer old
place it was, to be sure, with its easement
windows and overhanging gables. was liv-
ing at Ralphan then-it's nigh upon sixty
years ago-a farmer l was, and had been
married only short time to n dear little
wife as loved well and true till she died.
poor lassi
"One cold December day l started for
Braintree, to look at some stock as thought
of buying. As it was two days journey,
meant 10 stop at Chelmsford for the night
and go on early the next day. didn't leave
home till about 2, and had a weary road TO
travel, 50 that the darkness came ON before l
reached the gibbet ON the edge of the COM
mon; and can tell you my flesh crawled as
the saying is, when galloped past at full
speed. 1t was a bleak, cold night, and the
road was bad, so that it was late before rode
into Chelmsford
Il put up at the 'Swan'-that being the
first inn came to-and was standing watch
ing the ostler rubbing down my good old
mare-for l always attended to that first
thing-when the landlord came slowly ont to
me; he was n short, sharp-faced man, with
great black eyes that had an uneasy sort Of
look in 'em. / told him I'd had long ride
and was glad enough to get safe into his
yard-for I'd gold about me and we'd heard
horrible tales Of the robberies and murders
on the kings highway. Well, he showed
me into long low room-the kitchen it was
with brick floor and bright fire burn
ing.
There's n noisy lot in the parlor, SIR
said he; you'll bc quiet and cosy here, for
maybe you're tired and chilly after your ride
in the wind
IL ordered a steak and some wine, and, as
/ ate my supper, thought TO myself that l
couldn't well have chosen better place than
the Swan to stop at. After had finished
l called for pipes and grog and sat by the fire
with the landlord, but l might as well have
been alone for he never spoke a word, but sat
staring into the fire with wicked l6ok in his
eyes that didn't like, though / didn't take
much notice Of it then. An know now what
his thoughts were rs he gazed modify into the
glowing Goals. He was thinking of the dis
grace brought upon his name by his only son,
and wondering where the money was to come
from which must be procured somehow if his
boy was to be saved from ruin. And then, no
doubt, he planned to murder me-ah, it's all
true, sir, I've got his confession by me now
and bury me down by the riverside, in the
meadow behind the stable Then he meant
TO turn my mare out before dawn SO that the
servants might think i had left early; and
then, you see, when it was found, people
would think something had happened to me
on the road to Braintree. Wei, my COM
panion reused himself after a time and began
asking me what thought of the country, if
had ridden far, whether had been advised
to put up ut the Swan and such like ques-
tons | answered them freely enough never
surprising that he asked them for any other
reason than just TO keep up the converse
ton asked him TO call me early, and he
promised he would do So
"'rll do it myself said he for the girl
and the ostler will be abed.'
Then he called his wife and told her to
bring me candle, which she did. She was
coase-looking, care-worn, and / noticed.
when she showed me to my room that her
voice sounded thick as she babe me an evil
oodnight'
MY bedroom was a long, low room with
queer old furniture, quaint carved chairs
and geat four-post bedstead which seemed
rs big as hearse. There was no lock to the
door, and the bolts were rusty, so l could
only put the latch down. l thought of put
ting chair against it, but that seemed child
ish and no protection after all. The night
was wet and windy, and the sky black as
ink. Try ms would, couldn't get to sleep,
and there lay listening to the ghostly tap
ping of the ivy leaves against the window,
and thinking of the evil look in the landlords
eyes, and all the horrid stories l had ever
read come crowding into my mind, when
started up in bed, wide awake
enough, for heard something or some one
climbing up the ivy to my window. l hay
with palpitating heart and straining eyes,
listening to the horrible ghostly rustling
which every moment sounded nearer.
Suddenly a thought struck ME; and
arose hastily smoothing the bedclothes, as
though the bed had not been slept in. had
just time to creep under the bed, when the
window was shaken open. and somebody
softly slipped in., II was man, and, listen
ing ntently, heard him sigh YEARLY to
himself, as if he were tired out Then he
got into my he'd, drew the clothes over him.
and in few minutes heard him snoring. |
You can imagine how pleasant felt, and |
the scamp had my money-bag under his |
low too." What was to be donel l |
Ia. ught of my happy home and the dear |
iiltle wife now perhaps dreaming Of me,
and the thought Of her gave me |
1 determined TO snatch at |
my money and fight for it with the
unseen visitor to the death. il need be was |
crawling from under the bed, when heard |
another sound, nearing the door this time |
In minute the latch was quietly lifted, the |
ioor WAS gently pushed open. and saw the |
holding a candle stole in at the door-only a |
aand: but knew those fingers well enough.
The man crept On tiptoe to the bed and, lean
ng softly over the sleeper. stabbed him to |
he heart There was one deep graan and |
III was over The murderer drew the money
rom under the pillow and crept stealthily to
he door. glancing behind him rs though he
cared the dead man would get up and fol-
ow him
shaking all over and with hair on end |
.rawled from my hiding place, grcped about
or my clothes, and, after standing moment,
lazed with horror, followed the guilty couple
Their room was almost opposite mine. and
,puld see the light under their door, which
was barely closed. pushed it open and
sscped In. The table faced the door. and
here they stood with their hacks TO me,
o intent upon the money that crcpt close to
hem without being heard.
Look, look. heard the man whisper
there is more than enough to save our boyi
low they shine, And all ours, wife-ouisr
No. mine, murdercrr I shouted with
'oice Of thunder, and, snatching the bag
rom h.s nerveless grasp. l dashed the light
rom the woman's hand and I'D back swiftly
0 the room where the denA unn ny
Opening the window, gsups1 shout with
ne hand for an ivy bon0A, c1IaGing some
ow 70 the sill with the ooAsr, 81 at last
managed to scramble dogA, runchkng the
round bruised, SHAKEN, 0saeAAR As