Connecticut western news., 1884-08-13
VOL. XIV.

T
 "Then he called his wife and told her to bring me a candle, which she did. She was looking careworn wo- man, and noticed when she showed me to my room that her hand was shaking, and her voice sounded thick when she bade me civil Good night
 "My bedroom was long low room with queer old furniture, quaint carved chairs and a great four-post bedstead which seemed as big as hearse. There was no lock to the door and the bolts were rusty, so l could only put the latch down. I thought of putting a chair against it, but that seemed childish and no protection after all. The night was wet and windy and the sky black as ink. Try as would couldn't get to sleep, and there lay listening to the ghostly tapping of the ivy leaves against the window and thinking of the evil look in the landlords eyes, and all the horrid stories had ever read came crowding into my mind, when suddenly l started up in bed, wide awake enough, for l heard something or some one climbing up the ivy to my window. I lay with palpitating heart and straining eyes, lis- tening to the horrible ghostly rustling which every moment sounded nearer.
 Suddenly thought struck me; and arose, hastily smoothing the bedclothes, as though the bed had not been slept III. I had just time to creep under the bed, when the window was shaken open and somebody softly slipped in. It was a man, and, listening intently, l heard him sigh wearily to himself, as if he were tired out, Then he got into my bed, | drew the clothes over him and in Q few minutes I heard him snoring. You can imagine how pleasant l felt, and the scamp had my money bag under his pill low, toe What was to be done? l thought of my happy home and the dear little wife now perhaps dreaming of me, and the thought 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 crawl ing from under the bed when l heard another sound, nearing the door this time. In minute the latch was quietly lifted, the door was gently pushed open and I saw the landlord glide into the room. Then hand holding a candle stole in at the door-only hand; but l 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 all was over. The murderer drew the money from under the pillow and crept stealth fly 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, groped about for my clothes, and, after standing 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. I 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 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 l! And all ours, wife-ours r
 "'No, mine, murderer ? I shouted, with voice of thunder, and, snatching the bag from his nerveless grasp, dashed the light from the woman's hand and fled back swiftly to the room where the dead man lay.
 "Opening the window, groped about with one hand for an ivy bough, cling ing somehow to the sill with the other, and at last managed to scramble down, reaching the ground bruised, shaken, breathless. As I rested moment to get my breath, I heard from the room above an awful cry sung out in a wo- mans voice.
 "'My boy, my boy, my only sonp
 'I clambered over the gate which led into the street. A watch-box stood close by ill the square, and I hurriedly told my story to the watchman. He started in horror, as well he might, and wanted to fetch his mate; but I 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 had just quilted. The watch man bent down and peered into the dead mans face.
 "'Ah,' he whispered, its as feared It's their own son--they didn't know he was home, and so they mistook him for you, sir
 'I felt myself turn queer and giddy, for I knew the meaning of that pitiful cry My only son ?
 s'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 man sat huddled up in chair by the bed. When we entered he held out his hands to be manacled without uttering 8 word. When I told him how it hap pened that his son had fallen victim instead of me, he just stared in my face and made no sign that he heard the 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 once-and that was when the Judge passed sentence on him. Then he raised his head, and, with look in