Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-08-19

was 20 De saved from rum AA1 49,
no doubt he planned to murder me-
ah, it's all true, sir-I've got his con-
fession by me now-and bury me
down by the riverside. in the meadow
behind the stable. Then he meant 70
turn my mare out before dawn 50 that
the servants might think | had ieIe
early: and then, you see. when it was
found, people would think something
had happened to me on the road 20
Braintree. Well, my companion
reused himself after time and began
asking me what thought Of the coun-
try, if had ridden far, whether | had
been advised to put up at the swan.
and such like questions. | answered
them freely enough, never supposlng
that he asked them for any other pur-
pose than just to keep up the CONVEX
sation. asked him to call me early
and he promised he would do so.
".Tn dc 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 coarse-looking, care
worn woman, and noticed when she
showed me to my room that her hand
was shaking, and her voice sounded
thick as she babe me a civil Good
night
MY bedroom was long low room
with queer old furniture. quaint
carved chairs and great four-post
bedstead which seemed as big as a
hearse. There was no lock to the
door, and the bolts were rusty, so /
could only put the latch down. |
thought of putting a chair against it,
but that seemed childish and no pro-
lection after all. The night was wet
and windy and the sky black as ink.
Try as l 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 hor-
rid stories I had ever read came
crowding into my mind, when sudden
ly / started UP in bed, wide awake
enough, for I heard something or some
one climbing up the ivy to my win
dow. lay with Palpitating heart and
straining eyes. listening to the horri-
bic ghostly rustling which every mo-
ment sounded nearer
Suddenly thought struck me; and
/ arose. hastily smoothing the bed
clothes, 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. 1t was man, and, listen
ing intently, | heard him sigh YEARLY
TO himself, as if he were tired out.
Then he got into my bed, drew the
clothes over him, and in a few min
uteS heard him snoring. You can
imagine how pleasant l felt, and the
scamp had my money-bag under his
pillow too! 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 determined to snatch al
nay money and fight fort withi the I'M
seen visitor to the death, if need be. ]
was crawling from under the bed
when heard another sound! nearing
the door this time. In a. inmate the
latch was quietly lifted, the door gent
Iy pushed open, and saw thelandlOrd
glide into the room. Then. q hand
holding candle stole in at the door
only a hand; but knew those CULVER
ing fingers well enough. The mar
erept on tiptoe to the bed and leaning
softly over the sleeper, stabbed him
to the heart. There was one deer
groan and all was over. The murder
er drew the money from, under the
pillow and crept stealthily to the door
glancing behind' him, as though h,
feared the dead man would get up and
follow him.