The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-10-02

room. Then hand holding
| q candle stole in at the door-only o
hand; but knew those quivering fin
| gers 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 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, at
ter standing moment, dazed with
horror, followed the guilty couple.
Their room was almost opposite mine,
and 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 l crept close to
them without being heard.
"'Look, look, heard the man whis-
per-'there is more than enough to save
our boy! How they shine! And all
ours, wife-oursp
"'No, mine, murderorp I shouted
with voice of thunder, and snatching
the bag from his nerveless grasp, 1
dashed the light from the woman's hand
and fled 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 rest
ed moment to get breath, 1 heard
from the room above an awful cry sung
out in a woman's voice
My boy, my boy, my only sonF
81 clambered over the gate which led
into the street. A watch box stood close
by in the square, and I hurrledly told
my story to the Waterman. 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, 50 he came with
me. A frightened servant opened the
door to us, and led the way to the
room l had just quilted. The watch
man bent down and peered into the
dead mans face.
"'Ah,' 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 [ knew the meaning of that pitiful
cry, My only SOM
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 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 CHASTITY tale.
Well sir, that's about all. The moth
er, 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 his eyes which 1 can never for
get, he said:
AN old, old man, my lord-my only
SOM"
That's all sir. The strangest story
you ever heard? Well, 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 the flowers in
May, that you will! Not now? Well,
then, I'll bid you good day, and thank
you kinkly for letting me talk to you,
for it does me good to chat bit some
times, that it do! Good day, sir, and
pleasant walk to you'll"