Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-12-13

pie would think something had hap
pened to me on the road to Braintree.
Well, my companion reused himself
after time and began asking me
what thought of the country, if l
had ridden far, whether l he'd been
advised to put up at the Swan and
such like questions. answered them
freely enough, never supposing that
he asked them for any other reason
than just to keep up the conversation.
| asked him to call me early and he
promised he would do so.
Tll do it myself said he, 'for
the girl and the hostler will be
abed.'
'"Then he called his wife and told
her to bring me candle, which she
did. She was 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 bads me civil
od-nlght.'
"My bedroom was 4 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, 80
l could only put the latch down. l
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 as black as
ink. Try as 1 would, could not 60
to sleep, and there lay listening
to the ghostly tapping of the ivy
leaves against the window, and think
ing of the evil look in the landlords
eyes, and all the horrid stories l had
ever read came rushing into my mind,
when suddenly l started up in bod,
wide awake enough, for | heard
something or someone climbing up
the ivy to my window. l lay with
palpitating heart and straining eyes,
listening to the horrible ghostly
rustling. which eyery moment sound
ed nearer.
"Suddenly a thought struck me,
and l 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 some
body softly slipped in. 1t 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 few minutes l 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: l 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 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 door was
gently pushed open, and l 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 tip-toe to the bed,
and leanidg 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 fol-
low HIM.
Shaking all over and with hair on
end crawled from my hlding-place,
CROPPED about for my clothes, and, af-
ter standing a moment dazed with hor-
ror, followed the guilty couple.
Their room was almost opposite
mine, and l could see the light under
their door, which was barely closed.
l pushed it open and pseped in. The
table faced the door, and there they
stood with their backs to me, so in
tent upon the money that l crept
close to them without being heard.
"'Look, look 1 heard the man
whisper-'thers is more than enough
to save our boy! How they shine {!
And all ours, wife-oursv
"'No, mine, murderer Y shouted,