The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-11-13
HIS OWN BETRAYER.
BY AN Ex-rNGLlsu DETECTIVE.

BY AN EX-FNGLIsH DETECTIVE.
1t is now many years ago since
and my comratle Joyce were sent to u
village in one of the southern counties
of England to discover n certain person
who had robbed the squire of the place
ofa large sum of money. Our instrnc-
tions were to stay there till We sue
ccedcd; and as the squire was wealthy
and srudseL no expense, we made
our dwelling in u quiet farm house
where there was plenty 10 amuse us
in our leisure intervals. We were
quite alone. with the exception of an
old woman who did tho domestic
work and minded the house when we
were away on duty.
Well. we found tho thief to be u dis
charged fnotman. whose knowlcdg GO
of the locality had hitherto saved him
from detection. though we proved
much too sharp for him in the end. 1
need not trouble you with his attcr
fate. Enough, that | am about to re-
late an event which happened before
he was arrested, and in which was
accidentally concerned in very Curl
Gus way.
We had made two acquaintanccs
in the course OF our walks abroad.
One was retired farmer named
Branwell, who lived all by himself
about IL mile off He was u bachc. or.
whose relations were said to have
quarrelled with him, but nobody
seemed to know the exact truth, or to
care much about. it either. ascer-
tanned that tho first week was there.
The other acquaintance was named
Cole, and had been u farrler, or some
thing of the kind. I had heard of
this Cole as incurably irritable and
morosc, and am free to confess that
rumor had not belied him. However,
lie made II point Of being very civil
whenever We met him, and would
never let us pass his cottage without
speaking to us. He was heavy
proved man, and his eyes had u
strange iiImy look which always re-
PEELED me when met his gaze. l do
not believe he liked me; certainly
did not like him.
Joyce and were sitting one even
ing saloking our pipes, when casually
remarked that 1 had not seen Bran
we'll for the last fortnight.
Neither have l." said joyce.
That is odd," remarked. 81
think I'll go to his cottage tonight.
He may DO ill, you know"
"I'll go with you, Elder"
"You had better stay here aud let
me 60 alone" 1 said. "He might
e. s.,A 4
together"
Joyce's attentive face relaxed.
eyes, l understand. ho answered.
Suppose. then, follow you in hall
an hour. and meet you outside the cot
tage? Don't refuse me, Elder, for
won't have it,"
So 1t was settled. l put on my hat
and started at brisk pace down the
road. keeping steadily ON between the
black line of hedges on one side. and
the open fields on the other. 1t was
IN ugly night, the wan moon shone at
intervals through drifting clouds, and
the air was oppressively heavy.
reached the heath; mounted the
hill-and there was the cottage, its
gray roof showing d;mly against the
sky. The door was unfastened, and
yielded easily to my touch.
waited minute and then went in.
Having no lantern, struck match
and rs it lared up l saw piece OF
candle on the window ledge beside NO.
/ lit the candle, and holding it above
my head, advanced slowly into tho
middle of tho room. The light. showed
mo q broken chair, an overturned
table and q bed.
On that bed lay dead man, whom
l at once identified as Branwell.
How had lie come by his death!
Judging by the gaping wound in hi
throat, lie had been fouily murdered
and then placed there exactly as saw
him. know not how it was, but the
thought of suicide never occurred tt
me for moment. No; l was rs Ger
tain lie had been slain as if had wit
messed the deed myself. The disor.
dered appearance of the furniture. the
dark stains on the bed and tioOr-al
told of struggle, who shall say how
fierce and cruel?
no longer l,csitated as to the proper
course to pursue. Before anything il
the place was disturbed, it was my
duty to report the occurrence ut til,
farm and let others decide what
should do next.
AS these thoughts passed through
my mind, ! suddenly felt q breath o
cold AR behind me. and tho candl,
was knocked out of my hand.
What Il d it meanp had heard n,
sound but my own footstep; l hat
seen nothing but the dead man. Til
candle was still tlickcring on til
ground where it fell. Before l coul,
reach it. foot striding out of tn
gloom trOd it iiercely down. and til
whole chamber was sunk in darkness
Istood helpless. like ono turned t
stone. All ut once there rose, in th
awful silence. the weird howl of be
nfghted dog. When this ceased. tn
next thing remember was u knock
ing ut the door, and the cheerful vOic
of joyce call ng nue. by name.
Come in. for PHYS sake! l crie.!
II shall go out OF my senses if sto]
here much longer"
STEADY. Elder-what's amiss
Hold upa second"
lie had brought his lantern will
him, and he turned its light full upoI
me.
"Why, man alive. how pale 70,
are!' said lie. clapping bottle to m!
mouth. ''Try drop of brandy, AMI
you'll perhaps feel better"
did feel better. The brandy sen,
the blood back to nv heart, strength
encd my mind and nerves. restored
me, soul and body. to myself.
When handed the bottle back to hin
Isaw that he had barred his head, anC
was steadily regarding the placid fac,
on the pillow.
''Dead!" he said.
'.Murdered. Joyce"
He lifted the lantern higher. and
snproched the bed.