The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-06-03
THE MURDER.

And then, one hand clutching the back Of
chair for support, he watched his victim;
watched him with staring eyos and half.
parted lips, and with his guilty heart
humping ut his ribs, as If it would pound
its way through them; he pressed bis left
hand over it as il to hold it back, while his
right hand dragged the chair as he fell
back a pace or two con templating the
dying man. Then with a sudden effort he
tore off his coat and flung it over the terri
bly, upbraiding eyes OF his murdered guest
This done he stood again apart, away
from the dread thing now half covered up
in the chair-stood and waited and tre1n-
bled, waited and waited, it seemed hours,
though the time in which so much evil had
been accomplished was very short. Pres.
emily he thought he heard footstep in the
house; then he thought there was listener
at the door, 1t required tremendous
effort to move; but at last no crept to thd
door, opened it, and listened. The hall
clock was beating out tie time in its usual
way, but to Needham tho sound was omln-
GUS; it had deathly sound, warning
sound, and it seemed to threaten him.
He went into the nall. 1t was dark. He
had purposely allowed the gas to remain
unlighted. A flicker Of the street lamp
came in over the glass above the door.
There was lantern OH the hall table. he
crept to it and took it up, and returned to
the library. All still, deadly still He
heard for tho first time the ticking OF the
clock on the mantelshelf. He lowered the
gas in tho chandelier, as If he feared TO see
too much when he should remove the coat
from tho silent figure in the chair. He went
behind it and lifted tho cover gently, bit by
Bit until tho face was exposed. Then ne
recoilcd from it, then approached 1t afresn;
touched it, listened to it. raised one OF us
hands, felt its pulse. listened at its heart;
All still; no sound, only the two CLOCKS anu
distant roll OF thunder.
''PuI yourself togetherW hissed between
his teeth the living man, who now almost
envied the dead. Everything works for
you-heaven aud hell, even the night dark
ness and storm"
Tho hall clock struck ten. He listened and
counted every stroke US the hammer fell.
mo more!" he said, taking out his watch,
looking at it, and then placing it to his ear
"No more! The Fates are with me. NOW
to business What is there to feart A dead
man is nothlng-dust, clay, cloi notn'
ing. Come. John Needhan, to buslnessp
He reached over to tho spirit decanters
and pouring into n glass large quantity OF
whisky drunk it off. Then stretching him
self up to his full height, he turnel up bis
sleeves, apostrophiziug the corpse as he did
so.
You are John Northampton Needham.
member Of parliament, banker, the ruined
fnan clcr, and you must not be found dressed
in Joseph Norbury's clothes-come! 1t will
not matter to you how you are dressed; 1t
will to me- Joseph Norbury must not 60
about in John Needham' coat, nor wear
Joseph Norbury's watch, nor carry Joseph
Norlury' purse, nor anything else That Is
his! Comet!
1t seemed as if the situation, the whisky,
and the gift Of life with q nav name, made
physically new man OF the villain, de