Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1888-02-02


ways, don't suppose 50. SIR" said the
man. "But there has been foul play
somewhere. There has been a body
found in the road out a mile off and
q card in the pocket with Mr.. Mac
bane's name and address upon il ;
and we want him to come and identi-
fy the corpse"
"Do you know the mans name p
demanded, divining as / asked what
the answer would be.
ellis linen was marked Macdonald,
sir." was the cautious reply.
"And how had he been killed %
asked Standish breathlessly.
Throat cut from ear to ear said
the constable with terrible concise
ness.
We looked at each other and shud.
dered. Neither of us had any kind
feelings for the man thus suddenly
cut off; in fact, We had been thorough
ly disgusted with his coarse and sor.
did temper. and had hoped-in Jest, it
is true-that he might break his neck
over the dismal road he had to tra-
verse. But this sudden, mysterious,
hideous murder-for such it must be
struck us with a chill of horror.
My first collected thought, believe,
was a feeling of intense thsnkfulness
that We had not left Macbane alone
the night before. Now, at any rate,
no suspicion could attach to him.
The policeman looked curiously
from one to the other of us.
Perhaps" he said, at length, zone
of you two gentlemen would know
him ?"
"If it is the man l suppose" an
swered Standish, 1--WE certainly do
know him. Mr.. Macdonald is Mr..
Macbane's uncle, and was here last
night. We both saw him leave be-
fore II o'clock, and have not seen him
since"
"Then, sir" said the policeman,
perhaps one of you will wake Mr..
Macbane and bring him along as soon
as he can come, and the other will 90
to the station at once, for there is
never any time to lose in these cases."
| went into Macbane's bedroom,
and Standish took up his hat and fol.
lowed the policeman out. I touched
my friend on the shoulder. He gasp
ed, yawned, then sat up, rubbed his
eyes, and stared wildly round him,
till his gaze rested on me. Then the
recollection of what had happened
seemed to come back on him in
flash. and he laid his head back on
the pillow.
Is that you, Eliot ?" he said. "I
have had such a horrible dream.
Thank you for waking me. Must l
get up now ?"
"1es, you must, Macbane," l re.
piled gravely. II will tell You why
afterward."
"Moralities and mysteries !" said
he, in his cynical way" "Well, l
shall soon hear, if l am good boy,
and don't take too long over my
dressing. Reach me my trousers,
there's a good fellow"
As l did SO l saw that his right
hand was again streaked thinly with
dried blood, and l could not help an
exclamation.
All" said he, as I called his at
tention to it. THAT thing has been
bleeding again, l see. Well, can
soon wash it of" And he sprang up
in his nightshirt and ran to his wash
stand.
Look here 2" he cried, as he plung-
ed his hand into the water Shouldn't
l make lovely Lady Macbeth +?
Here's the smell of the blood yet.
Oh OH OH All the perfumes of
Araby- How does it go? Yet
who would have thought the old man
had so much blood in 2"
For Gods sake, be quiet T. l
screamed. "YOur uncle is lying at
the police station with his throat cut
Be thankful you had nothing to do
with killing him.
Macbane turned faint and sick, and
sat down on his bed again but he
bore the news much better than
had thought he would. To be sure,
he had no love for his uncle, and
could rot be expected to sorrow for
him but the shock did not seem
somehow to affect him greatly, except
by mere physical repulsion at the
( horrid manner of his uncle's death
He soon got up again. and went on
dressing, listening meanwhile as ]
told him all yet knew about the
matter; and as soon as he was ready