Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-04-13


would decamp a good deal quicker than
they came. If they didn't he might get
evidence sufficient to capture and con-
vict them. The noise in the K tchen in
creased There was now no doubt of the
character of the visit.
Into the hall they came, two men with
a dark lantern throwing a small circle Of
light before them. The door of the sit
ting-room where Goodwin was stood
partly open lie dimly saw them peer
into the diDing-room, then one of them
coming toward the sitting-room door said
in loud whisper:
''Bill, let's start ERE"
"No, - said the other, there amt ever
nothing in a sittin'-room. That's the
sittin' room. Let's find their bedroom.
That's where they keeps their jewels and
money-if they've got any"
''Well. then, upstairs we goes, and up
they went quietly.
Goodwin knew they would be re-
warded His wife's jewelry was sure to
be exposed. Some Of it was valuable and
some not. 1t was all too good to be lost,
anyhow.
cone thing is certain" thought Good
win, 81 can tell the height of those men,
and one Of them is called Bill. Both are
illiterate, and one has peculiar, rasping
voice, easy Standardization. a good de-
tective will soon hunt them out. Proba-
bly, that light will fall on one of their
faces before they 60"
After a short time the stairs again
creaked, and the circle of light again
shot past the door, and as the lantern
swung in the hands of Bill:
This here is pretty slick haul, said
he of the raspy voice, 81 say them's real,
don't you?"
Course them's real all right, they're
big glitters too. Shall we look for any
silver, or have we got all we WANT"
"Well, I'm for some of their silver if
we can find IT'D
eff you ask me-" sad Bill. "Tm for
off with this as we've got. It's all we
can handle l say we 60"
''AIl right We've got plenty of time
and we'll divide here. Then you'll go
your way and I'll go mine. We can't
both be nabbed."
"What? Divide ERE? It's dangerous.
This amt no place to divide. I've got
'em all safe in my pockets and we'll
divvy when we gets home; Let's go.
"No, you don't" said the raspy voice,
''Pm for divvy right here and Pm
goin' to have it. Then we can get our
own way. Sit down here. Give me the
light That's it-now bundle the things
out on the floor There you are"
The two men sat down near the open
door with the light between them and
Bill slowly began to disgorge. There
were the wife's diamond rings, two of
them; Goodwin's watch, which he had
laid aside when his arm was broken;
fine gold necklace and locket, a diamond
for the hair, four gold bracelets, Jeweled;
a number OF smaller articles and then
there was a stop. AS the light shOne on
Bills fingers Goodwin noticed his index
finger on the right hand was gone. But
both had worn a mask.
''Where's them gold studs and that
there gold brooch l saw you take2" said
the raspy voice.
ooh, yes, them studs, I forgot" said
Bill as he put his hand in an inside pocket
and took them out.
"Where's the brOOch?"
''There wasn't no brooch as I got"
eyes, there was. It's the best thing
of the swag. Out with it.
81 say l haven't got no brooch"
eyer tryin' to sneak it. You can't
fool me- Out with it, or Ill make ye."
81 haven't got-stand off, Tom. Don't
lay hands on me-"
SOut with II.
Both men were now on their feet.
''Stand off, Tom. I warn ye.
hain't got"
''GiYe it up" said Tom in a low, saw
age voice, as he sprang at the throat of
his companion.
There was a sharp, quiet struggle, a
few gasps of eXertion, a CLEAN in the
air. The sitting room door flew open.
A man staggered backward into the room
with his hands to his breast.
L warned"
you've done for me, Bill" gasped
the man as he sank on his knees.
Il warned you," half shouted Bill,
with terror in his voice as he stared at
his companion.
The stricken man shuddered and
gaspcd, stood up, staggered and fell
backwards with heavy crash on the
floor His arms spread out, his head
rolled to one side and he lay dead. The
lantern, now on its SIDE, streamed on the
uncovered face of the murderer, and
stamped the likeness on Goodwin's
mind. The murderer clutched the door
and stood for a second glaring in terror
at the dead man. Goodwin stood trans
fixed with the awful scene.
My God :" muttered the man, "I've
killed Tom" Then looked at the knife
he held in his hand. Holding it at arms
length from him he threw it at the pros