The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-04-28
TOM
BRYSON'S CRIME.
BY THE MAJOR"
CHAPTER VI-CoNTINUED.

CHAPTER VI-CoNTINUED.
Taking the light, Bryson unbolted
the door and went through the hall
into the sitting-room. All was still
that soul, all unprepared for the great
change, had quietly passed from the
repose of sleep to the repose of death.
The murderer reflected that he could
easily hide every trace of the crime.
But as he stood here, where so lately
he had talked with Mason Belmont
face to face, his eyes rested on an OBJ
ject that caused him to tremble with
superstitious fear.
1t was the clock.
He remembered winding it that
morning; that ihe had heard its tick
ing when he last left this room, and
that the hour was then few minutes
past one.
The hands had stopped at twenty-six
minutes past one.
1t was as if some unseen hand had
arrested them to mark the moment OF
the crime.
For a moment Bryson covered to
the wall, gazing at the tell-tale dial IN
panic.
But cooler reflection dissipated his
fears; almost caused him to smile at
them. The shock of the falling body
or, more likely, that of the falling trap
door-had Jared the clock and caused
1t to stop.
He set the pendulum in motion and
moved forward the hands ten minutes.
He looked from the window. The
night was dark; nothing could be seen
He slightly raised it; there was no
sound blt that of the wind in the trees.
The dread of discovery, that was to
haunt this man henceforth till his dy-
ing hour. now urged him to be sure
that his daughter was asleep.
Like a guilty creature he went softly
upstairs to her chamber, and held the
light full before her closed eyes. She
did not stir.
At that instant Bryson trembled and
shuddered with another thought.
Should he ever again enjoy tranquil
sleep?
Poor Jess" he said to himself, as
he left her. "I'll take her away from
here now, and try to make her happy"
Returning to the cellar, his first
care was to break up the box he had
used, and place the fragments in dis
tant corner.
With pick and spade he now adj
dressed himself to the task of conceal
ment.
With severe labor he raised two OF
the large stone flags that foored the
cellar, and in the opening excavated a
cavity four feet deep. Into this he
threw the dead body, the coat, shoes,
hat, and even the iron bar. He hest
tated moment, and then, removing
the rolls of money from the sachel,
threw the latter into the hole. Thc
earth was filed in, the stones carefully
replaced. The secret was safe.
And now for the money. He took il
up to the sitting-room. locked the door
spread out the bank-notes upon the
table till they covered it, and drawing
chair beside it, gloated over the
treasure.
His heart bounded with exultation
The misery of life would be over fol
him and his child. They would go far
away, among strangers, and begin a
new life They would surely be hap.
Ply; money would do everything-and
here it was-here-right herel
In the wall of this room was a small
closet, breast high, of which he had the
only key. OF late it had not been used
at all. Into this secure place he cram.
med the rolls of notes, and locked
them up.
The day still lacked an hour of dawn
when he sat down again, with his head
and arms on the table. And the mercy
of God permitted even him to sleep.