The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-11-10

A.ttAC iItcA, 1uuaue lCS not rlglC 10
the loikes ov yees to be here all alone.
"Why, Katie. what's the matter?
laughed Jessie; '-you don't call thi
being alone do you?"
"Ah, but haven't you heard th
quare noises in the tower, Miss Jessie
An shure an there is a ghost in thi
house. Howly Mother defind usw ant
Katie piously crossed herself in rea
terror.
"A ghost, Katie! I'm ashamed o
you. 1t is only the wind. 1t alway.
blows here fearfully. You might turl
a regiment loose in the house, anc
they could scarcely make more noise
than these big, rattling windows
"Arrah, me jewel" protested Katie
''theles a terrible walkin' about il
the tower livery night these two nights
And didn't yees hear about the awful
murther in the town beyant us, and
murtherer iscapin'? Sich quarc
murther, too, with the finger-rings all
left on. and the money-purse in. the
pocket. All, Miss Jessie, a murtherin'
ghost won't niver be laid"
You silly Katie" said Jessie, mer-
rily. '.Don't be afraid. I'll take care
of the ghosts. We are all right
The night passed without incident,
and the next day Jessie devoted her
energies to an important task, which
she had lazily deferred till now
Mabel was to take supper in the city
and reach home about 9 o'clock; so,
after an early tea, Jessie amused her.
self for an hour at the grand piano,
then retired to her cozy room in the
second story, which had been elegantly
fitted up.
The high winds from the sea had
luiled, and for once the house was ut
terly quiet-so quiet that the stiffness
became oppressive. Mrs. Lawrence
had retired with nervous headache.
Mike was bent upon routing an army
of rats at the barn; and Katie had asked
permission to come up and sit with
Miss Jessie after the days work was
done.
Meanwhile the young girl sat in he1
bower OF luxury, softly humming a IA
vorlte song, and very happy in
thoughts of her approaching marriage.
While deep in her smiling reverie a
footstep distinctly sounded
outside her door. Raising her head
from the lace triHe she was finishing,
she had not tine to feel sensation of
real fear Wien the door-knob turned
and head intruded itself which struck
her as dumb as though Medusa had
appeared, and drove the life blood in
a frozen current to her head.
The face was CHASTITY, the hair black
and curling upon the high, narrow
shoulders. the figure slight and spare,
md pair of restless black eyes gilt
ered swiftly and cunningly around the
'Oon.
''Hist!' he said, to the horror-stick-
N girl, softly closing the door and
urning the key; and if Jessie had a
distinct thought, in that awful moment, |
was OF thankfulness that the winter |
lampness had so warped the door that |
he key would not fairly catch in the
ock. bit of repairing thus far over
ooked in the wedding preparations.
Don't be frightened" he said, still in
whisper; you'll take care of me
von't you?'
But the girls great eyes only riyet-
d themselves in more hopeless, help
ess terror upon the apparition. Every
luscle seemed paralyzed
He drew chair to the open CRATE,
S II the fire were most welcome.
"You see," he said in his quiet, soft
oice, ''if they track me here they may
ang me, and they would be wrong
II wrong. l did not intend to kill
Ell, but she would not hold STILL"
At this he laughed blood-curdling
ugh, and the horrid truth burst upon
le girls dazcd senses. She was alone
18th a maniac. All the stories she had
yer read rushed to her memory, and
'e only clear idea that she had was
lat she must, ii possible, humor his
agaries till help came. She was
cited, spoiled darling, but she had
'eath strength of will and she now
lied it into requisition.
She hurriedly glanced at the clock,
I'd calculated how long it would be /
fore her dear ones should arrive. !
las! it was just s. What, oh. what t
uld she do? OF whom did he speak,? q
i'll her? Kill whom? Then the /
ystery of the murdered girl darted '
to her mind. Katie had been right, t
en-. There was in truth murdered L
ri. Was this her slayer? S
with a confidential gesture, \
bade her sit down near him. y
''1ll tell you all about it." he said.
f she had only kept still! But she il
.eamed and tried to run away. 1
Mt stand noise. 1t sets me wild. / a
lst have this blood-this pure, young,
egiving stream. But she would not il
ten to me. Poor thing! 1t was too p
d, wasn't it? Hey? Speak, 81
Trembling at the sound of her own II
ice, the girl commanded herself to lt
Yes. Who was she?" N
Il don't know" he replied, serious tt
''She was beautiful and fresh-al- tt
st as fair as you. l was getting lu
ay from that cursed place. Think I'll
confining man of my learning in NJ
d-housc. But that was just it. 1
mastered the new theory, the III
of blood. They wanted to NJ
al my glory, SO they locked me in. tn
OutWitted them. captured these ii
| ran away.' al
IS he spoke he laughed wildly, and as
k from his jacket black case of
ght, new surgical instruments. ov
These were what needed" he con- ST
led, with low chucklc II could tn
attain the goal without these beau an
:" wi
hen, caressingly, he went over en-
n. Lancet. trocar. bistourv, probe.
rniquet," mentioning the whole coll frt
ion, while he passed his fingers af- we
over the small, sharp to
lnc