Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-04-12

DrOCner OF mine mas SOC Ills nand right on
cash box wild thousand dollars in it, dye
hear2"
"That's all right" answered Dick. "Keep
away from crooks an the like, an no one'u
ask yer to go ter prison"
Come, Dick" said the other, trying con-
ciliatory measures, ''give us tenner to satisfy
the cop, an I'll see my mother about the bal
ance in the morning. Pom my word, Pm
only out on parole. promised to be back in
ten minutes with the money, and they Just
know where to put their hands on me this
minute.n
There was an ugly, artful look in the fell
lows eyes when he said this that would have
made Dick cautious about opening the safe if
he had been dealing with a stranger, but he
did not think i'll enough of his brother for
that, and so, to rid himself of the nuisance,
he unlocked the door and took out a roll Of
bills.
The sight of the money seemed to rouse the
avarice of his companion, and stretching
hastily forward he tried to snatch the roll
from his brothers grasp, but was not quick
enough.
The baffled man looked at Dick for an in
slant with an ugly scowl, and the next mo-
ment his hand was round bis throat while
Dick was struggling on the floor.
"Policel policel let me up!' shouted Dick,
clasping his roll Of money closer.
Then in an instant he saw glittering blade
in his brothers hand descending towards
himself
'Oh, spare me, Harryl" cried the helpless
Dick; but his cry for mercy came too late; the
knife was plunged deep into his body, and
the red handed Cain was the possessor of the
fruits Of his industry.
~ L
the murderer now.
The shock of his desperate action had So
bered him. He looked at the dead body at his
feet and kicked it aside Then he turned to
the safe and taking the money placed it in
his own pocket.
Next he approached the window and looked
out into the street.
1t was unusually quiet There was not
human being in sight.
Once more he returned to the scene of his
butchery. The body Of Dick lay still and
harmless on the floor. He lifted his eyes
to look around, and for the first time he saw
the jackdaw seated on its perch looking in
tently at him as if perfectly aware of all that
had happened.
"Now your champion is gone I'll settle
scores with you, black DEVIL" said the muir
derer as with a savage oath he attempted to
capture the bird. But his old enemy was too
keen for him; lodging behind shelves and
bundles he managed to elude pursuit, and SO,
fearing to risk staying longer, he made sure
that the course was clear and disappeared
into the dismal night.
When the murder of Dick Creepy was dis
covered the best detectives in the city were
put on the case to work it up.
1t proved, however, to be one of those IN
solvable mysteries with which the police
often have to deal. Each clew, after being
inevitably correct, proved to be mere Chi
mera and was reluctantly abandoned until
finally the case was considered to be exhausted
and was given up,
Meanwhile the Widow Creepy, after bury
ing her son, decided to sell out the clothing
store, and the stock was announced for sale
by auction.
Not the slightest breath of suspicion had
ever been directed towards Harry, but never
theless he had avoided the store by kind
Of instinct ever since the murder, and entered
it for the first time while the sale was 60
ing on.
There were not many people present.
few of the neighbors engaged in the same
business, were looking for bargains, and
solitary detective who had dropped in acct
ueuUduy WILL Cuo VdSuo l0eSt tudt no u1Sug
find clew.
AS soon as Harry arrived the detective
walked over and sat down beside him to talk
over the case. They were near the stove,
and the auctioneer was standing on the exact
place where the struggle had happened. The
detective was propounding some absurd ideas,
and Harry was amused to think how far off
his conclusions were from the right point.
Suddenly, during slight pause which had
occurred in the business, a scream was heard.
The murderer looked up to the place from
which it came and his head turned strangely
dizzy What did he hear2 What was the
sound which held all the people spellbound
and directed all eyes to himselfa
"Oh, spare me, Harry Oh, spare me,
Harry Oh, spare me, Harryl"
Right through his brain that sickening
sound seemed to go, while there, perched up
on the seat, sat the jackdaw, With the diabolc
fire burning in its eyes, screaming us if it
would never stop this last appeal his brother
had made when he had madly plunged the
knife into his bosom.
In vain the disconnected man tried to re-
cover himself and to smile off the deadly
sickness which had como over him. Before
the malignant gaze of those two eyes riveted
mercilessly upon him he quailed and .trembled,
and as the murderer tried to shuttle out from
the crowd around him the detective laid his
hand upon his shoulder and whispered:
81 think have the right clew. You had
York Mercury.