The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-12-20
TOM -
.BRYSON'S CRIME.
BY THE MAJOR"
CHAPIER U-CoSr1s1rEn

CHAPTER TI-CoNrrNUEp
Taking the light, Bryson unbolted
the door and went through the hall
into the sitting-room. All was still;
that soul, all anprepared for the great
change, had qu etly passed "from the
.epose 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 80 lately
he had talked with Mason, Belmont
face to face, his Dyes rested on an OBJ
ject that caused him to tremble with
superstitious fear.
it was the clock.
He remembered winding it that
morning; that the had heard it's tick.
lug when he last left this room, and
that the hour was then few minute,
past one.
The hands had stopped at twenty-sis
minutes past one.
1t was as il sJme unseen hand hnd
: arrested them to mark the moment Of
the crime.
For n 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
it 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 he seen.
he slightly raised it; there was no
sound t that OF the wind in the trees.
1 ne dread of discovery, that was to
haunt this man henceforth till his dy.
ing hour. now urged him to be sure
did not stir. -'--i =. = --ll~ ~".,- 49,
At that instant Bryson trembled and
ehTddered with another thought.
Should he ever again enjoy o tranquil
sleepa
"Poor Jess!" he said to himself, as
he left her. "l'll tako 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 a dis
tant corner.
With pick and spade he now ad.
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
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 sachei.
threw the latter into the hole. The
earth was filled in, the stones carefully
replaced. The secret was safe.
And now for the money. He took il
up to the sitting-room. looked the door.
spread out the bank-notes upon the
table till they covered it. and drawing
. chair beside it, gloatsd over the
treasure.
His heart bounded with exultatiop,
The misery of lie would be over for
him and his child. They would 90 far
away, among strangers, and begin a
new life. They would surely be hap
Py; money would do every ything-snd
here it was--here right here!
In the wall of this room was small
closet, breast high, of which he had the
only key. OF late il 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.
CHAPTER vn
~ CASTLES IN THE AIp