The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-08-24

There was no pulsation. He was stone dead. | His eye would trouble me DO more. | If you think me mad, you will think 90 no longer when describe the wise precautions took for the concealment of the body.
 The night waned, and I worked hastily, but in silence First of all dismembered the corpse I cut of the head and the arms and the legs then took up three blanks from the flooring of the chamber, and deposited all between the scant- lings. then replaced the boards SO cleverly, 90 cun- ningly, that human eye-not even his-could have detected anything wrong.
 There was nothing to wash out-no stain of any knd-no blood spot whatever l had been too wary for that A tub had caught all-ha hal
 When had made an end Of these labors it was four oclock-still dark as midnight
 As the bell sounded the hour, there came & knocking at the street door. l went down 10 open it with light heart-for what had now to fear7 There entered three men, who introduced them- selves, with perfect suavity. They were officers of the police. A shriek had been heard by & neghb Dor during the night suspicion of foul play had been aroused; information had heen lodged at the police office, and they (the Oficers) had been deputed to search the premises.
 I smiled-for what had to fear?
 bade the gentlemen welcome. The shriek, l said, was my own in a dream.
 The old man, l mentioned, was absent in the country.
 took my visitors all over the house. bade them search-search well. led them at length to his chamber. showed them his treasures, secure, undisturbed.
 In the enthusiasm of my confidence l brought chairs into the room and calmly desired them here to rest from their fatgues.
 I, myself, in the wild audacity of my perfect triumph, placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim.
 The officers were satisfied. My manner had convinced them. was siDgularly at ease
 They sat, and while I answered cheerily, they chatted of familiar things
 But, ere long, l felt myself growing pale and wished them gone.
 My head ached, and I fancied ringing in my ears but still they sat and still chatted. The ringing became more distinct-it continued and became more distinct.
 talked more freely to get rid of the feeling but 1t continued and gained defnteness- at length found the noise was not within my ears. No doubt grew very pale; but 1 talked more huently and with heightened voice. Yet the sound increased-and what could do2 It was low, dull, quick sound-much such 6 sound a watch makes when enveloped in cotton gasped for breath-and yet the officers heard it not.
 talked more quickly, more vehemently.
 But the noise steadily increased.
 arose and argued about trifes in high key and with violent gesticulations but the noise steadily increased.
 Why would they not be gone2 paced the floor 10 and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observations of the men-but the noise steadily increased. O God! what could do? 1 foamed-I raved-I swore swung the chair upon which had been sitting and grated it upon the boards, but the noise over all and continually increased. It grew louder-louder-L0uder! And still the men chatted pleasantly and smiled. Was it possible they heard not? | Almighty God mo, mol They heard they suspected they knew l-- they were making mockery of my horror This thought, and this think. But any thing was better than this agony | Anything was more tolerabe than this derisionl