The Princeton union., 1890-11-20
MR.. MU:NN'S MURDER.

|
care whether stocks went up Or down.
met Pearl at the seaside, and, to
cut long story short. fell in love with
her and told her so.
She said neither eyes" nor ..no"
when ! popped the questi on, but hung
her head and asked for time.
! soon found that another was the
real stumbling block.
1t always is another, who, in spite
OF what the prayer book says, is wick
edly putting asunder what Heaven
would join together. ..e ..s.@ (
| Another, in this instance, was fat
broker old enough to be her father,
and SO like him that the two might
have been twins. ~. .Ea ...
lie was called Mr.. Mum; and to him,
it seems, old Budd had some time be-
fore promised his daughter.
Pearl had no great liking for Mr..
Mum.
What girl ever had for a man old
enough to be her father-unlcss it was
her father.
was near her own age. and-well,
| I'll not aatter myself. a.-
Pearl and made up our minds to
run away and get married-she confid-
ing in paternal affection for forgive
| ness.
Mr.. Budd watched his daughter like
a hawk
How to carry out our plan became
perplexing question.
Ihe old fellows eye was ever on us.
To evade his vigilence would have
been like giving the slip to Argus.
A bright idea struck me.
had often amused Pearl by mimick-
ing MIR: Mum. l could do his voice
to nicely; and felt sure that with a
little stuffng and other making-up [
should be able to personate the old
hippopotamds to peefection.
Mr. Mum was expected daily, and
when he came, Pearl and knew that
with two to watch US, the execution Of
our scheme would be doubly difficu 1t.
Accordingly we determined to bring
matters to a crisis.
1t was given out that | was going
away not to return. it being privately
understood that I was to come back
the same evening, disguised as the
broker, deceive Pearls father as to my
identity, carry her off at midnight,
marry her, and boldly risk the conse-
quences
l took leave Of Mr.. Budd and his
daughter, and took the next train for
the city.
That evening, padded to portliness,
and the frosts Of fifty winters silvering
the locks OF my wig, I personated the
broker.
spent dull evening with Mr.. Budd
Pearl left us early to prepare for our
midnight fitting, and the old gentle
man fairly made my head swim with
the questions he asked.
Bedtime came at last, and I hast
ened to my room, where I threw off
my disguise and assumed my usual ap-
parel, my purpose being to quit the
house when all WAS quiet, meet Pearl
at the appointed rendezvous, and con-
vey her to the place at which the
nuptlal knot was to be tied.
1t is an unromantic act to speak OF
in this connection. but one which SUBJ
sequent events make it necessary to
| hot fh1
laboring under caused my nose to bleed
freely.
l had barely succeeded in stanching
the flow when a glance at my watch
apprised me that l had no time to
spare. opened my room door softly
and stepped into the hall.
'Ha!' exclaimed a voice.
turned quickly, and found myself
face to face with old Budd, who was
evidently surprised to see me coming
out of what he supposed to. be Mr..
Munn's apartment.
He did not stop to parley, but passed
on, carrying his chamber-lamp in his
hand.
had gone but few steps when Mr..
Budd rushed out pale with alarm and
shouted:
Murder! Seize him!' pointing me
out to those who came in answer to hi s
call. HE has made away with Mr..
Mum. who is nowhere to be seen, and
the floor is covered with his blood!''
The haste with which I was seeking
to beat a retreat added to the proofs
| against me, and I was caught and Sc.
cured at once. ,,- ...-.
| Next morning I was arraigned be.
fore magistrate l had but little tc
say. Of course could enter into nc
explanations without compromising g
Pearl. l could only uge that Mr..
| Munn's body not having been found,
there was not sufficien evidence of his
murder. The non-appeurance of the
body only added to the horror of the
crime. l did not attempt to clear uE
the mystery.
| Mr. M,,nn ho1 hoon ooon IN onto,