The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-06-21
JANET LEE
In the Shadow of the
GaIIOwS.
BY DAVID LOWRY.
CHAPTER III.
THE MURDER.

THE MURDER.
The sailor was awakened by draueht
on his hand. The draught came from
the opening in the window. He was, as
many of his class are, light sleeper. He
lay quietly listening. The storm had ex-
pended its fury, but the wind was still
high. Above the sound of the storm
he heard a peculiar sound against the
side of the house.
The sailor sat bolt upright in bed.
The noise continued. The sailor slipped
softly out of the bed, walked across the
room, and felt in his pocket for the
weapon he relied upon. Then he donned
his clothes. As he was doing this a gust
blew IN the room. STOPPING, the sailor
was Just able to discern figure at the
window. The intruder was feeling his
way cautiously. The distance between
the window and the bed was not more
than three feet. The man was we'll in
the room. he was feeling the side of the
bed when the sailors hand clutched his
throat.
There was smothered sound as the
sailor pressed the intruder back on the
bed silently At first the sailor was re-
solved to throttle the robber. Then as he
relaxed his grasp, the intruder said, in
husky tones, For Gods sake let me
breathe.
Who are you3"
Take your hands from my throat"
I'd serve you right to end Your life
here. Stealing in upon traveller to
murder him.
1 am no thief | am the landlords
SON
"A likely story I'll call your father
up, and you can tell him how YOU came
III on me"
For Gods sake, listen. l am power
less. See-I bear no arms. l am a
sailor-an horest sailor"
"God save the mark
L tell You | have just escaped ship
wreck. ] am Just come from Marble
head On account of foolish fight, but
I'm no more to blame e.
What! SO you were on the"
Eliza. And wrecked before Now the
officers are hunting me. | can prove |
am not in the wrong; but if my father
knows | am here, he will almost kill me
I've cost him trouble-and money ]
thought to steal this is my own bed
and room sleep while, and be Oft early
before any one woke.
Stop let me feel your hand, lis
true. This is no base liar after all.
Il tell you I've been away from home
fonr months-four years II seems
"Come-let's have look at you.
The sailor held finder box in his
hand. flame illuminated the room,
and IN the brief period the light fell upon
the intruder face the sailor scanned
him from head to foot
know you-you were among the first
TO stave in the casks of rum. Here, lie
down. and in the morning so like man
TO your father"
da,e not.
Well lie down and co to slepp
The landlords son east himself, Just
as he was on the bed. The >ailor dis
lobed once more and laid down beside
him and fell asleep the second time.
He was awakened later-he had no idea
what time it was-by creaking stairs. He
removed the cover. stepped noiselessly
out of bed. and. as he donned his clothes
second time. listened intently. \ life
Of danger had sbarpened senses naturally
acute. Yes, there could he no doubt about
1T. Somebody was ascending the stairs
stealthilv. The sailor felt his weapon
and moved back TO the bench. The door
was opened slowly, then in the darkness
the sailor thought n man : figure was
dmly outlined.
The stature was that Of the landlord
Now another step was heard on the
stairs. In the darkness the sailor was
unable to perceive the movements of the
figure until suddenly he became sensible
of the presence Of some one near ut hand.
Then the sailor realized that he was UNI
able to prevent terrible, monstrous
crime. The figure lowering between him
and the bed stopped At venture the
sailor aimed his pistol at the figure, fired
and then bounding past the man he fired
at. he sprang across the bed, darted
through the window, and falling on a
plank placed against the house placed
there by the landlords som. slid to the
ground and disappeared III the darkness
When the report of the pistol was
heard, Grizzle Meade was approaching
the door with light. The sudden fright
caused GrIzzie 10 drop the light. which
who had been flung headiong 10 the foo,
by the sailor. regained his feet, he ours ed
his wife for letting the light fall STUN.
bled against her IN the dark, then has
tened down stairs for a fresh light ans
speedily returned to the bedroom
Grizzle Meade was wringing her hands
in terror. and crying, We are undone
we are undone. Daniel.
Peace quiet. her husband com
manded. as he approached the bed anC
held the light over il. Grizzlies eyes wer.
on his every movement. Suddenly b,
put hand over his face and staggered
back Grizzle seized the light from hi
trembling hand and looked at the man OF
the bed. As she looked her frame SCENE,
to be rigid, the blood receded from he
lips; her face grew ashen-gray as sht
stared stonily down on the face nov
yelled forever with the awful shadow o
death She opened her mouth. but nt
sound issued from her lips. Then sht
turned slowly, her body seemingly as rigit
as stone-turned. with horror dilsting he,
ewes, and stared awe-stricken at her hus-
band. covering, groveing on the floor
with the knife in his hand.
Then, with cry that sounded like tina
of q wild animal. Grizzle Meade fell In
heap beside her husband.