The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-23


Then he gave another low whistle and
again he paused. He finished the letter
somewhat abruptly, jammed 1t into his
pocket and started back to the hotel.
COOL sCoUNpREL.
We we're all sitting around the fire when
he came in. He never seemed more indif-
ferent in his life.
"Anything from homer asked one of the
boys.
NO." said Bill.
Anything new, Bill m
"Nixie,n replied Bill. Then he added,
with Just shade of resolution in his voice !:
anilord, let's have drink all round,
and then we'll go to our rooms"
"Good enough p said one of the gang.
We drink all round.
There was more drinking until, the party
becoming quite jolly, Bill suddenly pulled
out his watch and said
How about the horses 9"
"They are all right said the tavern
keeper.
a don't care if they are" said Bill, 81
want mine properly cared for. Would you
mind taking peep outside, landlord, and
seeing if 'Rednose' is all rightY
Bill and the landlord then went out in the
night to the stables.
They were gone about fifteen minutes
We were just beginning to grow uneasy
when Bill returned.
He was alone.
"Its all right, he said carelessly. SNOW,
boys, let's go to bedn
Up the rickety old stairs we clambered in
the semi-darkness. a Pickering candle sup
plying a feeble light, and even this being
momentarily threatened with extinguish-
ment by the strong drafts that blew about
the place.
Boys" said Bill, carelessiy, as we in
Al 1, 4.
at our disposal, II guess I'll take this one
alone to-night feel sort of sick like, and
don't want to be disturbed"
Bill waited until his two companions had
passed into the other ROOM He heard them
slam the rickety old door behind them. He
listened, and could family hear their voices
blended in desultory conversation.
By and by all became still. Some min
utes passed. A deep silence now reigned all
over the house.
Bill waited no longer. He glanced at his
watch, 1t was just fifteen minutes to mid
night.
Fifteen minutesI' whispered Bill. "Not
smoment to lose"
THE MOVING PICTURE.
The man now made hasty inspection of
the room. He began tapping the partition
lightly with his knuckle. He tapped away
for about ten minutes amidst perfect
silence He sounded along thus for dozen
| feet or so when suddenly he paused.
An old picture blocked the path he had
traced with his knuekle. He cautiously
moved the picture aside and raped lightly.
hollow sound issued forth.
There, within two feet of the head of the
bed behind the picture. completely covered
with cheap paper like the head of drum,
was hole in the wall about foot square.
II lacked two minutes of 10 when the man
had made this last discovery.
Not moment was to be lost. The miner
hastily threw OFF his coat and vest. These
two garments he threw on the floor, and,
bending over, rolled them into shapeless
bundle. He moved over to the bed placed
his roll under the quilts and drew down the
pillow in such a way that the whole ar
rangement looked much like man in bed.
When he had finished it lacked just one
minute to IL.
The man with a steady hand now moved
silently over and with quick puff blew out
the candle.
He stood there in the dark close to the
old chimney. The moon streamed in at the
window and cast feeble fringe of light
over the shapeless image lying in the bed
90 quiet was it chat the specter there by the
chimney could hear the afr ring in his ears,
and mechanically noted the sharp ticking
OF his silver watch dozen feet away on the
table.
Then there was faint scuffiing outside
tne partition, like rat in the wall.
Slowly the picture began to sway, as by
some unseen influence. A hand had softly
punctured the rim of paper on the wall
N9selessly the picture moved aside.
In that hand was cleaning revolver
c.. Suddenly the town clock began to strike.
stroke after stroke.
Ninel Tenl Eleyeni
The thumb of the unknown hand grasped
and lifted the trigger of the revolver.
Twelve!
Bang Bang
Help! am DYING Help. say HelpT
TERRIBLE MOMENT.
quick step in the hall. The door bursts
open. In ruShes-a masked man. He
moves straight for the bed. He leaps upon
y as If to choke the victim there before
iron hand Is pressing him to the floor, and
"le man goes down in death.
nnat man wears mask.
4ne other highwayman lies dead in his
tracks in the hall behind the partition,
The third
but by this time the house is aroused. A
lozen men swarm into the room The land
aOr9 Is the first to speak. He glares at Bill
and says:
boy, arrest this man, he is murderer"
Everybody stares.
Not in a mining country, gents,
ecSon," says Bill, slowly. and with terrific
upnasis, land never with such landlord
you, Pete Milesl herewith arrest you
'or murderp
"Mem
Yes, your
This man is medp
NO. am not. l say you shall die.
nour cowardly work is undone at lastl Ten
esFs you have played this desperate game
~" thousand times you have won. But
no wheel has turned against you and you
ave staked and lost That one loss shall
~ you your life. You, who are q hun
1od, for in five minutes Won shall be swing
s "a the winter wind that bowls over the
.aallle. Boys. bind and gag this man. /