Arizona republican., 1891-11-14

not deceive me! lie was frightened. He tried to joke; he said he could not sleep; that he had heard all night the ticking in the wall, which, he said, means death.
 "'That is an English superstition, too, said
 "'Bahr said the innkeeper, with con centrated scorn; these are not times for such foolish superstitions. Monsieur has no such foolish fanciesy
 "I laughed. Ah, monsieur is bravel Look. The Austrians room is that very room monsieur wished to have when he first came, It looks out upon the gla- cier, and is perhaps my best room. Monsieur thought he would prefer one less expensive on the floor above. Mon- sieur remembers? Well, courage de- serves to be rewarded. Monsieur shall have the room for the same price as the one he has now.
 "I thanked my friend, the landlord. It was certainly a room l had coveted. The view was superb, It was nearer the dining and smoking room-in every way a great improvement on the one was occupying.
 "'Can have it oncer asked
 "'Oh, certainly! Of course monsieur knows the landlord went on slowly and looking a little doubtfully at me, that it is the room next to the sick room where that old man is lying illr
 .I laughed, and think the expression of my face reassured the landlord as to my being completely indifferent to such matters, for he went on:
 "'Monsieur is a mani The room is ready and at your disposal.
 He was going away, but came back quickly. Only monsieur will pardon me for reminding him that the doctor has ordered that no noise shall be made near the sickroom. He says the old mans life depends on his sleeping quiet ly. It would be better, perhaps, not to move monsieur's luggage down till the evening"
 "Of course l assented; but feeling de- sirous of seeing my new and much GOV eted possession, and feeling sure of my ability to enter it without making any noise, went up stairs, quietly stole down the corridor, and entered the room without possibility of my having been heard. It was large, bright, cheerful apartment, in the older part of the hotel. lt was wainscoted, with oak panels. The window was large, and, as have mentioned before, com manded one of the most exquisite views to be found in Switzerland.
 "I looked around the room with a sense of satisfaction. 1 have told you am observant of my fellow creatures; l am not less so of inanimate objects. have an eye in such matters detective might envy. 1 soon saw mark or cut in the wainscoting on one Ade of the room. It was so small that l believe many men might have passed days in the room without noticing it. l am an inquisitive man, and at once went to it and examined it. It was chink in the wood; stopped and looked through. The whole of the interior of the sick room was visible. Three silent figures were the occupants. On the bed lay the old man sleeping, his gray hairs on the pillow; at the side knelt in prayer his blind daughter; behind the daughter close behind--was the wife. She alone seemed living. She was drawing stealth ily--oh, so stealthily and slowly-a small round table laden with jugs and medi- cine bottles across the floor.
 At first l did not realize what she was doing. knew she had every motive to be silent in her movements, but caught sight of her face! It was the face of devil! Never was eyes Sc hideously expressive of murderous hate! In flash understood it all.
 "She was moving the table to posi-. ton such that the slightest movement of ! the kneeling figure of the blind daugh- ter, praying for her fathers life, would hurl it and it's fragile burden to the ground
 "l dare say you think am callous sort of fellow, but l assure you was horror struck l would have given worlds to warn the poor child, but knew not how. To have called out would have been as fatal as the catastrophe it. ! self
 "I felt stupefed-paralyzed. The end came before my swimming brain could find any way to help. The poor girl rose, her hands still clasped. l saw tht table reel, and as I, sick with horror withdrew my eyes l heard the crash