Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-05-31
over his face

|
looked round. There was no third per-
son in the room. The bullet had passed
through wainscot panel.
"What the devil were you shooting
at?" he demanded, sternly.
"a bullet won't kill him." quavered
the man: she can die but once. But he
comes-he is always here. It's the
treasure he wants. What can dead
man do with treasurer
''Your dead man has saved my life, at
all events" muttered Keppel, land I'm
obliged TO him for it, As for you-well!
You will never harm any one again
This is an ugly night; wish it were
over. And what of tomorrow
He found another candle, lit it, and,
having put the revolver in his pocket,
set out TO explore the house. There
was scarcely anything in it except the
bare rooms; but in closet in the kitch-
en- he found some loaveS of bread al
most as hard as stone. Q He soaked it in
water and ate some of it. He brought
glass of water for the sick man, who
drank it eagerly. That's good" the
poor wretch said. Il shall get well.
Il don't think you will get WELL" re-
turned Keppel "You look to me like
dying man, and you had better realize
it. | know nothing about the treat
ment OF yellow fever, and it's no use
trying to find doctor tonight. II you
are alive tomorrow I'll go for one.
Meanwhile, if there is anything you
you want done, in case you do die,
| had better let me know it now"
/ .-nfA hn nth
with tremulouS earneStncss. Listen.
When get well | will divide with you;
there's enough for both; we shall be two
of the richest men in the world. There
are .aillions-millions | have told no.
body. No one knows | am here. If they
came they would take it all and put us
in Jail. What is the sense Of that? Maui
rice knows, but he can't tell; it isn't
Maurice-it is his spirit, that's all. He
can't speak, he can only look: and no
one but can see him. We are safe if l
get we'll"
''You had better keep quiet" said
Keppel you're firing yourself out
and you're talking nonsense. There Is
no treasure here; if you didn't die of the
fever you would Starve to death, as far
as can see. What is your name, and
what did you come here for?"
Il am poor peddler. l peddle wax
fruits. | came here to be out Of the
way-not to be interfered With. shall
take them down to New York and sell
them, one at a time. The least OF them
is worth one hundred thousand francs.
There are thousands of them"
Keppel turned away impatiently. 81
am going to take nap" he said. 81
saw some 6Shnets and bagging in the
kitchen, and I'll make bed Of them
here in the corner. II you want any
thing you can call out"
He got the materials and made his
bed accordingly. His fatigue was so
great, after the exertions and excite
ment of the previous two days, that he
fell asleep the instant he lay down. He
was awakened by wild scream and a
heavy fall.
He raised himself up, still heavy and
bewildered with sleep. AT first he did
not remember where he was. Was he
in his prison cell? or had he been hanged,
and was this after death? In a few mo-
ments he came to himself. The candle
was flaring in the socket. The faint
gray OF dawn was coming through the
dusty paneS of the eastern window.
Who had screamed? The sick man, OF
course. Keppel looked toward the bed;
il was vacant. What had happened?
He got to his feet aud made step for
ward. He trod upon something that
Welded beneath his weight. 1t was the
body of the invalid. Recoiling, he
fetched the expiring candle and bent
over it. The mans body was drawn to-
gether, lying on its side. The hands
were over the face. In the right hand
was a long knife,
Evidently he had crawed from his
bed and stolen on Keppel with the in
tentiou of stabbng him, but just before
he could accomplish his purpose the
specter by which he imagined himself
| haunted had interviewed. The man was
dead. The candle flickered and died
out. Keppel made a spring for the
other candle, but remembered that he
had no matches. He could not stay
with the body in the darkness so he
made his way to the open air.
The morning sky was clear, the east
ern horizon a pale yellow. He paced
M and down before the house till
the sun rose. his mind full of gloomy
thoughts. Horror and misery pursued
him everywhere. He mad the revolver
in his pocket; why not use il on himself
and end all? He paused, debating the
question, but finally shook his head. he
had had so many escapes lately that he
persuaded himself he might have been
preserved for a purpose. The uncloud.
ed sun, rising over the blue verge OF
the distant ocean, was an omen OF nope;
He turned, and reluctantly re-entered
the house.
The sunlight fell upon the corpse as 1t
lay there. Keppel set resolutely to work.
He Strengthened out the arms and legs
and rolled up the body in blanket from
the bed. He tied it round with piece
of rope from the fshnet. Is was now