The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-05-21

htSdtu W III dildliS VI IN nOuStllDlu
vii! answered saucily at times, a
which he scowled ~savagely at the DO,
in a way that made Sarah's heart bea
quickly with fear.
When he had finished his supper, h,
sat down beside the kitchen stow,
where, after ordering Will to bring hin
some liquor, he proceeded TO fill an,
light his pipe. Fortunately Mr.. Har
bin had taken the key of the spirit-roon
with him, SO the man grumblingly con
tented himself with some bottled al,
which happened to be in the cellar.
Sarah hurriedly finished her work ant
retired to the dining-room with he
brother, and there the fellow sat drink
ing and smoking until about mint
o'clock. Then he lighted the Lantern
and went out to see if his horse was al
right he said, when he saw Will look
ing at him from the dining-room door
Sarah took advantage of his absence &c
gather up the silver and put it in a Sc
cure hiding place. lie had given his
name as Jack Sully. and told a spaciou.
yarn to account for his presence in the
mountains in such weather, but the
girl instinctively distrusted him, per
haps being Influenced by her brothers
avowed fear.
When Sully returned from the barn,
he retired at once to his room, which
opened off the kitchen, first inquirina
where the others were to sleep. His
face wore a look of satisfaction when
told in the other part of the house that
puzzled Sarah not a little.
What she had told him was strictly
true, but owing to the peculiar manner
in which the house was built, the back
had been given Sully. She was so
afraid he would mistrust her proximity,
that she retired without a light and lay
shivering and slccplcss for hours. Ev-
crything remained luiet, however, and
she was beginning at last to doze, when
n noise in the next room startled her
broad awake, and she caught a CLEAN of
light through a crack in the thin parti-
ton. A moment she lay faint from fear.
then. slipping from the bed, she put her
eye to the aperture.
Sully had lighted both lamp and Ian
tern, and with the latter in his hand.
was in the act of leaving the room, fully
dressed. even to overcoat and mittens.
Listening intently she heard the
outer door open and shut, then ran
swiftly to Wills room with the tidings.
Quickly dressing, he returned with her
to the post of observation and together
they waited for what might come.
They soon heard him returning, walk
ing as if he carried a heavy load. lie
made no pretense of being careful as
to noise. but flung his burden upon
the bed with an exclamation of re-
lief, and stood a moment painting
heavily.
1t was a human form wrapped in a
blanket. and Sarah had well-nigh ut
tered a scream of horror as he pulled
the covering aside and she saw it was
a man with his throat cut from ear to
ear. Grinning horribly, Sullv proceed
cd to arrange the body in the bed.
The gal and boy1l find me mighty
hard. ter wake in ther mornin'." he
chuckled. I'D kinder like ter see it.
but guess I hadn't better wait round"
When he had carefully arranged the
bedding, he listened n moment, then.
apparently satisfied all was right. he
picked up the lantern and again passed
out of sight
Then a wild u~nreasoning terror took
possession of the girl, and grasping
Wills hand she sprang up, whispering
shrilly: HE is coming to murder us.
Let us hide in the store-room."
Had they remained quiet, he would
have not molested them. BIT.
as were their movements. he
heard them and followed ere they could
and bar the heavy store-room door
them.
Sarah had caught mp her watch as she
fed, and was thrusting it down in the
chest, when he saw her and
guessed she was hiding something valu-
able. Will had brought a lamp from
the table in the dining-room as he ran
past, and had been but a moment in light |
ing it. So the mans tigerish face was
visible as, stepping to Sarah's
,ide, he ordered her to give him what
,ver she had hidden. Seeing she was
90 frightened to stir. he turned to Will
with a savage curse called him to
,old up the heavy lid of the chest while
lie reached for the things himself.
The boy obeyed, not daring to refuse,
md bending over, the ruffian began
in the meal with his hand.
Vow this meal chest was a huge affair,
tx feet long and four feet square the
'ther way.
1t had but little meal in it that night,
md as Sarah saw the fellow bending so
ar over, an idea suddenly flashed into
Ter mind. by motions she communi-
ated it to her brother. and by united
forts they sent him headlong into the
lin. and slamming down the cover,
astened it with a hasp and wooden
lin. A keg of white sand and a jar of
neat were quickly placed on top of the
over and then the two looked at one
mother with quiet satisfaction. The
murderer vas caught, and let him
rave and curse as much as he
hose, it would benefit him not one
Whit. ,
"Will he smother in there?" asked
VII, after a moment, and q startled
came into his sisters face. A
noment she stood in thought, then ran
cross the room and took an augur from =,
wall. The chest was of oak and
vell seasoned by age, but they sue 8
eeded in boring several holes in it near
top. Then. paying no attention to
cries and entreaties of the man, they q
out, locking the door behind them.
hey also locked the door leading to q
he kitchen, shivering with dread a
hey thought of that thing of horror in 4
he bed out there. Then, sitting hand Z
d hand by the fire in the front room.
hey debated what to do. Mr.. Hardin
ad said he would be gone four days IL
OF more The negroes having zone on
pot might not return in a week. There
eemed only n thing tn do, but {
mentioned it for a time. The .
now bad stopped, the wind bad gone '