Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-09-22
JANET LEE
In the Shadow of the
GaUOWS.
BY DAVID LOWRY.
CHAPTER III.
THE MURDER.

The sailor was awakened by draught
on his hand. The drauIht came from
the opening in the window. He was, as
many of his class are, a light sleeper. He
lay qnietly listening. The storm had ex-
pended its fury, bit the wind was still
high. Above the sound Of tie Storm
he heard O peculiar sound against The
side of the house.
The sailor sat bolt upright in bed.
The noise continued. The sailor slipped
softly ort 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 dong this gust
blew in the room. STOPPING, the sailor
was Just able 10 discern figure at the
window. The i-truder was feeling b S
way cautiously. The distance between
the window and the bed was not more
than thr,e feet. The man was we'll In
the room he was feeling the side of the
bed when the sailors hand clutched his
thro t.
Th re was a smothered sound as the
sailor pressed the intruder back on the
bed silently. At first the sailor was re-
solved 10 throttle the robber Then as he
relaxed his grasp, the intruder said, in
husky tones, AFor Gods sake let me
breathe.
who are you?"
take YOUR hands from my throat.
I'D serve you right to end your life
here. Stealing in upon traveller t(
murder him."
Il am no thief. 1 am the landlords
son."
"A likely story. I'll call your fatheI
up, and you can tell him how you came
in on me-"
For Gods sake, listen. am power
less. See 1 bear no arms. am
saior-an honest sailor.
"God save the markl"
81 tell you l Lave just escaped ship
wreck. l am just come from Marble
head on account of foolish tight, bu
I'm no more to blame"
"Wha.! So you were on the
Eliza. And wrecked before. Now th.
officers are hunting me. / can prove
am not in the wrong; but if my tathe
knows l am here, he will almost kill me
I've cost him trouble-and money.
thought to steal in-this is my own oet
and room--sleep while, and be OIL earl,
before any one woke. .n
.Stop-let me feel your hand. I'll
true. This is no base liar after all.
Il tell you I've been away from hom
four months-four years it seems.
"Come-let's have look at you.
The sailor held finder box in hi
hand. A flame illuminated the room
and in the brief period The light fell upoi
the intruders face the sailor scanne'
him from head to foot.
Il know you-you we're among the mrs
to stave in the casks of rum. Here, lii
down, and in the morning 60 like mar
TO your father"
Il dare not"
We'll, lie down, and go to sleep"
The landlords son cast himself, jus
rs he was, on the bed The sailor dis
robed once more and laid down besid
him and fell asleep the second time.
He was awakened later-he had no ide
what time it was-by creaking stairs. II
removed the cover, stepped noiselessl
out of bed, and, as he 1opned his clothe
n second time, listened intently. lii
of danger had s5arpened senses naturall
acute. Yes, there could be no doubt abou
it. Somebody was ascending the stair
stealthilv. The sailor felt his weapon
and moved back to the bench. The doc
was opened slowly; then in the darknes
the sailor thought mans figure wa
dimly outlined.
The stature was that of the landlord.
Now another step was heard on th
stairs. la the darkness The sailor wa
unable 10 perceive the movements of tn
figure until suddenly he became sensibl
of the presence o. some one near at hanC
Then the sailor realized that he was un
able to prevent terrible, monstrou
crime. The figure lowering between hil
and the'bed STOPPED. At venture tn
sailor aimed his pistol at the figure, tire(
and then bounding past the man be fire
ot he sprang across the bed, darte
through the window, and falling on
plank pl ICED against the house place
there bv the landlords SOM, Slid to th
ground and sappeared in tia darkness
When the report of the pistol VIZ
heard, Grizzle Meade was approachin
the door with light. The sudden frigl
caused Grizzle 10 drop the light, whic
was extinguished. When the LANDLORD
who had been flung headlong to the iot
by the sailor, regained his feet, he curse
his wife for letting the light fall, stun
bled against her in the dark, then hat
tened down stairs for fresh light, ar
speedily returned to the bedroom.
Grizzle Meade was wringing her hanC
in terror, and crying, We are undone-
we are undone, Daniel.
"Peace-le quiet" her husband con
mandei. as be apr roache the bed M
held the light ov,r it. Grizzlies eyes we