People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-11-22

opposite the door opening into the
other room, we heard voices, and
listened. 1t was some miners, iudg-
ing by their talk, discussing business
matters. These were doubtless the
people against whom the note had
warned us. They did not separate
till midnight, and l can assure the
reader it was long wait for us-for
DENIM and me.
Soon after we heard them 90 out;
the house became as still as death.
Then, with strange feeling creep
ing over me, babe DENIM take up
the lamp, and, going on tiptoe to the
side door, l unlocked it very care
fully, so as not to make the slightest
noise, and slowly opened it.
A damp, chilly air struck our faces,
and the light fared up. The win
dows Of the room were raised, but the
shutters were closed tight.
We entered There was no carpet on
the floor, and no furniture save a long
deal table in the middle of the room.
To the right, in the farther corner
was cot, with blanket thrown over
1t; to the left closet.
well" was on the point OF say
ing, Il see no mystery in this" when
DENIM, who was between me and
the farther corner, holding the lamp
suddenly started back and clutched
my arm.
Heavens. Joe."' he said in hoarse
whisper, there's something covered
up on the cot"
The hand with which he held the
lamp shook so that, fe airing he would
drop it, took it from him, and, in
breathless suspense, we went on tip
toe to the cot.
Yes; there was certainly something
under the blanket. Something that
looked Ii Ike the top of human head
peeped out.
l pulled down the blanket a little,
and ghastly face, framed by long,
brown hair, stared up at us with
CLASSY eyes.
Horritied, l recoiled and set the
lamp upon the table, while DENIM
staggered back against the wall, muir
muring:
For Gods sake, Joe, what does
this mean?"
st means, l replied, mastering my
emotion, lit means that we stand
face to face with the victim of a crime
"a murdered woman! Clicked to
DEATH"
"Choked.' gasped DENIM. 'How
do you know that?"
1T is very evident" made an
swer, approaching the cot again.
"See for YOURSELF" and ! showed
DENIM, at the throat, several dark
marks, like the imprints of fingers.
There" l said, gravely, "are the
irrefutable proofs. To the medical
eye they are crying witnesses"
Cover it up again, Joe. The sight
is too horrible" moaned DENIM. 1--WE
must rot disturb tit must be left
just as we found it." and Selling the
blanket with a shudder he pulled it
over the staring face.
And now what's to be done?@ he
continued. Our first step is uudoubt-
eddy to go and lodge a complaint
against this Ike aud Pete Burroughs,
the landlord. We must do so at once. &"
Not so fast, my boy. Do you i'm
agine we would be allowed to leave
this house by stealth at this hour? No,
indeed, we are supposed to be"
"What?" asked DENIM, impatiently,
as paused.
Cutting the body up, of course, so
that they can conveniently dispose of
it-bury the pieces separately, no
doubt? Isn't the matter clear to you
now? The rascals, having foully muir
dered this poor woman here, have not
dared to carry the body away as it is,
and have not had the courage to cut
1t up. Some one, for a round sum of
money, has agreed to furnish them a
villainous doctor and an assistant
who would do the job for them.
Don't you remember that Ike said to
me, VIII en- he cautioned me in the
other room, We locked for you two
days ago, doctor?' And what he
meant by You've got what you need
in them thi ngs,' pointing to our
yalises, where were the surgical instru-
ments neces sary for the operation.
|, opening the valise, took out two
loaded revolvers, and going up to
DENIM, said, in whisper:
Take this revolver and keep vour
wits about you. Certain it is that
either Ike or the landlord will be
here before daylight to see whether
we have done the job. Whoever
comes, we must be prepared for him.
It's a matter of life or death with us
1t was draw ing near to 3 in the
morning when / heard soft footsteps
in the pass age, approaching the door.
and presently there came a light
knock. / motioned to DENIM, and
when l ope ned the door, in walked
Ike and Pete, the landlord, but TO
find themselves confronted suddenly
with two revolvers aimed straight at
their breasts. AT the same time !
cried out:
Hands upr'