The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-26


Room on t'other side Of Partition -
you will ind Bags in Closet in Room"
After supper we went directly to
our room. tn king with rs large lamp
rhich had been lighted for our use
1t was then eleven o'clock.
Through the par tition on the right
opposite the door opening into the
0ther room, we heard voices, and
listened. 1t was som miners, judg-
ing by their talk, discussing business
matters
Soon after we heard them go out;
the house became as still as death
Then. with q 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 m AXE the slightest
noise. and slowly opened it.
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 a cot, with blanket thrown over
il; TO the left "A closet.
Well. / was on the point of say
ing. 4 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
s.Heave ms. Joer' he said in a hoarse
whisper, there's something covered
up on the cotH'
The hand with which he held the
lamp shook so that. fe airing he would
drop il, l took it from him. and. ia
breathless suspense, we went on tip
toe to the cot.
4 Yes; tn ere was certainly some thing
under the blanket Something that
looked Ii Ike the top Of human head
peeped out.
I pulled down the blanket a little,
and a ghastly face. framed by long,
brown hair, stared up at US with
CLASSY eyes.
Horrifed, I recoiled and set the
lamp upon the table, while DENIM
staggered back against the wall, muir
muring:
this mean?"
1T means / replied. mastering my
emotion. lit means that we stand
face to face with the victim of a crime
"a murdered wOmani Choked 20
death!'
"Chokedi" gasped DENIM. How
do you know that?"
1T is very evident" I made an
syver app reaching the cot again
..See for yourself, (" and ] showed
DENIM, at the throat. several dark
marks like the imprints of fingers
Cover it up again, J oe. The sight
is too horriblei' 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 il
over the staring face
And now what's to be done?7 he
f- n he
edlv to 90 and lodge a complaint
against tn is Ike and Pete Burroughs,
the landlord We N ust do 50 al once.
Not SO fast, my boy. Do you i'm
agine we wo uld be allowed to leave
this house by stealth at this hour? No,
indeed. we are supposed to be"
ssWhat?'' sked DENIM. impatiently,
as I paused.
Cutting tn q body up. of course, 50
that they can co nveniently dispose of
it-bury the pieces separately, no
doubt? Isn't the matter clear to you
now? Some one, for a round sum Of
money, has agreed to furnish them
villainous doctor and an assistant
who " ould do the job for them.
Don't GU remember that Ike said TO
me, VIII en- he ca ntioned me ia the
other room, We locked for you two
d avs ago, doctor2' And what he
meHnt by You've got what you need
in them thi ngs, pointing TO our
valises. where were the surgical instru-
ments neces sary for the operation.
I,sopening the va lise, took out two
loaded revolv ers, and going up to
DENIM, said. IN a whisper:
Take this re vclver and keep your
wits about yo,L 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 as. =
1t was draw ing near to in the
morning when l heard soft footsteps
in the pass age, approaching the door,
and pres ntly there came a light
knock. motioned to DENIM, and
when ope ned the door. in walked
Ike and Pete, the landlord, but to
find them selves confronted suddenly
W it'll TWO revolvers aimed straight at
their breasts At the same time !
cried out:
Hands upr
Don't shootr the two worthless
stammered, simultaneously throwing
up the If hands mo harm was meant"
s.fT hati No harm, you villains: It
was a cold blooded murder.s 1 said,
vehemently.
Ike burst out laughing. winking
ing fur iousIy, while from every part
of the house seemed to come an ex-
plosion Of shouts, and into the room
rushed a score Of miners.
II he fact is. pard," said Ike, sup
pressing his mirth, r-we'v We been pretty
hard On you and your friend But
that's the initiation we generally give
: