The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1894-02-26
Il was then ten o'clock.

whom the note had warned US. They
did not separate till midnight, and
can assure the reader it was a long
wait for us--for Jac.; and ne.
Soon after we heard them 90 out: the
house became as still as death. Then
with strange feeling creeping over
me, l,ade Jack take up the lamp, and
going on tiptoe to the side door, ND.
locked it very carefully. 50 as not t.
make the slightest noise and slowly
opened it.
y damp. chilly air struck our faces
and the light fared up. The windows
Of the room were raised, but the shut
tiers were closed tight.
We entered There was no carpet
on the floor and no furniture. save {
long deal table in the middle Of the
room To the right, in the further
corner, was cot. with a blanket
thrown over it; to the left closet.
Well" | was on the point of saving
- see no mystery in this" when Jack
who was between me and the further
corner, holding the lamp, started back
suddenly and clutched my arm.
Heavens, GEORGE" he said, in G
hoarse whisper, there's something Gov
cred up on the cot"
The hand with which he held the
lamp shook so that. fearing he would
drop it, l took it from him, and, in
breathless suspense, we went on tiptoe
to the cot.
Yes, there was certainly something
under the blanket. Something that
looked like the top of human head
peePed out. pulled down the blanket
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 deal table, while Jack
staggered back against the wall, muir.
muring:
For Gods sake, George, what does
this mean?"
1T MEANS" replied, mastering my
emotion, lit means that we stand face
to face with the victim Of a crime-a
murdered woman-chOked to DEATH
"Choked!" gasped Jack. How dc
you know that?"
It's very evident" l made answer,
approaching the cot again. See fol
yourself" and l showed Jack, at the
throat, several dark marks, like the
imprints Of fingers. There" said
gravely, ARE the irrefutabIe proofs
To the medical eye, they are crying
Witnesses"
"And what's to be done?" said Jack
'Our first step is undoubtedly to gc
and lodge a complaint against this
Winking Ike and Pete the landlord
We must do so at once"
Not so fast, my boy. Do yor
imagine we would be allowed to leave
this house by stealth at this hour? No.
indeed! We are supposed to be
"What?' asked Jack, impatiently, az
passed.
':Cutting the body up, of course, SC
that they can conveniently dispose c:
it--bury the pieces separa tcly, &c
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 it
up. Some one, for a round sum OF
money, has agreed to furnish them
villainOus doctor and an assistant,
who would do the job for tAem. Don I
you remember that this WinlIing Ike
said to me, when he cautioned me in
the other room: We looked for YOU
two days ago, dOctor?' And what he
meant by you've got what you need
in them things, pointing to my valises,
were the surgical instruments neces.
sary for the operation"
Jack looked at me aghast.
And the bags?" pursued, going tc
the closet and taking out three or four
large grain sacks-'Why, these are to
hold the pieces!'
Jacks eyes began to bulge out Of
their sockets and, plying the poor
devil, took up the lamp and, leading
him softly into the other room, locked
| the door after US.
He dropped upon one Of the cots,
while l, opening a valise, took out my
two loaded revolvers and, going up to
him, said in whisper:
Take this revolver and keep your
wits about you. Certain it is that
either WinlIing 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"
AZ was VI ~ III LICdA N4A &C ia I4AS
morning when l heard soft footsteps IN
the passage, approaching the door. and
presently there came light knock.
! motioned to Jack. and when l opened
the door in walked Winking Ike and
Pete, the landlord, but to find them
selves confronted suddenly with two
revolvers aimed straight at their
breasts. At the same time cried out
Hands up!'
My God, don't shoot" the two
worthless stammered simultaneously,
throwing up their hands. NO harm
was meant"
What! No harm, you villains! Il.
was a cold-blooded murder!" l said,
vehemently.
Winking Ike burst out laughing,
winking furiously, while from every
part of the house seemed to come an
explosion of shouts, and into the room
rushed q score OF miners.
The fact is, pard," said Winking
Ike. suppressing his mirth, we've