The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-06-19

We IrscUED MISS ESoLLYs.
ity, | Judged that he looked for no more
visitors in Lost Mans Lane that night.
Suddenly | heard q rustic; it vas worry
faint. but as the sun sank at that mo
ment, I raised the cry that had Mt tirsl
been agreed upon between Miss knolly 70
and myself, and In so natural n tone
that Mr.. Trohm looked up with aston
ish ment into the trees above. At the
sane instant Lucst,a knollys appeared
at the gate. and calling his name drew
his attention to herself. evidently to his
great surprise and inward agitation.
"Lucettar' he exclaimed. "Whai
does this mean? You are not in the
habit OF visiting mo-" And q peculiarly
Eager look crossed his faca as he came
down the walk, and stopped before her
Just where tho sweep Of the old we'll
have mentioned cast its long shadows
owe the shaven lawn.
Her answer was brief and decisive.
40" she said. II make few visits.
When | do come IL is to utter either 4
protest or a warning. This time il Is q
warning. Mr.. Trohm. your evil prac.
tees are discovered Tomorrow you will
have the police here in earnest; they
did but play with you to-day"
"You childi" he gaspet. striving.
however, to restrain all evidences oil
sh ock or terror. "What do you mean,
and to what practices do you allude p
that OF nv gardening and housekeep.
ing? never heard them called evil
before"
But murder is evil, aud gardening
and housekeeping do not employ al
your time. Where is Silly Rufus. Mr..
rrohm? They have asked me. but il
any one in Lost Mans Lane can ms wer
that question it is you"'
And then | SAW that the instinct OF
this girl had led us where mere cumen
would have failed to take W. For the
old man cringed aud the wrinkles came
out in his face till ho was diabolically
ugly.
"You ~vipcr" he shrieked. GLOW
dare You accuse me OF n crime-ynu.
whose mother would have died in jai.
but for nv iorbcarancc! lave you ever
seen me tread upon a worm even?
Lucetta, you are mad !"
MAD or sane. my acculation will
bear fruit. Mr.. Trohm. | believe toe
deeply in your guilt no. to make Others
do so."
"You do?" he sneercd.
al do"
"And why?" he cried.
because your heart is wicked. DO.
cause your face
My face? Take care, Lucetta, take
care; you will bring trouble on yourself
il yon 60 on"
Though l bring death, l will do,
nounce YOU. | have the honor Of nv
own household 10 defend. Besides, the
earth should be rid OF such u monster
as YOU"
such n monster as |! Well, my pret,
ty one" Uhis voice grown suddenly
wheeling. his face a study OF mingled
p%assions). I'VE will SEQ about that; VIC
will see about that. Come Just a step
nearer. Lucetta; | wan to sec If YOU ara
really the little girl used to dandlc on
my knee"
Ills hand was on the curb OF tho old
well: his face, so turned tina, it caught
the full glare OF the setting sun, leaned
toward the girl. and seemed to exert q
fascinating influence mon her. She
took tho step he asked. and before |
could cry ont to her beware | saw him
bend forward with n sudden quick mo.
ton, and thon start again upright, while
her form, which but an instunt before
had stood there in ali its iraiI and youth,
full beauty. tottcrcd as il the ground
were bonding under it, and in another
moment disappeared FROM my appalled,
sight, swallowed in some dreadful cav,
orn. that for IN instant yawned in tho
smooth shaver lawn before me, and
then vanished again from sight, rs II i,
had never been.
Shouting out my horror, I bounded
from my place. but stopped again ior
an instant. da2cl by tho sight OF the
| old mans demoniacal delight. lilo was
lcaping to and fro over tho turf, holding
up his six lincors in tho red sunse'
| glare. six r. he shriekcd. "SiS!" and
room for two more. Oh, it's IL merry
life | lead. Aud now, whore is my
pretty Lucetta? Surely sho was hero Il
moment aSo. How could she have van.
ishcd, then. 80 luickiy|'
This last question was uttered in such
n different tono Of voice TINT i, ravt
me II cue to the whole situation. saw
ovon while | bounded 10 tho rcscue o,
tho devoted maiden, that ho was ono o
those maniacs who havo perfect con,ro'
over themselves except in tho moment
Of triumph; and noting his look o.
sinister delight perceived that half his
pleasure and almost his solo reward 70,
tho horrible crimes ho Ind perpotrnlct
was In tho mystery surrounding the
loSa OF his vic,ims md the surmiSc.
which it natu rally called mp. | could
therefore understand his lottor to the
police and tho extreme satisfaction he
took in playing with my efforts and
contemplating hia own fanciod immuni.
t.: from suspicion.
Meantime | had covered tho wtclcl,
with my pistol, and reaching tho spot