Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-10-08

Thsnight vaned. and + worke,
hastily. bnt in silenes. First Of al
| dismembered the cerpss. I On
off the head and the arms and tn,
legs.
l then took mp three pianks from
the flooring Of the chsmber and de
posted all between the scantlings
l then replaced the boards 90 clev
eriy, 90 cunningly, thss 10 human
eye-not even bis-could have de
tected anything wrong. There va,
nothing to wash ous-no stain D
any kind-no blood-spot whatever
| had been too wary for that. A
tub had caught all-ha hal
When | had made an end of these
labors, il was four o'ciock-still
dark as midnight. "A the bell
sounded the hour, there came a
knocking at the street door.
went down to open it with q light
heart-for what had | now to fear!
There entered three men, who in
troduced themselves, with perfect
suavity, as officers Of the police. A
shrek had been heard by a neigh
Dor during the night suspicion of
foul play had been aroused infor-
nation had been lodged at the po-
lice-office, and they (the officers)
had been deputed to search the
premises.
/ smiled-for what had to fear ?
| bade the gentlemen welcome.
The shrek, | said, was my own in
dream. The old man, I men,
toned, was absent in the country.
| took my visitors all over the
house. i bade them search
search well. l led them. at length,
to his chamber. / showed them
his treasures, secure, undisturbed
In the enthusiasm Of my confidence,
l brought chairs into the room,
and desired them here to rest from
their fatigues. while l myself, in
the wild audacity of my perfect tri-
umph, placed my own seat upon
the very spot beneath which reposed
the corpse OF the victim.
The officers were satisfied. NV
manner had convinced them. |
was singularly at ease. They sat,
and while I answered cheerily, they
chartered OF familiar things. But,
ere long, felt myself getting pale,
and wished them gone. My head
ached, and fancied q ringing in
my ears, but still they sat and still
chatted The ringing came more
distinct : and | talked more freely
to get rid of tho feeling but it con-
tinued and gained definitiveness-
until, at length, found tha. the
noise was not within my ears.
No doubt now grew pale but
l talked more fuently, and with q
heightened voice. Yet the sound
increased--and what could | do
1t was low, dull, quick sound
mach such sound as a patch makes
'chen enreloped in cottou. gasped
for breath--and yet the officers
heard it not. / talked more quick
ignore vehemently but the
noise steadily increased. ! arose
and argued about trifies, in Q high
key and with violent gesticulstions
but the noise steadily increased
Why would they not be gone?
paced the floor to and fro Will
heavy strides, as il excited to fur,
by the observations of the men
but the noise steadily increased
o God p! What could / do?
foamed-I raved-I swore
swung the chair upon which ! has
been sitting, and grated it upor
the boards, but the noise arose Owe
all and continually increased. 1
grew Observation-Disclosures Anl
still the men chatted pleasantly
and smiled. Was it possible the,
heard not? Almighty God Mo
no! They heard They suspect
ed--they knew! They were max
ing q mockery OK my horror ! Thi
l thought, and this | think. Blu
anything was better than this az
ony. Anything was more toler
able than this derision +! / could
bear those hypocritical smiles n
longer! / felt / must scream o
die And now-sgain !---hsrk
louder louder A! louder loader -
Civilians !" ! shrieked, "dis
semble no more! Isdmit the deed
Tear mp the planks !---hsre, here
lit is the beating of his hideou
heart"
"Now, Willie. aaid Mr.. Wilkins