Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-12
STORY OF A BOY WITNESS
Written for The Evening Star BY NJ. Quad.

AWAKENED and sent for the doctor, who
lived In the village, three miles away. By
taking a cut across the fields and passing
close to the Royalston house 1 could short
en- the distance by three-Quarters of q mile
Royalston was a rich man. and an old man,
living alone in big house. except for two
or three servants. There had been other
members Of the family. bat the wife had
died In her bed. a daughter had been
drowned in the river flowing through the
village. and 1t was public gossip that an
only son had been driven from home by his
viciousness and was a wandering outlaw
At the time I write Of Royalston was al
most q hermit and had not been on his
grounds for months.
In passing between the house and the
stables I caught sight Of a man skulking
near the house. but the fact raised no sus-
picions. I was a boy Of eleven sent with a
hurried message. and battered along the
path in my bare feet without giving a sec
ond thought to the incident. As soon as L
had reached the village the doctor ordered
out his gig. and as he drove away 1 took
the short cut back across the Royalston
grounds. had to take a slower pace going
home. and owing to this 1 made discOv-
cry and met with an adventure. AS l fol-
lowed the path between the house and sta
building. and curiosity impelled me to turn
aside and Investigate. The man who had
charge Of stable and grounds was Charles
Monroe. and had met him on many occa-
sions He was middle-aged man, good
natured. and had taken a great liking to
him. 1t struck me that Monroe had been
aroused in a case Of emergency, and ! was
soon standing in the open door Of the sta
BILE, in which a couple of horses were kept.
To the left of this was the carriage house.
to the right the tool house. / had seen the
lantern pass the door. but now all was
dark and silent. stood listening for a mo-
ment, and then 1 heard sounds from the
tool house. Without calling out. and yet
susp.ctfng no wrong. l made my way
down to the door In the partition and look
ed in.
A lantern had been hung to a beam so
that it was elevated about six feet from
the ground. Just within the door was
bulky object lying on the earthen floor.
could only see the outline. but something
told me 1t was dead body. Seated on
box, with the light just touching her. was
a woman, and after q second glance 1 rec
ognized her as Mary, the woman who had
general charge OF the house. Between us
was a man using a pick and shovel to dig
a grave, and that man was Charles Mon
roe. As 7 stood there. my heart jumping
into my throat and MY breath coming in
gasps. ne ceased work and said to the wo-
man:
That's deep enough, and we'll now
heave the body in!''
"Oh! Charles. but I'm sorry we did II.
and I know we shall be found OUT" she
walled as she rose up.
"Is that the way you TALK he sterniy
demanded Who's to say he didn't wan
der away? How is any one to find him
here? You were fast enough to bring 1t
about. and now II you weaken I'll bury
you in the same grave! Take hold here
with mel"
Had 1 realized the situation 1 could have
crept away unnoticed and unheard. but
the sudden discovery gave me such a
fright that l made some motion which be-
trayed my presence. / heard them cry out
In alarm. and the next moment Monroe had
seized me and had me down on the floor.
He had clutch on my throat, but finding
that 1 was only a boy he let up little and
ordered the woman to bring the lantern
over. By its light he saw my face and
recognized me. as did also the woman. and
weep and moan Monroe cursed her to 81
lence. and then asked me how l came there.
told him my errand. and after little he
pulled me into the tool house over the
laugh and said:
You gave us a great fright. and in my
excitement 1 might have done you a bad
turn. Did you know, Bob. that the old
ston liked well?"
said no. 1 had never seen a dog about
the place.
we are going to bury him here. That's
the order. You know how queer Royalston
Is? Wen. he don't want 1t known that the
dog is dead or buried here. VIII you prom
Use to keep still about it?"
But this isn't dead dog replied, as
l looked down upon the figure. This is
why, l can see the face and it's dead
man-it's Mr.. Royalston."
You cursed young fool" Kissed Monroe
as he seized and flung me down.
He'll betray US If we don't kill him, and
that will be two murders!" walled the wo-
man.
He made no reply. He had ropes there
In the tool house. and he tied my wrists
and ankles and gagged me with a stick. In
three minutes l was trussed up and help
less. and when he had finished his work
Monroe said to the woman:
Go into the house and wait for me- II
you run away-if you go back on me-I'u
have your blood! When come back wen
bury this. and nobody will ever suspect
"What-what are you going to do with
the boy?' she stammered.
all will be right
1 could could see ga and hear. Young as was
l realized that Monroe must make way
with me to save the pair Of them They
had committed a foul murder and I was
the only witness against them. He stood
very white and set. but with something Of
compassion in his eyes. Then he produced
handkerchief and blindfoIded me and
after that 1 heard him getting out a long
rope.
He again cautioned the woman. sent her
On to the house. and presently he picked
me up. tossed me on his shoulder and ex
tinguish1ng the lantern, set Off across the
grounds. From the moment he stepped ont
doors I knew where he was taking mo
Half way up steep hillside and a mile
away. on land owned by some nonresident
was deep shaft, which had been SINK
years before in search Of coal. had visited
the place a dozen times. 1 knew that n
was a lonely neighborhood, and the shaft at
least forty feet Deep He would throw ma
down that shaft and there would be no
grave to dig, and 1t would be only by the
merest chance that my body would ha
found. If not killed by the fall. then thirst
and hunger would do for me in three or
four days. VI
Monroe walked of with me at a swinging
gait, and In ten minutes he was at the mir
He deposited me on the ground. looked
about. caught his breath, and then hent
over as If to loosen the gag or some of the
ropes or to speak to me. have always he
lieved that he would have spared me had
the risk been less. Perhaps some noise
startled him, for he suddenly straiphteneS
up, lifted me from the earth, and the next
instant I was falling through space. 70.
member that hit the sides of the nil In INV
seemed to turn over threa or
four times-of striking at the bottom with
a crash, and then knew no more for per-
haps an hour. Then opened my eyes and
realized what had happened and where I
was. l began to move about to see how
Ill xuynC In irrrN