Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-07-06

| ing from the partially turned-down gas,
he could see something forcing its way
under the door. It seemed, at first, like
that of knife blade, for the edge was
thin, and reflected back the light. 1t
moved slowly toward a little blue satin
slipper, which had been thrown care
lessly near the door.
"What can it be?" thought Leon. us
it knife? No, for it has divided into
two parts. And now it divides again
and yet again. What can it be? 1t is
some liquid"
The thing slowly crawled toward the
little blue slipper. 1t encircled its heel.
1t stained its front. 1t was liquid. 1t
was liquid of strange and unmistaka-
BILE color-the color of blood.
For a long time Leon lay and gazed
upon the stained slipper and the red
dish stream which encircled it. He
pictured to himself the corpse lying in
the next room; its discovery the follow
ing morning; the door opening into the
room, of which the bolts were on his
side; the blood-stained slipper. These
things passed through his mind, and
cold sweat started out upon him. He
attempted to rise and hide the slipper;
as he did so his wife awoke and started
with alright as she felt his icy hand.
"What is the matter?" she cried.
Leon explained to her the terrible
situation in which they were placed.
He arose and attempted to remove the
teN-tale stains from the slipper, but it
was useless.
Day was breaking. Already the serv-
ants were moving around the hotel.
In few hours the crime would be dis
covered and the officers of the law
would be upon them.
"Alas!" said Leon, "our only hope is
this: At eight o'clock the train leaves
for Paris. If the Englishman's body
is not discovered before that time we
are safe. We will take the train and
lose ourselves in the great city. There
we shall be safe"
His weeping bride flung herself upon
his bosom. She felt almost as though
she had committed the deed.
But there yet remained two mortal
hours before the train left. At each
step in the corridor they trembled with
alright. They made their prepare
lions for departure. Icons bride
wished to burn the bloody slipper, but
he restrained her and concealed 1t on
his person.
Seven o'clock sounded. The hotel
was alive with bustling servants. Leon
forced his wife to take cup of coffee,
although she declared that her parched
throat refused to swallow. They then
descended into the waiting-room, and
Leon demanded his bill. The host pre-
sented it, and begged his pardon for the
noise Of the previous evening. Leon
assured him that they had passed very
quiet night.
"Wen, Pm glad of it," said the host;
"however, your neighbor on the left
didn't disturb you much, I'll be bound.
He's sleeping like a dead man yet"
Leon shuddered. His wife grasped
his arm convulsively.
"He's an English MILFORD" continued
the host. We've got another English
man here, too, who paid his bill and
left this morning. He gave me an Eng
lish bank note. hope it's good. Look
at it. What do you think?"
He showed Leon bank note. On one
corner of it there was reddish stain.
"It seems to be a good one" said
Leon, with forced calmness. "Row
long before the train goes?"
"Half an hour yet" replied the host.
At this moment q waiter entered.
Gimme some brandy and soda, quick,
for the English MILFORD" he remarked;
"and send up chambermaid with a
mop; he dropped o bottle of port On
the floor last night, and the room is
flooded"
To the amazement of both landlord
and waiter, Leon and his wife sat down
and laughed until they cried.
"Order us good breakfast" said he
to the landlord; "we won't go until the
two o'clock train."-Adapted for the
San francisco Argonaut from the
French of Prosper Merimee,