Evening journal., 1900-01-19


cash, was overtal1en by night on his
return. near MarQuise. He remember
ed that at a little distance ahead was
quiet inn he had never stopped at and
he determined to spend the night there
As he rode up to the house the land
lord, an elderly person, received his
horse and led him away TO the stable
while he invited the drover toenter the
public sitting-room.
Here he found two young men. one
Of whom, from his resemblance TO the
landlord, he recognized as his son; the
other, somewhat older, from his man
ners, appeared also to belong TO the
family. Immediately after supper
: during which the drover stated where
he had been and with what good luck
be had metz, the son mounted q horse,
! and, stating that he was going TO Mar
Quise. TO stay all night. rode of.
The drover, having looked after the
lc1mfort of his horse. soon after re-
qnested the landlord to show him to
/ his room.
AS the traveller slipped off his gar
menis he felt for the leather belt
about his waist to see that It was Sc
cure This contained his gold, while
j lis paper money was in a large wall
90. carried in a packet made for that
purpose, in the inside Of his vest. De-
posting these articles beneath his pill
low he extinguished the light and
threw himself upon the bed, when.
! overcome by WEAKNESS. he soon fell
last asleep.
How long he had been In this state Of
! forgetfulness he could not tell. when
he was aroused to wakefulness by the
~
open the window near the head of his
bed At the same time be heard
Impressed voices without as If OF sew
lrrll persons in whispered consultation.
Startled by this suspicious appear
nce Of things the drover reached to-
ward the chair on which he had thrown
his clothes, for his weapons; but 10 his
iismayeho remembered that on his ar
iGal. when preparing to wash of the
aust Of his journey he had laid them
aside within the bar and had neglected
o resume them.
Scarcely conscious OF what he was
doing. the defenseless drOver slipped
from the foot of the bed and hid him
elf in the darkness behind n lot of wo-
mems dresses suspended from the wall,
nd watched the motions OF q man
mo was now slowly and cautiously
ntering the room. He even fancied
Ae could detect the reflection of the dim
light upon an appraised knife, as the
man approached the bed with stagger-
Tag and uncertain steps But great was
his relief, when. instead Of an attempt
nc murder, the intruder shufiied off his
lothes. and throwing himself upon the
bed he had Just vacated, was soon
buried in deep slumber.
Not knowing what to make OF this
strange affair. the drover determined
TO dress himself, call up the landlord
and have this singular intrusion ex-
iained. lie had reached his clothes,
Tipped on his trousers and was NOV
ng toward the door when steps were
card cautiously crossing the outer
room. Once more he sought the shell
+ ger of the dresses. which completely
3 creened his person, and awaited the
l ntrance OF the persons, whoever they
night be.
{ Presently the door Of the room wa.
1 silently opened and two men made
heir appearance. 1t was not so darH
4 nut that the drover could readily dis.
! nguish them 10 be the inn-keepeI
s aud the man he had seen at the supper
Z able.
[ step lightly. / tell YOU whispered
S he landlord. "or youll wake hin
a up and then Wen have a pretty mes!
{ ca our hands,
d Nonsense" replied the other man
/. with an oath. you are scared, ole
s man."
o Scared" repeated the first speaker
d mo one ever told Jean GARNER be
fore he was scared. Here. give ms
r the knifel III show you who is scar
t ed. You secure the money-its under
g the pillow saw him put it there-ans
Y III do the rest"
The old man was now in advance
5 and as he stood between the window
!. and the dlorer, the latter could SCI
Is his form bent over the bed, While hi
N hand seemed to be searching beneath
Il the pillow.
H. Here. Henri. take it, Here's tn
ir wallet and here's the belt. How heav,
Isl" and he passed the money to hi
companion before the other had yc
reached the bedside.
The old man then put his hand to hi
J. bosom. and the trembling drover say
him draw forth the long blade th
= other had given him. For an instan
u ne murderous weapon was poised owe
Ibis head and then descended upon th
The murderer paused in his wor
Tor an instant. as if to satisfy himsel
that life was extinct, and then move
quickly from the room.
AS soon as the sound Of his footstep
fad died in the distance, the horror
rlcken drover escaped through tn
window and ran with all speed to Mar
ouise. where arousing the people Of th
MOTEL. he told his fearful story.
,rowd soon collected about him and az
.ompanied him to the scene of tn
0ul murder. All about the house wa
.il. but on approaching the stable
ght was discovered within; and mo-
ng noiselessly to the door and perrin
through the crack. the two murderer
were found I'm the act of digging
crave beneath the flooring. a rush wa
made upon them and they were al
osted
At the sight of The drover. who va
he first to confront the gull
a vretchos. the landlord uttered shire
ne II terror and fell 10 the ground, Viii
lie is accomplice, pale as a corpse, gaze
upon him with alright, not doubling
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