Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-12-27

with this there was peculiar crushihs'
grating sound, followed by stifed cry.
Silence. Then there were two or three
muttered oaths, and silence again.
The young couple shuddered. What
could it mean? Leon tried TO reassure
his trembling companion, but he was
interrupted by the cautious opening OF
the next door. 1t was softly closed
again, and then slow and apparently
careful footsteps were heard in the hall.
They were lost in the distance. They
ceased. Again all was still.
Soon the young bride was sleeping
calmly. But not so Leon. Despite him
self, the sinister face Of the English
mans nephew returned TO his recollec-
tion. There was hatred, he thought, in
! the glance cast upon the uncle by the
young man when he left him; and then
the roll of bank notes in the yalise.
And the dull, heavy sound but now, like
the fall of a body upon the foor-the
| cry-the curses. Such was the train OF
thought that ran through Icons mind.
Mechanically he fixed his eyes upon
/ the door which communicated with the
Englishman's room. There was a little
space between the bottom of the door
and the flooring. BY the dim light fall
ing from the partially turncd-down gas,
he could see something forcing its way
under the door. 1t seemed AT first, like
that of knife blade, for the edge was
thin, and reflected back the light. II
moved slowly toward 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? IL 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 a liquid of strange and unmistaka-
BILE color-the color of blood.
For long time Leon lay and gazed
upon the stained slipper and the red
dish stream which encircled IL. lie
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.
l., Al. -. n. s,1
Leon explained to her the terrible
situation in which they were placed.
He arose and attempted to remove the
teHtale stains from the slipper, but it
was useless.
Day was breaking. Already the serv-
ants We're moving around the hotel.
In a few hours the crime would be dis
covered and the officers of the law |
would be upon them.
"Alasl" 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
tons for departure. Icons bride
wished to burn the bloody slipper, but
he restrained her and concealed it on
his person.
Seven o'clock sounded. The hotel
was alive with bustling servants. Leon
forced his wife to take cup of coffee,
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 a very
quiet night.
We'll, I'm glad of it," said the host;
however, your neighbor on the left
iidn't disturb you much, I'll be bound.
He's sleeping like dead man yet"
Leon shuddered. His wife grasped
his arm convulsively.
Hes an English Milford" continued
he host. We've got another English
nan here, too, who paid his bill and
eft this morning. He gave me an Eng
ish bank note. l hope it's good. Look
Il it. What do you think?"
He showed Leon a bank note. On one
'orner of it there was a reddish stain.
1T seems to be a good one" said
4eon, with forced calmness. Row
ong before the train goes?"
Half an hour yet" replied the host.
AT this moment a waiter entered
Gimme some brandy and soda, quick.
or the English MILFORD" he remarked;
and send up chambermaid with a
mop; he dropped a bottle of port on
he floor last night, and the room is /,
CODED" !
10 the amazement of both landlord ,
nd waiter, Leon and his wife sat down
nd laughed until they cried