Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-03-01

| had heard, Herr X crept toward
me on tiptoe.
Listen, Herr Kotelmann,' said he,
In an undertone, 'Fraulein Won P,
who was so brave at first, because she
has been a Sister Of Mercy, left my
house early this morning. She took
herself off because she was afraid OF
catching the fever. Are you, then. bone
what superstitious"
II laughed.
"'All right said he, triumPhantly.
Il came TO tell you that, II you please,
rou can have the fraulein's room. You
will like its situation so much. 1t over
looks the whole valley, right away to
the forest. You shall have 1t for the
same price as you have been paying.
p II was delighted.
"'Can I take possession at onoeT /
asked.
-" This very moment replied the. land
lord. The room stands empty. AhF
he added, 4 forgot. 1t is next to the
sick mans chamber. VIII that make
any difference to your
81 laughed and shook my head.
livery good. The room has been
Steamed lately, and is quite ready for
your reception
81 thanked him, and was ascending
the stairs, when he softly called me
back.
"'Pardon me, Herr KotelmanD, l for
got again. The doctor has given orders
that on no account must any sound be
heard In the neighborhood Of the sick
room. He says that the old gentleman's
life depends upon his sleep being un-
disturbed. Perhaps you will be so very
kind as TO defer moving your things un-
til this evening"
al expressed myself perfectly salts
fed with this arrangement, but as
felt curious to behold my new habita-
ton, especially the belauded view from
It's windows, when the host had left
me-stole with light steps along the
corridor, opened the door with caution
and entered noiselessly.
1.-THE room had q friendly look and
was large. The view was magnificent
After duly sdmiring this l threw an ap
proving glance over walls and furni
ture. have already alluded to the fact
that am an observer Of things as vel
as of persons. I possess the true de
tective's eye.
This being the case, very speedily
remarked a weak spot in one OF thu
walls. 1t was tiny slit or hole, suct
rs would have been discoverable b,
most persons only after whole day.
confinement in the room. A small.nai
Just above It appraised me that the lat
occupant, Fraulein Won P, must hav
been accustomed to hang some carmen
there.
az approached this hole and peepe'
through 1t into the sick mans cham
her. The room contained three human
beings. On the bed lay an old man Il
deep sleep. Beside the bed knelt hi
blind daughter, with clasped hands ant
bowed head, her whole attitude exprea
sive of intensely earnest prayer. Be
hind the daughter 1 saw the wife; sh
alone was moving. The hired nurs
was not present, and had doubtless re
tired to enjoy a well-earned rest.
I'm observation-disclosures producin
the slightest sound, she was drawn
along over the smooth surface of tn
wax-polished floor a small table, who's
marble top was laden with quite
dozen medicine bottles and a number
glass vessels of various shapes an
sizes.
II did not at first comprehend he
design. knew very well that she ha
received the strictest injunctious t
make no sound. But when I caugh
sight of her facet 1t was the face of
fiend! Never should have believed
possible that human face could wea
stamped upon it such horrible expires
sion Of murderous hate. In an instar
I understood.
"She was In the act of sliding tn
! table into such position that the .ea!
, movement of the kneeling blind CIR
, absorbed in prayer for her beloved fl
, Their, would be sufficient to overturn
with It's fragile burden.
, IT am, as you know, a somewhi
cold-blooded fellow, but 1 can assul
you that for the moment I was rigi
, with horror. 1 would have given IL
whole world to have been able to war
. that poor child. But what could ] dc
A cali from me might be as disaStro'
!. In It's consequences as the catastropf
q itself.
| 1.-THE unbapp. girl rose from b,
q knees; with hands still clasped, 81
4 stood up. / saw the table reel and to
8 ter, and as, half swooning, l avert'
. my eyes, heard the thud OF the tab
h and awful crash of the breaking glas
r followed Immediately by an ear-pie
!. cling. bIood-curdling scream"
4 Here Kotelmann made pause. Aft
:. a few moments of sileneehe said;
l. 'Give me light, friend"
j. When he had lighted his cigar I ask
him:
r. "Did the old man def"
4 "He was as dead as though he h
Il been shot through the head" he I
d piled, calmly.
r We walked on In silence until I spol
again.
a "Have you ever heard what has B
$ come Of the woman"
e --"Oh, yes. She has married again, b
"a her daughter, poor thing, died about
:sar after her father."-Chicago Ii