The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-07-19

- 81 AAVSt hpluS kuS uOClOI put on
his hat and departed. As stood for a
minute in the hall. thinking over what
had heard, Herr X. crept toward me on
tiptoe.
Listen, Herr Kotelmann.' said he in
an undertone. 'Fraulein Won ", who
was so brave at first, left my house early
this morning. She took herself off be-
cause she was afraid of catching the
fever. Are you, then, somewhat super
stitious?
Il laughed.
IAN right said he triumphantly. I
came to tell You that if you please you
can have the fraulein's room. You will
like its situation SO much. 1t overooks
the whole valley right away to the for
est. You shall have it for the same price
as you have been paying
Il was delighted.
Can l take possession at oncep I
asked.
This very moment replied the land
lord. The room stands empty. All he
added, 1 forgot. 1t is next to the sick
mans chamber. VIII that make any diff
ference to you?'
Il laughed and shook my head
Very good. The r6om has been
cleaned lately and is quite ready for your
reception.
Il thanked him and was ascending the
stairs when he softly called me back
Pardon me, Herr Kotelmann. 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 undis-
turbed. Perhaps you will be so very
Kind as to defer moving your things until
| this evening
Il expressed myself perfectly satisfied
with this arrangement. but as l felt Gu
rlous to behold my new habitation. espe-
clally the belauded view from its win
dows. l. when the host had left me, stole
with light steps along the corridor open
ed the door with caution and entered
noiselesSly.
The room had a friendly look and was
large. The view was magnificent. After
duly admiring this threw an approving
glance over walls and furniture l have
already alluded to the fact that l am an
observer of things as we'll as Of persons.
L possess the true detectives eye.
This being the case, | very speedily re-
;.
1t was tiny slit or hole, such as would
have been discoverable by most persons
only after whole days confinement in
the room. A small nail just above it ap-
prised me that the late occupant Frau
lem Won r., must have been accustomed
TO hang some garment there.
Il approached this hole and peeped
through it into the sick mans chamber.
The room contained three human beings.
"On the bed lay an old man in deep
sleep. Beside the bed knelt his blind
daughter, with clasped hands and bowed
head, her whole attitude expressive of in
tensely earnest prayer. Behind the daugh-
ter l saw the wife; she alone was NOV
ing. The hired nurse was not present and
had doubtless retired to enjoy a well
earned rest.
In perfect silence without producing
the slightest sound. she was drawing
along over the smooth surface of the wax
polished floor small table, whose mar
BILE top was laden with quite a dozen
medicine bottles and a number OF glass
vessels of various shapes and sizes.
Il did not at first comprehend her de-
sign. l knew very well that she had re-
ceived the strictest injunctions to make
no sound. But when l caught sight of her
face! 1t was the face of fend! Never
should have believed it possible that hu-
man face could wear stamped upon it
such a horrible expression of murderous
hate. In an instant | understood.
She was in the act OF sliding the table
into such position that the least move
ment of the kneelng blind girl, absorbed
in prayer for her beloved father, would
be sufficient TO overturn it with its frag-
| lie burden.
II am, as you know, a somewhat cold
blooded fellow, but can assure you that
for the moment l was rigid with horror.
| would have given the whole world to
have been able TO warn that poor child.
But what could | do? A call from me
might be as disastrous in its conse-
! qucnces as the catastrophe itself
II stood in dumb terror as if turned to
stone. There was no time for thought.
Before my whirling brain could suggest
any eXpedient the deed was done.
The unhappy girl rose from her knees.
/ With hands still clasped she stood up. |
saw the table re~l and totter and as. half
/ swooning, | averted my eyes | heard the
! thud of the table and the awful crash of
the breaking glass. followed Immediately
/ by an ear piercing, blood curdling
/ scream"
/ Here kotelmann made Il pause. After
few moments of silence he said:
Give me light, my friend"
/ When he had lighted his cigar, asked
/ him:
Did the old man die"
I "Ile was as dead as though he had