Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-08-03

-. carefully. The deed. the motives.
who the man with the reddish hai-
might be-these things haunted her
dreams and broke her sleep. She was
glad when morning dawned and she
could 80 20 her school.
But frst she bought a morning pa
per 20 see ~ the murder had been dis
covered. There Il was In big. black
heaGlinesi a mysterious murder Of
an unknown man. a well-dressed
stranger. in whose pockets was moth
ing by which 90 identify him. And. as
she read. BcrthS Dunn realized with a
shudder that the murderer. also. had
been well dressed and thzt the double
sash In the sunlight had been great
jewel on the hand that drove home the
shining knife.
The police were making every effort
20 get . clew 20 the murder. So
Bertha was prepared 20 meet re-
sPectful policeman in plain clothes
near ner door that afternoon. Had
she seen any people in the alley the
day before2 Did she know anything
OF the murdered man2 To which ques-
t;OuE Bertha was able 20 give q shy
negative She trenbled to think that
they might ask her IL she had seen the
murder committed-but they did not.
and she went up the stairs very thank
ful.
The little teacher bought papers the
I two next mornings and read them over
her desk before the school bell rang.
4 The third day she read with q wildly
beating heart The identity Of the
murdered man had been discovered.
F He was one of the eity's retired cap
f italists, . man Of wealth. culture and
travel He was supposed 20 be IN New
4 York and IL was only by accident that
ne was known. The face OF the muir
dered man had been badly slashed,
/ probably after death, and this rem
/ oered Identification difficult Now the
chase was on The city was reused
.hs murderer must be found, and
money waE plenty.
Bertha closed her little red mouth
more firmly, and went about with q
white face. Drag her into a court
room? She would rather die hun
dr~d deaths
IN those days she had troubles Of hel
own Her sister. the one who kept the
fanasly together down In the country
wrote OF the mothers increasing
~~sknezs and need Of luxnries; OF ths
need Of books AMI clothing for tA'
i-SyE, and that delicate Jenny mus
have new fannels for the late autumn
Bertha reduced her Owl food 10 th'
.east possible quantity and sent tn
money home that should have pur
ebssed her three meals every day
Suddenly something happened WASI
u rtha. weak from fasting. dragge'
ID the stairs one evening and unlocked
her door. a large white envelope Ia,
tpOn the floor. She stopped 20 pick !
up and fen dizxily- Il was addressed
- her plainly. within was = bundl
q crisp bills and slip of paper %
which vas printed only four words:
The reward Of silence"
4 Bertha drew back In hSrror, but n
money lay IN her lap. .1sD new bills
| goo 10 all Who can measure whs
! taat sam meant 10 the hzlf-stsrssd IL
|. tie woman al y With the eianor Of nee
ia her ears and With Sin souls depend
| cot upon her exertioBs7
The next day she read an announce
/ nent Of . thousand dollar reward 20
| the arrest and conviction Of the mul
dereT OF the inf0rUstion leading 20 81
Then shs understood. Bat her IL
esried- Desperate an wac her need All
1oaid not have gone inte q coursrool
ts testify for $1,000 However. sks nc
ssse had q curious effect She decide
10 use the other moDey, little ~
slms- She went 20 the post Office an
ssEt . generous Fsnsittsncs hons, q
<<0ngh not snopgh 20 excite any sai
ylcloB. This quiet little woman ga
aof wtthost mach shSewdn<ss- sh
fels that any cAsnss n her esrenn
s.sn@es wcsi4 sxs5ts saspsescn ssDce
lbes - - pe>s4ef ~ ssAE1te