The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-01-17


of retiring, the landlord rose up with alac-
rity, and lighting small bit of candle,
handed it to me, directing me to take the
room upon my right, as I went up. He
stood at the bottom of the stairs until he
saw me enter it, as if to make sure of there
being no mistake.
cit was scantily furnished, containing
only bed and two chairs. There was no
bolt upon the door, and no means Of barri-
cading it, as the bedstead was too crazy
and infrm to be of any service. There
was but one window, and that was so con-
structed as to make egress from it impossi-
Bile, even were I disposed to attempt it.
As I was taking these points into con-
sideration, I heard faint tap at the door.
As 1 opened it, the landlords wife stood
upon the threshold; her colsrless face and
the long white wrapper that was folded
around her slender form making her look
like an inhabitant of another world.
"sYou have made mistake, she said,
without appearing to notice my surprise;
you will please take the ether room.
GAS she said this she pointed to the
room on the other side of the entry.
81 hesitated, and was about to speak;
but with gesture that would have seemed
imperious had it not been so impressively
mournful she stepped back and motioned
me to pass out AS 1 did SO, she quickly
entered and shut the door.
1.-The room to which she pointed me
was considerably larger. There was car
pet upon the floor, and it contained many
articles of comfort, and even luxury, very
rarely met with in new country. The
various articles of feminine apparel scattered
around indicated that it was the room she
usually occupied, and l was at loss to
account for the change, except it might be
the wooden bolt upon the door which,
though it afforded but slight protection,
would give me chance for preparation.
II had no intention of retiring, but
seated myself in chair opposite the door
to wait the progress of events. The mlrth
of the two men below seemed to be increased
by my departure; bursts of laughter and
snatches of drunken song hoated up through
the loose floor. But above it | heard
low murmur, which sounded like the voice
of prayer, and which proceeded from the
room had just quilted. AS listened,
my heart was filled with compassion for
this most unhappy woman, and deter
mined to give her chance to escape from
life that must be terrible to heart like
hers
Gone. two and three hours rolled away.
My bit of candle had expired long before,
and began to grow impatient for the crisis
that knew was inevitable, when | heard
slow, stealthy steps creeping up the stairs.
They paused at the head of it.
"'You are an internal coward, Bill, L
heard the landlord say to his companion, In
a hoarse whisper; you want to share halt
the booty, and shirk all the danger. Well,
stay here them and hold the lantern
II then heard the catch of the door OF
the room opposite cautiously raised. l
knew that everything would depend on my
first shot, so kept my eyes upon the door
and my finger upon the trigger of my pls-
tol never doubling but what he would at
once discover the change, when suddenly
convulsive gasp, followed by stifed
moan smote upon my ear.
sMerciful Father, thought, what
if the wretch, half stupefed by liquor, had
failed to recognize her?
"The slow, stealthy steps returned.
"'Bring in the light now, Bill, he
said, in the same cautious whisper; 'and
be careful and not wake up Sue. He was
sound asleep, but l reckon he'll sleep
sounder now!
Gas the man obeyed, the light fickered
for a moment beneath the door of my room
and then disappeared. There was mo-
ment' pause, then an ejaculation of horror,
followed by groan of mortal agony, such
as | never heard before or since. Though
faint and sick with the horrible thong hts
that rushed upon my mind, I still retained
my position; thinking, if my suspicious
were correct, spirit of revenge would still
further stimulate them to the accomplish
ment of their purpose. But, to my great
relief, soon heard steps descending the
stairs, and then the retreating steps of
horse showed that one of them had left the
house.
1.-The few remaining hours of the night
seemed to have leaden wings. No sound
broke the terrible silence save now and
then a restless movement and an occasional
incoherent ejaculation, expressive of ex-
IRENE mental agony, and which evidently
proceeded from the other chamber.
Gas soon as the gray dawn began to
creep into the room, unable to bear the
suspense any longer, I unbolted the door,
and looked cautiously out. No one was
visible The door Of the opposite room
was partly open, and crossing the entry 1
looked in.
"My worst fears were realized; upon the
bed lay the lifeless body of Susan Brandt!
The brow and mouth had lost that express
sion of patient suffering which had made