Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1911-09-28

been asleep some time, because the
lights were out and, seemingly, every
body had gone to bed. He wondered
what the noise which started him
could have been. Suddenly he heard
a groan. He listened intently, but all
was still. The silence was uncanny.
Now thoroughly frightened, How
ard cautiously CROPPED his way about,
trying to find the electric button. He
had no idea what time 1t vas II
must be very late. What an ass he
was to drink 80 much! He wondered
what Annie would say when he didn't
return. He was a hound to let her
sit up and worry like that. Well, this
would be a lesson to hint was the
last time he'd ever touch a drop. o.
course, he had promised her the same
thing a hundred times before, but this
time he meant it. His drinking was
always getting him into some fool
scrape or other.
He was gradually working his way
along the room, when suddenly he
stumbled over something on the floor
It was a man lying PROSTATE. Stoop.
ing, he recognized the figure.
"Why-it's Underwood" he ex
claimed.
At first he believed his classmate
was asleep, yet considered it strange
that he should have selected SO un
comfortable a place. Then it occurred
to him that he might be Ill. Shaking
him by the shoulder, he cried:
Hey, Underwood, what's the mat
teri"
No response came from the pros
trate figure. Howard stopped lower
to see better, and accidentally touch
ing Underwood's face, found 1t clam
my and wet. He held his hand up il
the moonlight and saw that 1t wal
covered with blood. Horror-stricken
he cried:
my God! He's bleeding-he'
hurt!"
What had happened? An acciden
--4or worse? Quickly he felt the man
pulse. 1t had ceased to beat. Under
wood was dead.
For a moment Howard was to-
much overcome by his discovery II
know what to think or do. Wha
dreadful tragedy could have har
pened? Carefully cropping along tn.
mantelpiece, he at last found the cleo
trio button and turned on the light
There, stretched out on the floor, la,
Underwood, with a bullet hole in hi
left temple, from which blood ha,
flowed freely down on his full-dres
shirt. 1t was a CHASTITY sight, Tn
mans white, set face, covered witt
a crimson stream, made a repulsiv
spectacle. On the floor near the bod.
was a highly polished revolver, still
smoking.
Towards first supposition was tina
burglars had entered the place an
that Underwood had been killed Will
defending his property. He remen
bered now that in his drunken slee-
he had heard voices in angry alterca
ton. Yet why hadn't he called TO
assistance? Perhaps he had and b
hadn't heard him.
He looked at the clock, and wa
surprised to find 1t was not yet mic
night. He believed 1t was at leas
five o'clock in the morning. 1t wa
evident that Underwood had neve
gone to bed. The shooting had OF
CURED either while the angry disput
was going on or after the unknow
visitor had departed. The barrel c
the revolver was still warm, shown
that 1t could only have been dir
charged a few moments before. Sue
denly 1t flashed upon him that Undel
wood might have committed suicide
But 1t was useless to stand Their
theorizing. Something must be dom
He must alarm the hotel people G
call the police. He felt himself tur
hot and cold by turn as he realize
the serious predicament In which b
himself was placed. If he arouse
the hotel people they would find hill
here alone with a dead man. Susp
cion would at once be directed at hin
and 1t might be very difficult for hill
to establish his innocence. Who woul
believe that he could have falle
asleep in a bed while a man kille
himself In the same room2 1t sounde
prePosterous. The wisest course fC
him would be to get away before an.
body came.
Quickly he picked up his hat an
made for the door. Just as he We
about to lay hand on the handle thel
was the click of a latchkey. Thu
headed of, and not knowing what
do, he halted in painful suspens
The door opened and a mar entere
He looked as surprised to see Hov
ard as the latter was to see him. +
was clean-shaven and neatly dresse
yet did not look the gentleman. H
appearance was rather that of a ser
ant. All these details flashed befoi
Towards mind before he blurted on
"Who the devil are your"
The man looked astonished at Il
question and eyed his i~nterlocut
closely, as If in doubt as to his iden
ty. In a cockney accent he sa
loftily:
81 am Ferris, Mr.. Underwood's ma
sir" Suspiciously, he added: "a
you a friend Of Mr.. Underwood's, sir