Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-06-17
A UHOS1Ly TRAILER
BY JOHN ROBBINS.

Bloomfield had planned the robbery
in every detail for weeks before, but
he had never contemplated murder
That had been a grim accident. Hav.
ing got the safe open, he had raised
his head to find old Barrett standing
in the doorway, holding leveled re-
volver at him.
Hands up!" said the old man, smih
ing grimly.
Bloomfield flung up his hands, and,
as the old mans revolver wavered in
the tired hand, leaped. He had timed
himself to a nicely, for the bullet
whizzed past his ear, and in ali in.
stant he had seized the weapon and
brought it down on old Barrett's head
with stunning force.
He knew Barrett was dead He
knelt over the body and felt the heart
cease to beat, raised the wrist and
felt the pulse throb into silence. He
stood up, and in a moment the full
realization of his fate flashed through
his brain. He saw the electric chair,
the bonds, the switches :.
With shudder OF revulsion Bloom.
field stepped back, closed the safe,
and, with his plunder in his pocket,
planned his new movements In the
light OF this development. He had in.
tended to lie low in the city-now he
saw that he must make for distant
town In the metropolis the hunt
would not let up for couple Of years.
In Atlanta, Baltimore, Cleveland.
his courage began to return. He would
not look at the body upon the floor. A
dog was bowling in room near at
hand. 1t must be old Barrett's dog.
the miser's. The eerie sound made
Bloomfields blood run cold.
He made his way out by the window
to the street Nobody was stirring.
With his fifty thousand in his pocket
book he strobe on gayly. His spirits
were high Nobody had seen him
come or go. The dog was still howl
Ing though.
The bowling sounded nearer.
Bloomfield glanced round, to see the
creature at his heels. 1t was white
and yellow bloodhound, and 1t shifted
at his trail, whining, not very loud,
but dlsmally and mournfully,
Bloomfield stopped and called to It,
He snapped his fingers, but the crea
ture leaped away with a terrified
moan. When Bloomfield resumed his
pacing the dog followed him, no near
er no further away, always whining
softly It was terrific indictment,
the dumb creature following, follow
ing.
Bloomfield tried to shake 1t off. He
turned up a side street He took
short cut among some houses, hastily,
before the dog rounded the corner To
his relief the bowling sounded further
awav, But when he emerged into the
parallel road he saw the dog follow
ing him, just as before. 1t was a lit
tie nearer, now, and 1t howled louder
and barred Its fangs.
In fury, he picked up stones and
began throwing them at the creature
It leaped agilely away and howleo
more loudly. Bloomfield saw one oi
two passers-by look at him curiously
He cursed the dog
It was nearly morning. Bloomfield
abandoned his plan of taking the
,, train. He resolved to carry out his
original idea of lying low He had
rented a fat and stored 1t with four
months supply Of food, Nobody
would knew him, except the ianitor,
and he was not likely to suspect any
thing.
He was within a block OF 1t when
the dog, as IL divning his purpose
leaped in front Of him and began
snarling aud barking furiously. Bloom
field was in despair Clearly the crea'
ture meant to spring at his throat II
he persisted. He turned, and now
madness came over him, an insane
desire to give himself up, to suffet
ANYTHING rather than endure that te''
rible persecution. 1t seemed to hilu
like a heaven-sent punishment. Hs
did not know where to go.
Half an hour later he found that his
feet had taken him to the outside OF
Barrett's house again. He had gone
there uncot sciously, but now there
came upon him that obsession OF
which he had heard, to see the body
of the man he had killed. 1t was not
quite light yet. Glancing hastily up
and down the street, Bloomfield hoist
ed himself up to the second-story VIM
dow and re-eStered the room
Out of the shadows leaped form
that clutched him in a wise. A pair
of handouts were snapped upon his
wrists.
you'll tell me, suppose, you didn't
beat up old man Barrett this night!
Tell that to the Judge"
"Is he-living?"
"He is, and he's likely to live, II
that's any consolation to you"
Bloomfield was laughing hysterical.
ly.
II thought I'd killed the old guy,
he sobbed. 81 won't make any trou-
BILE. never meant to touch him, any
way, cnly he drew on me. But 1t
wasn't you that got me, 1t was that
hound of his "
"What dyer mean?" demanded the
policeman, looking at him curiously.
"That old white and yellow blood
hound that's been following me all
night"
81 didn't know old Barrett had a
hound commented the policeman.
"Ain't batty, are you? He had one
answering that description once. years
ago, but he was killed by the last
man that tried to break in here, way
| hn nlr in tho ninatins -