The Forest of Dean Examiner : — 1875-12-31 (Blakeney, Gloucestershire, England)

CITAPTER 111.  sulky silence; then Tom retired to bad, and was 80011 asleep, leaving his better-half to follow at her ; leisure. She had noticed her husband bringing I in the long rifle, and though her anger was 1 aroused by it—one rifle she contended being more than eke could endure—her womanly curiosity was strangely aroused. Having finished what she wee about she took the rifle from the corner and began to examine it. That night Mrs. Prattle never went to bed. Early next morning, being Christmas day, Mr. Trottl, —who thought his wife had risen before him—arose in an excellent temper resolved to be as happy as the season demanded. His anger was gone; and he thought he would bestow a kiss upon his wife as a peace offering. But the first thing that greeted his sight when he went downstairs was the body of Mrs. Trottle lying upon the floor, dead from a shot in the eye. And the rifle had disappeared! In a state of frantic terror and anguish he raised an alarm, and neighbours come pouring in. Shortly after the constable arrived, and Tom was taken before the resident magistrate. To him he made a statement of the adventure, which was taken down by the clerk. It was clear ache proceeded that he was not believed, for Unit astonishment and then incredulity were plainly written on every face. " This,", said the Justice, " is certainly the most extraordinary statement I everheard. What had we better do, Mr. Wisdom ?"  " If I may presume to advise you," said the obsequious Clerk, "I should recommend that •steps be taken to prove the truth of the statement." " Exactly ; " said the magistrate. "Mr. Trottle," he continued, turning to our hero. "you have made such an extraordinary statement that you must excuse me if I order you to be kept in custody until we have corroborative evidence." "Of course," said Porn, "I have no objection ts ne it can only be for a few hour& at most." "Let us hope so," said the magistrate. "And you, constable, proceed to the place indicated, and bring me word as quick as possible what you see. Be sure you examine the tree, bring the flattened bullets, measure the footmarks, and have •the body of the aog brought here." The constable touched his forelock and was about to proceed, when the magistrate said : " But stop ! It would be as well for you to go with the constable, Mr. Wisdom. Holdfast is but a blunderer at beat, and the case is WO important to be entrusted solely to his comprehension." _ „ .  SHOWS WHAT HAPPENED WITH THY ENCHANTED Rums. "Well !" exclaimed Mr. Trottle, when he hart recovered a. little_ from the shock, this is e'  the mot extraordinary adventure' I ev, Here I've won a rifle, or carabine as from a man I've never seen before  haven't even asked his name. A prat will be to tell And will anybody bel  "By all means, sir," said the clerk, " And would it not also be as well if the surgeon examined the deceased's skull for the bullet, which according to Mr. Trottle's story should be conical." " That shall be seen, too. Here Tim," mid the magistrate to one of his servants, " tell Dr. Sphinx I want to see him at once." The whole body then retired to do the magio tnttes bidding. except Tom who with the neutest grief and anxiety was detained as a sort of prisoner in a room in the magistrate's house. In a few hours the constable and clerk returned, but so grave was their intelligence that the magistrate thought it necessary at once to make out a warrant of committal on the charge of murder. Tom protested but in vain. The facts were all at him, for no corroboration of his story had liscovered."