Year: 1877

lofl seemed considerably less; on measure.


ment il proved TO be so. They listened at


the inner partition of the closet while a
strong rapping was made upon the wall Of
the next room. II was evident that there


was a space between that deadened the
sound. Thus the presumption OF a secret
there to be disclosed increased. Why need
they approach 1t so gradually when few
blows OF the axe would penetrate the con-
ceaed space-if it were there2 Men nat
urally shrink from breaking violently in
upon the dark silence OF such spot. They
move about 1t I'LL grown somewhat famil-
lar with II. But at last there was nothing
else to be done. Dempton's own store Of
tools supplied what was wanted. All the
rest stood back while one vigorous arm
knocked away the plaster aud lath till
there was made-s ghastly hole indeed
Who wanted to look at it2 The recoil was
general; aud the expectant throng below,
SO eagerly awaiting the issue of the sounds
they heard above, felt as If the horror were
descending to them when they saw one
strong man after another come almost tot
tering down the stairway, white as a shee',
and without uttering word.


This was the first effect. AT the immed-
ate spot measures were soon taken to bring
the whole secret TO light. And a marvel of
contrivance it was for such a purpose. A
space some eighteen inches wide was care.
fully plastered all round, except a conceal-
ed passage to the outer air at the upper
part. A layer of stones, ,.also thickly plas-
tered, composed the floor. On this bed-a
bed of death, truly-were stretched The re-
mains OF a human form-rightly SO termed,
for the means taken to consume them had
left but little. There was nothing TO tell
whose form it was, but of that there could
be no doubt.


To the few who had gone through that
house before, and 10 whom that irOn-nerved
man had offered to take down the sisters
clothing from the very partition that con-
cealed the brothers fearful tomb, how
strange it seemed that they could have been
SO blind, when now the story OF his pro-
ceedings could he SO plainly read in almost
every step.


Denpton's first care, having slain Elsey,
was TO conceal his body; how be did il is
sufficiently indicated above without enter
ing into detail. The closet under the stair
way TO the loft was an aferlhought. The
room had originally communicated through
the door which the negro bad so strangely
seen; and when he had completed his plan
Dempton had taken the door down and
carried the side of the room smoothly
over.


But what head and heart, aud what
nerves, that could plan and execute all
this, and, when doue, endure 10 be with it I
day and night for months There were
some tokens, indeed, that Dempton had
spent portion of his time in and around
the small barn but they were so slight as
not TO carry conviction. One would like
TO believe it. Not that the actual differ
eEce between being under the same roof
and only little way off was so great; but
it would indicate that the man had not
stified all his humanity.


1t was alterward ascertajned that Elsey
had taken with him to Carolina large sum
of money-the proceeds of his whole prop
erty. 1t was for this Dempton had planned
crailily, sinned ruthlessly, and succeeded.
For lie was heard of no more. There was
no one to press inquiry and pursuit. He
had gained start, at any rate, that proba-
bly, would have rendered pursuit useless.
1t was half century ago, when telegtaFhs
were unknown, railways scarce beginning,
AID the policeman not yet evolved out of
tue constable. Dempton was content to
renounce utterly what little property he
LEFT behind for what lie carried with him.


lie succeeded-that is, he was not pur-
sued, brought back and hung; without
which palpable demonstration that justice
overtakes the criminal, it seems to some
minds as If the moral government of the
world were not Vindicated.


Nor am able 10 tell that the money that
was so ill.got brought curse with it in
the shape of vicious indulgence, and en-
Ianglement in other snares Of sin, from the
immediate consequences of which there
was no second escape.


But 1 have failed in giving an idea of
This man, if they who have followed this
history must have occular proof of his pun
shmen 1t was no shallow nature that
had so yielded TO the tempter-no nature
10 be enervated by bad success. Money
could purchase no sensual indulgence that
be would care for, TO stupefy that vigorous
mind. But strong natures, vigorous minds,
Ind purposes that are not only bad but
base, often go together in this world. For
years he had trained himself TO think and
act for such a purpose. That training in
Vigorated him, not only TO attain his end,
but what he did not think Of, to be pun
shed afterward. Neither in meditatiug
nor in consummating that crime had he
oined himself to the criminal class, to live
heir life henceforth. Their excitements
md pleasures were not for him. Let him
80 where he might, and apply himself to
any occupation that suited spirit like his,
he characteristic qualities he could bring
% it were stamped with the mark of those
years of dreadful training. He could but
soin fresh tokens of the past in every act
nd hour of his future course, which, shall
we call it successful, because it did not end
On the gallowsH Though no record of him
'emains, one saddens at the idea of the
gloom in which such life must have been
passed and ended.-BldckWood' Magazine.





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