Year: 1879

The three men then went back to the
house again, and could hear them
speaking in low tones. In another


minute they came out again.


They walked away along the line OF


the house toward the other entrance by
which Mr.. johnson would come; and 4


thinking they had gone to take up their


hiding-places, put my head cautiously


out of the mouth Of the kennel anc


looked round.


Surely. I thought, if I could but reach


the big drawing room, which commanded


a view of the fields the farmer would
cross, I might be able TO warn him back
! from the fate which awaited him. ]
must warn him if I could. 1t was too
/ horrible that another murder should be
done.


1 was out of the kennel and IN the
kitchen. I shuddered as l passed the
table and drew near to the horrible
scene; but, to my utter surprise and no
little terror, Mrs. johnson had vanished
the dark cleaning pool OF blood and the
dead dog were still there, but the mud
dled-up bundle Of clothes were gone.


What had they done with It ? In
spite of the urgent necessity there was
| for immediate action, stood mOuOuless
for a minute, hesitating to cross the
dimly-lighted hall. Suppose 1t should
| be there.


While stood hesitating, a shadow
passed across the frst window, and look
ing up quickly, to my horror, saw three
men in another moment pass the second
window.


I had no time for thought. In another
minute they would be IN the kitchen.
1 turned and fed down the passages and
across the hall, rushing into the first
open door, which happened to be the
drawing-rOom door, and instinCtively
half closed it behind me as had found
it. Then I glanced wildly round the
bare, empty room in search Of shelter.


There was not particle of furniture
in the room, and it was quite empty e1-
cept for some apples on the floor and a
few empty hampers and sacks at the
further end. How could I hide?


I heard the footsteps crossing the hall,
and then, as they came nearer, with the
feeling Of desperation I sped nOiselessly
across the room, laid down fiat behind
the hampers, and, as the door opened,
threw an empty sack over me. The
men walked to the window saying, We
shall see better here" and looked out
all exclaiming together, He's coming
now" and, without glancing in my di-
rection, they huTriedly left the room
again.


the farmer? Surely Charley must be
coming with help now, but would he be
in time? I must try and save him, was
the conviction that impressed itself upon
me in a. lightning thought, and as it
crossed my brain sprsng to the win
dow. All thought of self vanished then
with the urgency of what had to do.
was only eager-neTvously, frantically
eager-tO save the farmers life.


Twelve feet below me, stretching
down the slope of the hill, was the gar
den now lying in long ploWed ridges,
with the frozen snow on the top Ofeach
Of them, and at the bottom of the garden
was a stone wall four feet high. Be
yOnd this, as far as the eye could reach,
extended the snOw-COyered fields, and
coming along the cart road to the left
was Mr.. johnson in his gig.


I threw open the window making
noise enough to alarm the men if they
heard it, and sprang on to the window
ledge, and then tearing of my jacket
threw it on the ground, and, shutting
my eyes, jumped down. The high jump
hurt my wrists and uncovered feet
dreadfully, but I dare not stop a mo-
ment. ! rushed down the garden, tUnb-
ling two or three times in my progress,
and, when I came to the wall, scrambled
over it headforemost. The farmer was
Just opening the gate of the field was
in, and made straight line toward
him. 1 few across the snow, dashed
through the brook, and when I rushed
up to Mr.. Johnson's side, could only
throw up my arms and shrek out, "mur-
der~


I quickly told him of the danger, and
as I did so, I heard the tramp Of many
feet, and turning I beheld Charley with
several neighbors fully armed. They
at once surrounded The premises, and
succeeded in capturing all three Of the
murderers.


And poor Mrs. johnson. She was
dead. The men had put her under the
dresser, which explains why I did not
see her as I passed through the kitchen.
The poor husband went away directly
afterWard. The whole house is unin-
habited now. Nobody will live there
because tits said to be haunted. The
three men were hung.