Year: 1866

whispers at the back of the kenDel, and said |;


mo. there's no cne coming" And my
heart sank as thought how long it would be
before succor could arrive.


"1he fellows late,'' one of the others said,
after minute or two "but We had better be
on the watch now. Mind, both of you. that
he's down from his gig before be sees U.S.


They walked away along the line of the
house toward the other entrance by which Mr.
johnson would come; and l, thinking they
had gone to take up their hiding places, PIT
my head cautiously out of the mouth Of the
kennel, and looked round.


Surely ! could reach the house without be-
ing seen, thought that if l could but reach
the big, ruinous drawing room, which COM
mapded a view of the fields the farmer would
cross, might be able to warn him back from
the fate which awaited him. must warn him
i'll could it was too horrible that another
murder should be done,


was out of the kennel and 10 the kitchen
before recollected that should have to pass
close to the murdered woman before could
gain the door leading to the hall, which |
must cross to gain the dfawipg-room. l shud
dered as l passed the table and drew near to
the horrible scene; but to my utter surprise
and no little terror, Mrs. johnson had van
ished the dark cleaning pool of blood and
the dead dog we're still there, but the huddled
up bundle Of clothes was gone.


What had they done with ii? In spite Of
the urgent necessity there was for immediate
action, stood motioness for minnie, hesita
ting to cross the dimly lighted hall. Suppose
it should be there l had never seen death
before. and the thought of again seeing the
dead woman looking so ghastly and horrible
with that great gaping wound across her throat,
was at the moment more terrible to me than
the thought of her murderers' return.


While stood hesitating. shadow passed
across the first window. and locking up quick
ly, to my horror saw the three men in anoth-
er moment pass the second window.


l had DO time for thought. In another min
ute they would be in the kitchen. ! turned
and fed down the passage and across the hall,
rushing into the first open door, which hap
peued to be the drawing room door, and in
stinctively half closed it behind me as had
found it, Then glanced wildly round the
bare empty room 10 search of shelter.


There was not particle of furniture in the
bare empty room, and it was quite empty ex-
cept for some apples on the floor, and few
empty hampers and sacks, at the further end.


How could hide?


| heard the footsteps crossing the hall, and
then. as they came nearer, with the feeling of
desperation | sped noiseessly across the room,
laid down fiat behind the hampers and, as the
door opened, threw an empty sack over me-
felt must be discovered, for my head was to-
tally uncovered: and watched them fascina-
ted, brea,hless from intense terror. They
walked to the window saying. I'VE shall see
better here and looked out; presently all ex-
claimed together, '.iIes coming now, that
back spot over there :" and without glancing
in my direction, they left the room again. l
was safe, but what could do to save the far
mers Surely Charlie must be coming with
help now, but would he be 10 time? | must
trv and save him, was the conviction that i'm
pressed itself upon me in a lightning though!
and as it crossed my brain | sprang to the
window All though, of self vanished then
with the urgency of what had TO do. l was
only eager-nervously frantically eager-to
save the farmers life.


They say that mad people can do things
which seem impossible to sane ones, and
must have been quite mad with terror and
fright for the next few minutes.


Seven feet below me, stretching down the
slope of the bill, was the garden, now lying in
long plowed ridges, with the frozen snow on
the top Of each of them, and at the bottom Of
the garden was a stone wall four feet high.
Beyond this, as far as the eye could reach ex-
tended the snow covered fields, and coming
along the cart road TO the left was Mr.. John
son in his gig.


l threw open the window, making noise
enough to alarm the men if they heard it, and
sprang on the window ledge, and then tearing
off my jacket, threw it on the ground. and shut
ting my eyes, jumped down. The high jump
hurt my wrists and uncovered feet dreadiuIly,
but l dared not stop a moment. l rushed
down the garden, tumbling over two or three
times in my progress, and when l came 10 the
wall, scrambled over it headforemost. The
farmer wos just opening the gate of the field
was 10, and l made straight toward him, try
ing to call out. But could not utter word;
so flew across the snow, dashed through the
brook, careless that the bridge was few feet
further down, and when l rushed up to Mr..
Johnson's side, l could only throw up my arms
and shrek out Murder Y just as loud report
rang out through the frosty air. and fell for
ward on my face


And were you hurt ?" l asked, as she
paused.


"Yes, little. Look here is the scar = and