Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 172: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

1644 house was dashed open, and a female voice shrieked out: “Oh, murder—murder! Help Seles Murder !” Tom King took no further notice, but, trotting round a corner of the lane, was in a moment lost to sight. CHAPTER CMXLIIL DESCRIBES HOW A TROOP OF POLICE OFFICERS aRRIVED RATHER UNEXPECTEDLY AT THE VILLAGE BeForeE following Tom King and relating the further adventures which befel him at the hall, it is necessary that we shoaid take a brief glance at the proceedings in the village—proceedings that resulted im very sericus consequences, for Tom was quite wrong in thiaking that he had heard the last of the joke. The violent outcry, then, was made by the wife cf the apothecary, who was almost beside herself with terror. She had caught one glimpse of her servant girl lying, as it appeared to her, dead upon the parlour floor, aud of the skeleton seated in the arm-chair. In the deep, sleepy silence which invariabty prevailed in the village, her outcries were distinctly heard, and goon several neighbours came hurrying forwards to learn what was the matter “ Murder!” shrieked Mrs. Coles. ‘ Oh, murder—mur- der! There’s a double murder in the house !” Oa receipt of this intimation, those who had drawn near the apothecary’s house drew back, uttering dismal shrieks. Soon, however, men were seen running hastily towards them. Some came from the alehouse, others from the places where they had been engaged in working. Strangely enough, the first man who passod through the garden gate was the landlord of the alehouse, and he was so short and so stout, so scant of breath, and so chronically red in the face, that it was quite a wonder now he could have contrived to move himself so quickly. The unusual exertion deprived him of the power of speech, and after his arriva: all he could do was to goggle his eyes fearfully, and gasp like some huge fish suddenly thrown upon the shore. Then came the smith, and after him the cooper, who also filled the office-of parish constable, and behind him again came his assistant. ‘‘Come in!” shrieked Mrs. Coles, weeping and wring- ing her hands. “Qh, do come in—somebody come in and see the awful sight |” ‘‘ What's the matter ?” asked the blacksmith, hoarsely. “Matter? murder is the matter!” was the answer. “ Why don’t you come in and look? I can see you there, Mr. Peters; why don't you set the example of coming forward ?” This was addressed to the parish constable. “T amcoming ma’am,” he answered—‘ I am coming ; but perhaps you'd be kind enough to run downstairs and open the door, or shall we break it in ®” ‘No, no—I will come down,” was the reply. ‘ Wait a minute, I'll come down.” She disappeared at once from the window, and then the constable, facing round and addressing the men, said : ‘‘T call upon you all, as good men and true, to assist me inthis matcer! If it is murder, the guilty man may be in the house, and if so, you must assist me to capture him.” Just then the front door was thrown open, and Mrs. Coles made a dash to get outside. The constable stepped out of the way immediately, and addressing the others, he cried after the manner of some gallant generals : “ Porward—forward! Enter! I will follow!” But the villagers by no means saw the force of this arrangement ; they resolutely refused to stir, while they cried : “‘ No—no, Mr. Peters, it’s your place to go first. Ci now, no shirking, we'll back you up!” . Mr. Peters looked as though he should prefer backin - ont of the whole affair, but he was afraid to say as much At length the villagers fairly clustered round him, and drove him to the front door of the house. In spite of all his straggles and resistance, the shop was 6 BLACK BESS; OR, oN EEEEEEEEe———EEE—E—E——————— ee entered and crossed, and the door leading into the little parlour reached. They stopped a moment on tke éareshouk ‘“Th—th—there’e nobody here!” said Mr. Peters, speaking as well as his chattering teeth would allow him. —‘' th—th—there’s nobody here |” Just then an awful cry came upon their ears, yet it was not a cry either, nor @ groan, nor a moan, Dor, in fact, any specific sound for which there is a name. It was something compounded of al] these, yet seeming dull and mufied, aud mingled with it was an odd, lumber- ing, thumping noise. “Murder!” roared the constable—“ murder ! out—let me out! 1 can’t stay here!” But by this time the apothecary’s shop was filled with people, and so densely packed were they that it was im- possible for those who had already entered to pass out again. Not one who heard the horrible sounds could control their consternation. Faces dirty and begrimed by labour turned ghastly white, and, what was the greatest phenomenon of all, the ray countenance of the alehouse landlord blanched also. The fearful sound was repeated again and again, ur it would be more correct to say it never ceased. ‘‘ It—it comes from that room,” remarked the constable, presently. ‘“ What can it be ?” “Push the door open a little wider, “There can be no harm in doing that. we shali see.” Fortunately for the constable, one of the villagers had entered armed with a pitchfork, and this he passed over the heads of the rest as he said: cs Here, Muster Peters, just gi’e the door a poke wi thine .” The constable complied with this demand, and slowly and creakingly the door was pushed open upon its hinges. Then truly was an awful sight presented to their no- tice. The servant girl still lay stretched insensible upon th floor, and there sat the skeleton in the apothecary’s art ,,. chair, looking, if pyssible, more hideous than ever, fom, the slight wind coming through the open window, which had blown the door to again, had also disarranged the bony framework so that the head was incl';ned to one side, after the manner of the attitude some people are apt to assume when they wish to appear particularly knowing or cunning. were not prepared. They teod asif suddenly turnésd to stone; literall they were rooted to the spot—not Ome could have piers | had his life depended upon it—i*, became, indeed, a difficult matter even to breathe. Then the horrible noise came again, this time some- what louder than befors, : The lumbering war. more unmistakable, and, as if by a common instinct, al) turned their eyes in the direction of the cupboard behind which the apothecary was stand- i - Let me bb) was the reply. Then perhaps ng. That, beyond all doubt, was the source from which the noise proceeded, but who was there among them bold snuugh to enter that awful chamber, and, opening the cupboard, ascertain the cause of the disturbance ? Lo Would venture to approach the fearful object sit- ting In the chair? Certainly no one of those present. Then the girl began to show signs of returning con- 3cl0'asness. She moved slightly and uttered a moaning sound, both of which increased the terror of the villagers, if such @ vaing could possibly be. “Qh!” she groaned, “what have Iseen? Murder— murder !” “Take notice of that,” said the constable, in a deep ind warning voice—‘“ take notice of that’ Her first words were—* Murder—murder |’” Those whom he addressed nodded, and looked as wise us they were able. Then the girl, raising ner head, once more caught sight of the gues figure in the chair. This time, however, she did not faint, but, in some im- EoOmichbooks:. co (E Aa