ful sound, which is but the echo of his own accusing
conscience, and he will never cease to hear it until, worn and weary,
the plotting brain shall cease its functions, and the murderous heart
shall be cold and pulseless in a dishonored grave.

CHAPTER IV.

_The Excitement in the Village._--_The Coroner's Investigation._--_The
Secret Ambuscade._

Samuel Waring knelt down beside the form of the old man, and laid his
trembling hand upon the heart that had ceased to throb forever.

"He is dead!" he uttered, in a low, subdued voice, as though he too
was impressed with the solemnity of the scene.

Bucholz uttered a half articulate moan, and grasped more firmly in
his nerveless hand the pistol which he carried.

One of the neighbors who had accompanied the party was about to
search the pockets of the murdered man, when Farmer Allen, raising
his hand, cried:

"Stop! This is work for the law. A man has been murdered, and the
officers of the law must be informed of it. Who will go?"

Samuel Waring and Bucholz at once volunteered their services and
started towards the village to notify the coroner, and those whose
duty it was to take charge of such cases.

Farmer Allen gazed at the rigid form of the old man lying there
before him, whose life had been such an enigma to his neighbors, then
at the retreating forms of the two men who were slowly wending their
way to the village, and a strange, uncertain light came into his eyes
as he thus looked. He said nothing, however, of the thoughts that
occupied his mind, and after bidding the others watch beside the
body, he returned to his own home and informed the frightened females
of what had been discovered.

The news spread with wonderful rapidity, and soon the dreadful
tidings were the theme of universal conversation. A man rushed into
the saloon in which the old man and Bucholz had drank their beer, and
cried out:

"The old man that was in here to-night has been murdered!"

Instantly everybody were upon their feet. The old gentleman was
generally known, and although no one was intimately acquainted with
him, all seemed to evince an interest in the cause of his death.

Many rumors were at once put in circulation, and many wild and
extravagant stories were soon floating through the crowds that
gathered at the corners of the streets.

Samuel Waring and Bucholz had gone directly to the office of the
coroner, and informing him of the sad affair, had proceeded to th