but where was Mr. Wilson, who was almost always at home
both day and night .' Presently a lad called out that a white
sheet or cloth of some sort was hanging out of one of the back
windows. This announcement, confirming the vague apprehen-
sions which had begun to germinate in the wise heads of the
villagers, disposed them to adopt a more effectual mode of
obtaining admission than knocking seemed likely to prove.
Johnson, the constable of the parish, a man of great shrewd-
ness, at once proposed to break in the door. Armstrong, who,
as well as liis wife, was deadly pale, and trembling violently,
either with cold or agitation, hesitatingly consented, and crow-
bars being speedily procured, an entrance was forced, and in
rushed a score of excited men. Armstrong's wife, it was after-
wards remembered, caught hold of her husband's arm in a
hurried, frightened manner, whispered hastily in his ear, and
then both followed into the house.
" Now, farmer," cried Johnson, as soon as he had procm-ed a
light, " lead the way up stairs."

Armstrong, who appeared to have somewhat recovered from
his panic, darted at once up the staircase, followed by the whole
body of rustics. On reaching the landing-place, he knocked at
Mr, Wilson's bedroom door. No answer was returned. Arm-
strong seemed to hesitate, but the constable at once lifted the
latch ; they entered, and then a melancholy spectacle presented
itself.
Wilson, completely dressed, lay extended on the floor a life-
less corpse. He had been stabbed in two places in the breast
with some sharp-pointed instrument. Life was quite extinct.
The window was open. On farther inspection, several bundles
containing many of Wilson's valuables in jewelry and plate,
together with clothes, shirts, silk handkerchiefs, were found.
