Not
doubting that he would find the apartment occupied, and quite sure there
were inhabitants in the other part of the house, he proceeded to mount
the stairs with alacrity, his companion following close at his heels.
It was with a sense of quiet relief that Hiram opened the door into a
well-lighted room. This feeling was suddenly changed to one of horror on
ascertaining that there was no one in the apartment, but that on a bed
at the farther end of it was extended the corpse of a woman, already
laid out and ready for the coffin! He stepped quickly backward, but it
was too late. The madman was close behind him, and egress was out of the
question.
'Come,' he said, 'you need not be afraid; she won't hurt you.'
The poor creature walked to the bedside, and it seemed as if sanity was
vainly struggling to regain its place.
'Come closer,' he exclaimed to Hiram, who was standing near him.
Hiram advanced at the word of command, and the other again took his arm;
and both stood very still, looking at the dead woman.
'Had we better wake her, think you?'
Hiram shook his head.
'You are right. I must first earn the money--earn the money. Then--then
I will wake her. Yes, then I will wake her.'
'Is it your wife?' demanded Hiram, timidly, impelled by an irresistible
impulse to ask the question.
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