For a long time all was still; not a sound was heard; not a whisper broke the profound silence; yet there were four pairs of sleepless eyes in that house, whose owners were all within a few feet of each other!

At length Hadley, who had taken a position by the door, heard the softest tread of feet, then a suppressed breathing close by his ear, and he knew that some one was listening.  He turned his face away that his own breathing might not betray him, and awaited the result of the other’s observation.  It was but a little while till a low whispered conversation fell upon his attentive ear!

“Does he sleep?”

“Yes, apparently very soundly.”

“Then the sooner it is done the better.”

“Yes; bring me the lantern.  Now when I go in, close the door and stand near, but do not open it till I call; I don’t want the bird to escape.”

“All right.  Be careful to make sure work of it.”

“Trust me for that; he’ll never know who struck him.”

Hadley knew the decisive moment had come, and he prepared himself for the crisis; but he felt that the odds was fearfully against him, and his hope of escape was small; still he was resolved to make a desperate effort for his life.

As already remarked, the room was small, and the head of the bed came within a few feet of the door, so near, that by taking one step, Hadley could touch it with his hand.  Around the bed were long curtains reaching to the floor.  It was but the work of a moment for him to secrete himself behind these in such a position as to face the murderer when he turned to look after him in the bed.  He had just secured his situation when the door gently opened, and the man of the house entered with the noiseless tread of a cat, bearing a dark lantern in one hand and a monstrous knife in the other.  Stealthily he approached the bed, and then gradually lifted the shade and threw the light around the room to be sure his victim was not out on the watch; then he gently parted the curtains and slowly brought the light to bear upon the pillows.

Now! thought Hadley; and as the surprised assassin raised himself up to take a closer scrutiny of the position in which he had expected to find his victim, he leveled his pistol within two feet of his breast and fired!  With a heavy groan the old man fell to the floor.  Bill rushed into the room, and as he did so, Hadley fired his other pistol, but the uncertain light and Bill’s rapid motion caused the shot to be thrown away.

At the same instant a piercing shriek from Eveline’s room told that she was alive to all that was passing.

Bill immediately drew a pistol and fired at Hadley, but the latter made a quick movement to one side and avoided the bullet.  Then the two sprang at each other and closed in for a life struggle.