142 LIFE IN JAVA.
liousG of an old blind man who lived near the un- known murderer. Hearing the subject of their conversation, the old man listened, and soon be- came interested in the sad story, upon which he felt con\-inced that he could throw some light. He accordingly joined the persons before his door, and that they might converse in greater safety, invited them into his house, where he informed them that about the time these poor women were first missing he was outside his door till a late hour one night, refreshing himself in the cool air, when he heard, issuing from the adjacent house, two or three faint screams, as of a woman crying for help. He was on the point of going in to tell his wife, when, the screams dying away, he concluded that they had only proceeded from some woman who had been chastised by her husband ; and, therefore, beyond a passing remark to his wife, made no mention of the matter.
The police, being informed of this, their sus-
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