The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-01-11

curely, dumped the mail bags in the
corner, and being weary, Immediately
undressed and retired.
Hay for a long time, turning this
way and that, made restless, l suspect
ed, by continually thinking of jerks
and his strange conduct. Igrew angry
at last with myself for allowing him to
keep SO before my rision, but this state
of mind did not tend to sleepiness, /
assure you. While I lay tossing about
| heard one after another of the MEM
bers of the family go to bed. Still
that Internal jerks kept before me-
/ muttered anathemas and turned over
again.
Now comes the singular part of the
affair. must have fallen asleep for a
moment. l dreamed that was in that
very house, IN that very room and bed
that 1 had fallen asleep and woke up
with the impression that there was
some one under NY bed; that did not
know how to ascertain the truth of it
without causing the .robber and MUIR
derer to spring on me unawares; that
having a boyish trick of stuffing my
pockets with everything, 1 felt in there
for marble, and found it-and lean
ing cautiously from the forward edge
OF the bed, dropped or rolled it toward
the back side or wall of the room
thinking, as did SO, that if there was
no one there it would roll across and
strike the mopboard with sharp click.
l dreamed that the marble rolled but a
little ways, struck something and stop
Int T H. 10
found Stowell instead of jerks, with
murder written ruon Lis face Then
there was a ceal~gs plan of what l
said and did.
l came to full consciousness from this
dream, or incubus state, aud abem-ed
and turned over to see if | were really
awaks now. My whole body was damp,
the sweat standing in drops upon my
face, SO great had been my suffering in
that few moments sleep. it was SO
frightfully real, that | shifted to the
other side, and as silently as possible
drew up my pants and felt in the peck
ct. My finger touched bullet that was
lying loose amidst other rubbish.
drew it out, and with such a sensation
as | never experienced before and hope
never to again, prepared for the
dream test. Reaching my hand we'll
down towards the floor, gave it roll
toward the back of the bed It moved
a foot or two and-Great God !. 1t
struck something soft and stopped.
My heart stopped beating for min
ute, and globules of fire swan before
my face, peopling the darkness with
horrors. There was no choice but to
fill up the programme of the dream.
[ sprang from the bed before my mus
cles were paralyzed with terror, and
called out
Here, you Stowelln-I actually in
tended to say jerks, but conld not
=" come out from there, and have
done with this sort of practical joking. -
No sound about the house. The stormy
clouds tearing away overhead, allowed
watery moonlight to food the room.
"Stowell " 1 called again, Il am
in no mood for this sort of practical
Joking / have not boosted of my
courage, but shall discharge my pis-
tol under the bed, hit or miss, in one
moment more.
There was humping and rustling,
the spread was swept aside, and, God
of Heaven it was Stowell | could see
his white hair and beard Before he
had come to an upright position, for /
could dimly discern the outlines of
objects, | sprang to the door to shout
for help.
l had not turned the key when |
heard leap outside, and the Instant
that the bolt fell back from the socket
man sprang into the room; pistol
ball grazed my ear, another shot, and
two forms were struggling upon the
floor. was but moment inactive ;
the next, and had planted blow with
the butt of my pistol somewhere upon
the grey head, which stretched the vii
lain senseiess, almost the instant re-
ceiviug the fash of a pistol in the side
of the head, which, had it not
provldentally refused fire, must have
materially interfered with my future
power of narration.
Much confusion followed The land
lord rushed in; the landlady also; the
latter, however. rushed out as quickly
when she beheld my undressed uni
form. Everything was explained dl-
rectly. jerks was my rescuer. jerks
whom ! had SO doubted, SAID to me,
"Look here and he removed the
hair of the robber, and exposed to
our startled gaze the clean face and
closely cropped hair of sentenced for
life penitentiary man.
'He escaped two weeks ago from
and eluded pursuit. l got on the
track of him at Detroit, and have fol
lowed him, off and on, ever since He
came up from New Sharon purposely
to rob, and if need be, to murder you.
His joviality, his apparent good hui
NOR, allayed all suspicion. [ could
read his plans when he first went to
bed. He slowed himself into some
closet or corner of your room to wait
for you to fall asleep 1 remained
close by your door, and should have
warned you, but feared to arouse the
suspicious of the fellow, lest he should
again make off.
Since was really saved by dream,
| consider it remarkable
/ distrust remarkably jolly people
now, and take into favor sour, silent
appearing persons.
jerks was detective.