The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-09-01

cied / heard q stifed breathing III
room this might have been only fancy
However. I gently drew myself to the
side next the wall. between which and
the bed there was just room enough for a
human body, aud slipped to the floor. L
think Ismiled at this impulse, but at that
moment the creeping recommended, fol-
lowed by a smothered oath, and 1 knew
| that some one was softly approaching the
bed. | had ceased to smile. L did not
admire the idea of struggle IN the dark,
and unfortunately my tApers were In my
waistcoat, which [ had thrown on chair
when retiring. Nevertheless, l had no
idea of being quiescent party to muir
der, and | began to work my way TO the
| foot of the bed, which | succeeded IN do
ing very quietly.
/ thought of the knife again, and open
ening it stuck it in nay waistband, a thing
| rould not do again under the same cir
cumstanees. If | had only removed the
pistol.
As the novelist would say, all this oc-
Cured in much less time than it takes to
write it, or to read it either, and only a
very few moments had elapsed since my
first waking.
Nv next move was rather singular.
had noticed a light print spread on the
bed, gaudy piece of calico like our attic
window curtains at home. / snatched
this from the bed and sprang to the side
whence the noise proceeded.
A man leaned over the bed; he turned
with growl of rage, but being 1.-THE as q
cat enveloped his head with the calico,
my hands at his throat in an instant.
Then began dreadful struggle as we
rolled on the floor together. My assailant
dragged me nearer the bed, and it flashed
across me in an instant that the recovery
of the knife was in his mind.
| felt now with my left hand for mine
it was gone. It had slipped out during
the scufiie, and / was thankful that had
not been thrown on its sharp point.
The Durly ruf1ian had torn the muffier
from his head, and was altogether fixing
me in short order The dominant idea
in both Of US now was to sieze the knife
by the bed. My chance was not worth
the flip OF penny, yet if anything would
be calculated to lend man supernatural
strength, it was conditions like these, and
I astonished myself. With superhuman
effort, got on top, and planted my right
knee on his breast, and again Selling his
throat with deportation, soon had the sat
| isfaction of feeling his clutch relax, until
| he was powerless as a child
My own strength began to fail now,
and cold, sickly sweat broke out Of my
body at every pore.
My would-b murdered lay very still,
scarcely tremor betraying that there was
life in him.
There was heavy trampling of feet
below, and pale light glimmered on the
ceiling as the grim old man and two or
three others assembled the stairs, bringing
candles.
We had aroused the household, al
though neither Of US had cried out.
As | am not a fighting character, and
my courage nothing TO boast of L think |
! may safely acknowledged that | showed
the white feather when it was all over,
and dropped over from exhaustion and
excitement.
My man with the black beard who had
followed me three days with an intent to
take my life, believing me to be another
person (this | afterwards learned was
held in charge until daylight by the coach
driver and Job Silvers, and at last aston
ished these worthless very much by knock
ing them both down and making good his
escape.
| have his knife yet; keen italian
stilletto, perfect beauty in temper and
carving, and keen as a razor.
There are many pleasing adventures in
the life Of a commercial traveller, or
drummer, as they are called, but there
are also drawback