The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-07-08

and slipped to the Goor. 1 think I
smiled at this impulse, but at that mo-
ment the creRkiDg recommended, fol-
lowed by a smothered oath, and knew
that some one was softly approaching
the bed. I had ceased to smile. 1 did
not admire the idea of a struggle in the
dark, and unfortunately my tapers were
IN my waistcoat, which had thrown on
a chair when retiring. Nevertheless, I
had no notion of being q quiescent
party to a murder, and I began to work
my way to the foot of the bed, which I
had succeeded in doing very quietly.
1 thought of the knife again, and
opening it, stuck it in my waistband,
q thing I would not do gain under the
same ciTcums tances. If / had only
removed the pistol.
As the novelist would say, all this
occurred 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.
My next move was rather singular.
had noticed n light print spread on
the bed, a gaudy piece of calico like our
attic window curtains at home. I
snatched this from the bed and sprang
to the side whence the noise proceeded.
n Llhn hdAGu ONuE tAl0 DN0 AO
turned with growl of rage, but being
1.-the as a cat, I enveloped his head
with the calico, my hands at his throat
in an instant. Then began a dreadful
struggle, as we rolled on the floor
together, My assailant dragged me
nearer the bed, and it flashed upon 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. 1t had slipped out
during the scuffie, and was thankful
that 1 had not been thrown on its sharp
point.
The burly ruffian had torn the muffier
from, HE hood aY,d woe aI40natkas FIXING
me IN short order. The dominent idea
in both of us now was to seize the knife
by the bed. My chance was not worth
the flip of a penny, yet If anything
would be calculated to lend man super
natural strength, it was conditions like
these, and I astonished myself. With
a superhuman effort, got on top, and
planting my right knee on his breast,
and again seizibg his throat with des-
peration, soon had the satisfaction 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 ut every pore.
My would be murderer lay very still ,
scarcely tremor betraying that there
was life in him.
There was a hurried tramping of feet
below, and a pale light glimmered on
the ceiling as the grim old man and two
or three others assembled the stairs, bring
ing candles.
We had aroused the household, al
though neither of us had cried out.
AS 1 am not fighting character, and
my courage nothing to boast of, think
may safely acknowledge that I 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 in.
tent to take my life, believing me to be
another person (this afterward learn
ED, was held in charge until daylight
| by the coach-driver and job Silvers
and at last astonished these WORTHLESS
very much by knocking them both dow
and making good his escape.
have this knife yet keen Italian
stilettO, perfect beauty in temper anC
/ carving, and keen as a razor.
There are many pleasing adventures il
! the life of q commercial traveller, o
drummer, as they are called, but Their
are also drawbacks.