South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-02-15

@~OaoNAS'S hS stOt--hb WAS aStCtp, LOT
in momont or two he rose noisclcssly.
aud creeping with stcalthy step across
tue floor, passed out OF the hut. lis
tened-oh! how eagerly. II seemed TO
me that trough the impsrfectly Joined
creyices of the log wall could plainly
hear voices whispering. would give
worlds to have crept nearer to listen.
but was fearful OF disturbing the fancied
security of our host, who | felt certain
had sinister designs upon us So | re-
manned perfectly still. The halr.breed
re -entered the hut in the same steadily
way in which he had quilted it. and after
giving scrutinizing glance at mo once
more stretched himself upon tile floor
amt affected sleep. In n few momept 4
pretended TO ayake-yawned, looked
at my watch. ana finding that nv hour
had more than expired, proceeded TO
wake Dick. 'Dont YOU take YOUR evcs
Off Of tt.at fellow, Dick he has some
accompiices outside; be careful = Dick
gaye meaning glance. carelessly touch
ed his revolver, as much as to say, here's
something to interfere with his little mr..
Engagements AMI took bis seat on The
pine stump, in such n position as 10 com.
mand view Of the sleeping half-breed
and the doorway at the same time.
This time, though awrully tired. |
conld not sleep. a horrible load seem
Ell pre- ssing on my chest, and every five
minutes | would start up to sec if Dick
was keeping his watch faithfully. NV
nerves were strung TO n frighiul pitch of
tensity; my heart beat at every sound.
and my head seemed To- throb until (
thought my temples would burst. The
more | reflected on the conduct of the
half. breed elya more assured was that
I've intended murder. Full of this idea
took my revolver from its sling and
beid 1t in my hand, ready to shoot him
down at the first movement that appear.
ed at all dangerous. A haze seemed
now to pass across my eyes. Fatigued
with long watching and excitement, I
1 passed into that semi-conscious state In
which seemed perfectly aware Of every
thing That passed, although objects were
] dim and dull in outline. and did not an :
/ penrSeo sharply defined as in ono wax.
ing moments. j was apparently reused
from this state by Sigh: cracking
sound. | started and raised myself on
my elbow. My heart almost ceased To
beat at what saw. The half-breed had
iit some species of dried herb, which sent
out strong aromatic odor rs il burned
This herb he was holding directly under
Dicks Eostrils, who now perceived. 10
my horror, ysas WRAPPED in profound
siumber. The smoke of this mysterious
herb appeare to deprive him Of all con.
seionsness, for ho rolled gently Off the
pine-lo9, and lay stretched upon the
Aoor. The half breed now stole 10 the
door and opened it gently. Three sin
lister heads peered in out Of the gloom
saw the long barrels of rifles and the
huge. brawBy hands that clasped them.
The halfbreed pointed significantly 10
where lay with his long. bony finger,
then, drawing n large, thirsty looking
knife from his breast. moved toward
me. The time was come. My blood
etopped-my heart ceased to beat. The
na!f-breed was within few feet Of my
bed the knife was raised = another in
slant and IL would have been buried in
my heart, when. with hand as cold a.
ice. lifted my revolver, took deadly
aim and fred
A stunning report, dull groan, {
hN--C Sibud WI Suu)he CURLING aFOlll me
and j found myself standing upright
with dark mass lying at my feet.
Great God what have YOU done
sir!' cried the half breed, rushing TOWARD
me. You have killed him. lie was
just about to wake YOU.
staggered against the wall. NJ,
senses, until then immersed ia sleep
suddenly recovered their activity. Thr
frightiul truth burst upon me in a fash
| had shot Dick Linton while under thC
influence Of nightmare Then every
thing seemed TO fade away, and | re-
rnembered no more.
There was a trial. believe. The law
yers were learned, and proved by physi
clans that IL was a case Of what is called
somnolentia. or sleep drunkenness. bat
OF the proceeding 1 took no heed. One
form haunted me. lying black and heay,
on tie hat floor; and one pale face wa,
ever present-a face saw once after
the dreadful catastrophe AMI never saw
again-tbe wild, departing face Of Der.
tina Linton, my promised bride Ola
M,y1zDe.
tV'By accident we have discovered