The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-08-20

expired. proceeded To wake Dick. As
l TUNED him ,eut Of led whispered
in his ear: ''Don't take your Syes ID
THIS fellow, Dirk. He b scca6plices
ouside; be csreiul," Dick gave q
masning ela'loe. 0selessG tuoehed his
revolver. rs much a. to say : Heres
something tn interfere With his little
arrangements" and took his seat on
the pine stump in such position rs to
command view If the half breed and
the doorway ut the same time.
This time, though awfully tired, ]
could not sleep. 4 horrible load
seemed pressing IN nv chest. and
every FIVE minutes l would start up to
see II Dick wss keeping his watch
faithfully. Nv nerves were strung to
a friyhtful pitch Of tensi,y my heart
beat ut everv sound. and my head
seemed to thrnb until I thought my
temple. would burst. The more ]
reflected ON the conduct ut the hall
breed the more assured was that he
intended murder. Full ri this idea |
took my revolver from its sling and
held it in nv hand ready 10 shoot him
down mt the first movement that ap-
peared ut all dangerous. A haze
seemed now to pass across my eyes.
Faiigued with lon. watching aud ex-
element. / passed into tina, s+mi-
CONSCIOUS state. in which l seemed
perfectly aware Of everything that
passed. although objects were dim and
dull in outline. and did NOT appear ="
sharply defined rs in ones walking
moments. was apparently reused
from this state hy "a slight cracking
sound. I started aud raised myself on
my elbow. NV heart almost ceased u"
brat at what j saw. III. haif-bre'd
hal lit some species Of dried herb,
whicn sent out = strong aromatic "lor
~ it burned. This herb be WAS hold
ing dir city under Dicks nostrils, who
| now prrceived tn nv horror. WAS
wrapped in a profound slum'rr. The
smoke Of this mysterious herb appear
Ell tn deprive him Of all consciousness.
for he rolled gently III 1t the pine log.
a,sl lay stretched upon the floor. The
half.breed now stole to the door and
opened it gently. Three sinister heads
pcered in out If the gloom. i saw
the long barrels Of rifles and the huge
bra~ay hands tina, clasped them. The
halfbreesl pointed significantly tn
where lay with hislong, bony finger.
then drawing q long thirsty-looking
knife from his breast. pointed toward
me. The time was come. My blood
stopped-my heart ceased to beat.
The haif.breed WAS within a foot Of
nv bed, the knife was raised an
other instant and it would have been
buried in my heart. when. with
hand as cold rs ice, lifted nv re-
v"lver. took deadly aim and fired
A stunning report, dull groan,
huge cloud of smoke curling around
me. and found myself standing up
right. with dark mass lying ut my
ieet.
"ireat God. what have you done ?"
cried the half:breed. rushing toward
me. "You have killed him? lie was
just about to wake you"
/ staggered against the wall. Ny
senses, until then Immersed in sleep.
suddenly recovered their activity. The
irightful truth hurst np"n me in q
fash. / had sho; Dick Linton while
under the influence IF u nightmare!
Then every :hiny seemed tn fade away. !
and | remembered ms more.
There was trial. / believe. The
lawyers were learned. AMI proved by |
physicians that it was case Of what
IS called somnolen:ia. ar sleep drunken
ness, but ut the proceedings took no
heed. One form haunted me, living
black and heavy on the hut floor; and
he pale face was ever present. face
saw once after the terrible catastro-
'he and pever saw again the wild.
face If Bertha Linton, nv
bride