The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1879-02-26
"Put him in Isaac efreom. .

But here l interrupted the Viii
pered collOquy.
81 am not PARTICULAR don't car
where you lodge me, only max
haste"
So 1 was conducted up a stee
ladder that stood insthe corner of th
room, into an apartment, ceiled wit
sloping beams aud ventilated by on
small close window, were cot bed
stead, crowded close against th
board partition, and pine table
with two or three chairs, formed TIN
, sole attempt at furniture.
The woman set the light-an Ole
oil lamp--on the table.
Anything more 1 can get you
sir?
Nothing, thank you"
81 hope you'll sleep we'll, sir
When shall l call you?'
Sat four o'clock in the morning
if you please. l must walk over g
R. station in time for the seven
o'clock express.
III be sure to call you. SIR
She withdrew, leaving me alone in
the gloomy little apartment, 1 sat
down and looked around me with no
very agreeable sensation.
81 will set down and write to
Alice" thought, 'that will soothe
my nerves and quiet me, perhaps"
l descended the ladder, the fire
still glowed redly on the hearth be-
meath ;my companion and the woman
sat beside it talking in a low tone,
and third person sat at the table
eating, short, stout, villainous-Iook.
ing man, in q red flannel shirt and
muddy trousers.
| asked for writing materials and
returned to my room to write to my
wife.
my darling Alice"
l paused and laid down my pen as
| concluded the words, half smiling
10 think what she would say could |
she know of my strange quarters.
Not till both sheets were covered |
did l lay aside my pen and prepare
for slumber. As I folded my paper
happened to glance toward the
couch.
Was it the CLEAN Of human eve
Observing me through the board par.
ition or was it my own fancy?
There was a crack there, but only
blank darkness beyond. yet could
lave sworn that something had
parked balefully at me.
| took out my watch-it was one
o'clock. It was scarcely worth while
or me to undress for three hours
leep; | would lie down in my clothes
nd snatch what slumber I could.
%, placing my valise close to the
cad of my bed, and barricading the
0ckless door with two chairs, ex-
inguished the light and lay down.
At first | was very wakefuI, but
radually a soft drowsinesa seemed
} steal over me like a misty mantle,
nttl, all OF a sudden, some startling
iectrjc thrill coursed through my
eias, and l sat up excited and
'embIing.
A luminous softness seemed TO
low through the room-no light of I
le moon or stars was ever so pene-
,ating and by the little window l
Nv Alice, my wife, dressed in float
lg garments of white, with her long,
olden hair knotted back by blue
bbon. Apparently she was coming '
} e with outstretched hands, and 7
yes full of wild, anxious tender. .
ess, b
I sprang to me- feet and rushed
'W2::11 her. but as / reached the
indow the fair apparition seemed :
vanish into the stormy darkness,
nd / was left alone. At the self.
anne instant the sharp report of the !:
lstol sounded-I could see the jag
ed stream of FIRE above the pillow
,raight through the very spot where
N minutes since my head had ;
in.
With an instantaneous realization :
my danger l swung myself over :
le window, jumping some eight or
IN feet into tangled bushes below, !
nd as | crouched there recovering !
y breath / heard the tramp of foot. =
cps into my room. f,
rs be dead? p cried voice up the i
.dder-the smooth. deceitful voice ,
the woman with the half closed !
Ies.
"Of course he is" growled voice
lclk "that charge would have kill .
| ten men. A light there. quick .
I'd tell Tom to be ready"
A cold, agouizing shudder ran ],
rough me. What a den OF mid
ght murderers had | failed into
nd how fearfully narrow had been o
y escape Y
With the speed that only mortal n
-. = /