Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-12-06

lnal soon Urea out. l then Nentured 10
glance around the room. My eyes nat
ura,ly fell on the bed.
There was one thing that consoled me;
my companion appeared to be in deep
sleep, for he did not even move. could
see the ridge made by his feet at the end
ofhis bed and that was all. | also no,
ticed that the bed was very large one.
The man who had possession of it Law
near the wall, and there was plenty of
space between him and the outside for
me to lie without touching him. screw
ed my courage up and began to undress
but | suddenly remembered the landlords
words, that the stranger was IAN ugly
customer when he was ried," which
made mo desist. The though: struck me
that | might manage to lie on tho floor
but moments examination settled the
question in the negative, for the noor
was entirely bare, aud the air blew very
cold through the wide chinks in tho
planking, | cast my eyes to the ceiling,
and noticed for the first time that heavy
beam studded with numerous hooks ran
through the apartment but as | was aot
bird and could not Ierch there, this
discovery was but of little use to me.
Half an hour passed away in this state
of indeclSion. stoe cautiously to one
of the windows, and gazcd on the beauti-
tul city bathed in tho light off full moon
How quiet and calm everything look
ed But the mir felt fresh and cold, and
| closed the window and resumed my
seat on the chair. then found myself
wondering what avocation my friend in
bed followed. | suddenly east my eyes
on heap Of clothes which lay on trunk
covered over with handkerchief, no
doubt belonging to the sleeper. My cur,
iosity got the better Of my politencss, and
before scarcely knew what | was about
| found myself examining his apparel.
The handkerchief which covered them
was n coarse, cotton one, aud his clothes
were of coarse homespun, and were such
AS are usually worn by drovers. My com
panion, then, was evidently n drover-a
rough class of men who usually stand
upon very little ceremony.
Partly undrcsscd as ! was, began to
feel very cold but before venturing into
bed | determined to try an experiment to
see if the drover slept soundly or not. |
had taken the precaution to leave the bad
run for il if necessary. fixed my eyes
on the bed as lot my boot fall. The
drovor was ev identity n sound sleeper, for
although the noise made was considerable
he did not make tho slightest motion.
This decided mo, aud hastily finished
undressing and crept into bed.
OF course, was very careful not to
touch my companion. do not krow
how long lay awake, but the novelty
OF the situation drove sleep from my eye,
lids for some time. BY degrees, however
the straEgeness OF my position wore off
felt reassured by my bedfellow's sound
sleep, and the gentle murmurng of the
breeze outside caused mo to follow his
example.
have no idea how long | slept before
| commenced to dream. | suddenly,
however, thought that my companion
woke up and sat upright in bed; that he
glared around MIN and ut last his eyes
fell upon me. He then uttered terrible
cry and threw himself upon me. In spite
of my natural cowardice, | saw that if |
did not struggle | sho1ld be killed, |
thought | seized him by the throat, and
tightening my grasp, saw him getting
black in :he face. His hands fell power
less by his side, Il smothering groun es.
capped him; but still pressed his throat
tighter, tighler-his face grew blacker
and blacker.
In an agony of fear awoke, and what
was my horror and dismay to find that
my hand was really pressing my co-1pau,
ions throat. He did not move nor stir
and his body felt as cold as leo.
Great God !"I exclaimed aloud
"Can he be dead?"
| jumped out Of bed. Morning has
dawned, although The sun had not yet
risen. | rushed TO the window and pull.
ed back the curtain. | than ran to the
bed again and looked At my companion
My worst fears were realized. lie was
dead black in the face strangled In my
sleep
j shall not attempt to describe my sem
sation at this horrid spectacle. My body
was bathed in cold perspiration, my
hands trembled, and for few moments
| believe | was bereft fmy senses. | re-
covered by degrees-but it was only to
realize in a more acute degree the hor-
rors OF my situation. There lay my vic
tim-aDd | was murderer Ny trial,
conv iction, and the hideous galows all
passed in rapid view before me. Who
would believe me ! 1 sat down, buried
my face in my hands and sobbed like a
child. My wife, my own comfortable
home should ever see them again?
What was to be done? Should arouse
the house and make clean breast Of IT,?
But what could say tell them had
killed man in my sleep? Not a soul
would believe tho story. Could / effect
my escape? Impossible; the crime would
be discovered before could leave the
city, and | should be arrested; then the
law would take its course, and l should
be hanged by the neck until was dead.
Hanged by the neck? Yes, that would
be my fate, As this terrible thought cress-
ed my mind, | cast my eyes around the
cham Der, and they fell upon the beam
with the hooks in IL, From thence they
,,g.ul..rad 70 the ardLarnI to oc,,,.rf,. ,<