The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-05-18

and advanced to the corpse with great
deal of repugnance, but with more cour-
age than | could have anticipated. My
own fearful situation no doubt animated
me to an extent that ! should never
otherwise have dreamed of. / made q
moose in the handkerchief and slipped 1t
over the dead man g neck. then lifted
the body out of bed, and standing on
chair fastened the other end of the
handkerchief to hook in the beam.
now let the body go, and it swung in
space.
Jumped into bed and shut my eyes
to close the horrid sight from my gaze.
| determined to wait there until some
body should come into the room, and
then pretend that knew nothing at all
about it, but that the man must have
got up in the night and hanged him
SELF
lay quaking and trembling for over
an hour. 1t grew broad daylight. l
felt the sun shining directly on the bed,
but dare not open my eyes for fear
that l should encounter the dangling
corpse. Suddenly heard the step of
two men on the stairs. They appeared
to be carrying something heavy between
them. The long anticipated moment
was approaching. In few seconds
more they would discover the body.
My life depended in great degree upon
their opinion. If they were deceived by
my ruse, others might be.
The door opened, and two men enter
ed the chamber, placing something
heavy on the floor.
"Well, I'm blessed if the man hasn't
hanged himself again. exclaimed a
voice which knew to be the landlords.
"By gollyl that's true," said the
other man. "No, see how it is: the
stranger found out the trick you played
ON him, and not liking the idea of
sleeping with corpse, he tucked him
up there to get him out of the way''
" YOU'RE right" replied the landlord;
well, he's a cool 'un, anyhow, and
would you believe it, last night /
thought he was coward-that only
shows how easy it is to be mistaken in
people. And now he sleeps as soundIy
as a church; let's be careful not to wake
him."
l breathed freely, for 1 Immediately
understood the whole matter. The
landlord had put me to sleep with a
dead man. Iheard them take down the
body and put it into coffin-tor it was
what they had brought with them.
They carried it away and 1 was left to
myself. With my mind thus relieved
fell asleep, and enjoyed two hours
delicious slumber. then got up, dress
ed myself and proceeded down stairs.
"Good morning." said to the land
lord who was behind the bar
GOOD morning, sir" he replied,
sheepishly; Il hope you slept well.o
Splendidly," returned; "my bed
fellow gave me trouble at first, but l
soon got rid of him."
Il know you did," returned mine
host, with knowing wink. ''Well, g |
must say you are the coolest chap ever
saw"
Not another word passed between us
with reference to the affair. And after
ward learned from the conversation of
the people while was at break fast that
my companion for the night was a
drover, who, having made a ruinous
speculation in cattle, had committed
suicide by hanging himself in the cham
ber the night before.
left the Golden Angel that morning,
having obtained quarters at Barnum's
hotel. went to the convention, voted
six hundred times for ---, and re-
turned home, having given full satisfac-
tion to Mr.. Ardew.
told my adventure to my friends
not as have told it to you, dear reader,
but with the same construction that the
landlord of the Golden Angel put upon
1t. Everybody thought that had dis
played extraordinary GOODNESS and in
trepidity. There is one thing, however,
to which have fully made up my
mind, and that is, Il will never attend
another political convention as long as
live, nor sleep with a corpse If | can
avoid 1t.
nv 4