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

on heap of clothes which lay on q
trunk, covered over with handker-
chief, no doubt belonging to the sleeper.
My curiosity got the better of my polite
ness, and before l scarcely knew what
was about found myself examining
his apparel. The handkerchief which
covered them was a coarse cotton one,
and his clothes of coarse homespun, and
were such as are usually worn by
drovers. My companion, then, was
evidently q drover-a rough class of
men who usually stand upon very little
ceremony.
Partly undressed 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
bed room door open SO that 1 could
make run of it If necessary. 1 fixed
my eyes on the bed as l let my boot fall.
The drover was evidently a sound
sleeper, for although the noise made was
considerable he did not make the slight
est motion. This decided me, and L
hastily finished undressing and crept
into bed
OF course, was careful not to touch
my companion. do not known how
long lay awake, but the novelty of the
situation drove sleep from my eyes for
some time. By degrees, however, the
strangeness of my position wore off. L
felt reassured by my bedfellow's sound
sleep, and the gentle murmuring of the
breeze outside caused me to follow his
example.
have no idea how long slept before
l commenced to dream. l suddenly,
however, thought that my companion
woke up and sat upright in bed; that
he glared around him and at last his
eyes fell on me. He uttered terrible
cry and threw himself upon me. In
spite of my natural cowardice, saw if
did not struggle should be killed. L
thought seized him by the throat, and
tightening my grasp, l saw him getting
black in the face. His hands fell power
less by his side, smothering groan
escaped him, but still pressed his
throat tighter, tighter-his face grew
blacker and blacker.
In agony of fear I awoke, and what
was my horror and dismay to find that
my hand was really pressing my COM
panion's throat. He did not move nor
stir and his body felt as cold as ice.
"Great God" / exclaimed aloud
"Can he be dead ?"
Jumped out of bed. Morning had
dawned although the sun had not yet
risen. rushed to the window and
pulled back the curtain. then ran to
the bed again and looked at my COM
panion. My worst fears were realized.
He was dead, black in the face, strangled
in my sleep.
/ shall not attempt to describe my
sensation at this horrid spectacle. My
body was bathed in cold Precipitation,
my hands trembled, and for few
moments believe was bereft of my
senses. i recovered by degrees-but it
was only to realize in more acute
degree the horrors of my situation.
There lay my victim, and was MUIR
derer My trial, conviction and the
hideous gallows all passed In rapid
review before me. Who would believe
me? l sat down, buried my face in my
hands,and sobbed like child. My wife,
my own comfortable home-should i
ever see them again
What was to be donep Should 1
arouse the house and make clean
breast of it But what could say p
tell them / had killed q man in my
sleepY Not soul would believe the
story. Could effect my escape? I'M
possible; the crime would be discovered
before 1 could leave the city, and /
should be arrested; then the law would
take its course and 1 should be hanged
by the neck until was dead.
Hanged by the neck9 Yes, that
would be my fate. AS this terrible
thought crossed my mind cast my eyes
around the chamber, and they fell upon
the beam with the hooks in It. From
thence they wandered to the handker-
chief covering the dead mans clothes.
A means of safety suggested itself to
my mind. Suppose | could make 1t
appear that the man had committed
suicide. Yes, that was my only chance,
and determined to put it into execu-
ton.
! took the dead mans handkerchief