The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-02-26

panion's throat. He did not move no
stir. and his body felt as cold as ice.
"Great God!" I exclaimed aloud
"Can he be deadp
jumped out of the bed. Mornin,
had dawned. although the sun had no
yet risen. rushed to the window an,
pulled back the curtain. then ran t,
the bed again and looked at my com
panion. My worst fears were realized
He was dead black in the face-stranglet
in my sleep!
shall not attempt to describe m,
sensation at this horrible spectacle. NJ,
body was bathed in cold Precipitation
my hands trembled, and for few mo
ments I believe l was bereft of m,
senses. recovered by degrees-but i
was only to realize in more acute de
gree the horrors of my situation. There
lay my victim and was a murderer
My trial, conviction and the hideou:
gallows all passed in rapid review
before. Who would believe mel
l sat down, buried my face in nv hands
and sobbed like a child. My wife, my
own comfortable home-should evel
see them againP
What was to be donep Should ]
arouse the house and make clean
breast of it? But what could saw
tell them I had killed a man in nv
sleep? Not soul would believe the
story. Could effect my escaped I'm.
possible; the crime would be discov.
cred before l could leave the CITY, and
l should be arrested; then the law
would take its course, and l should be
hanged by the neck until I was dead.
Hanged by the neck! Yes, that
would be my fate. As this terrible
thought crossed my mind 1 cast my
eyes around the chamber, and they
fell upon the beam with the hooks in
it. From thence they wandered to the
handkerchief covering the dead mans
clothes.
A means of safety suggested itself to
my mind. Suppose l could make il
appear that the man had committed
suicide. Yes, that was my only chance,
and l determined to put it into execu-
ton.
took the dead mans handkerchief
and advanced to the corpse with great
deal of repugnance. but with more
courage than I could have anticipated.
My own fearful situation, no doubt, ami
mated me to an extent that l should
never otherwise have dreamed of.
made moose in the handkerchief and
slipped it over the dead mans neck.
then lifted the body out of bed, and,
standing on chair, fastened the other
end of the handkerchief to a hook in
the beam. l now let the body go, and
it swung in space.
l jumped into bed, and shut my eyes
to close the horrid sight from my gaze.
l determined to wait there until some
body should come into the room, and
then pretend that l knew nothing at all
about it, but that the man must have
got up in the night and hanged him
self.
l lay quaking and trembling for over
an hour. 1t grew broad daylight. l
felt the sun shining directly on the bed,
but l dare not open my eyes for fear
that l should encounter the dangling
corpse. Suddenly heard the step Of
two men Oh the stairs. They appeared
to be carrying something heavy between
them. The long-anticipated moment
was approaching. In a 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.
Tho door opopoI onJ t.ro ,,,ou m
tered the chamber, placing something
heavy on the floor.
"Well, I'm blessed if the man hasn't
hanged himself again. exclaimed a
voice which recognized to be the land
lords.
by golly! that's true" said the
other man. mo, see how it is: the
stranger found out the trick you played
on him, and not liking the idea of
sleeping with a 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 l
thought he was coward?-that only
shows how easy it is to be mistaken in
people. And now he sleeps as soundly
as church; let's be careful not to wake
him."
l breathed freely, for I Immediately
the whole matter. The
landlord had put me to sleep with a
dead man. heard them take down
the body and put it into coffin-for it
was that they had brought with them.
They carried it away and was left to
myself. With my mind thus relieved
l fell asleep and enjoyed two hours
delicious slumber. l then got up,
dressed myself, and proceeded down
stairs.
GOOD morning." said to the land
lord, who was behind the bar.
GOOD mornin', SIR" he replied,
sheepishly; II hope you slept we'll"
'Splendidly." Ireturned: ..my bed
fellow gave trouble at first, but l soon
got rid of him.
II know you did," returned mine
host, with knowing wink. swell, 1
must say you are the coolest chap l
Not another word passed between us
with reference to the affair. And aft
erward learned from the conversation
of the people while was at breakfast
that my companion for the night was a
drover, who, having made ruinous
speculation in cattle, had committed
suicide by hanging himself in the cham
Der the night before.
II left the Golden Angel that morn
ing, having obtained quarters at Bar
NUNS Hotel. l went to the conven-
ton, voted six hundred times for -,
and returned home, having given full
satisfaction to Mr.. Ardew.
l told my adventure to my friends
not as l have told it to you, dear read
er, but with the same construction that
the landlord of the Golden Angel put
upon it. Everybody thought had dis
played extraordinary GOODNESS and in
trepidity. There is one thing, howev-
er, to which I have fully made up my
mind, and that is, l will never attend
another political convention as long as
/ ive.-Baltimore San.
Want Mutual Satisfaction.
Tho $n11Ou,sr~ acknowledgements.