Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-07-16

over their broWs. Their dresses were de-
cldedly. shabby, yet had certain smart
ness. They were couple OF rascals who
got their living by whatever Satan sent
them, and noWl IN the interim of other
business, had staked the joint profits OF
their next piece of villiany on a game Of
cards, which was to have been decided
here under the trees.
But, finding David sleeping by the
fellow:
"Hist! Do you see the bundle under
his head?'' go, 49,. -.
The other william nodded, winked and
leered.
''lll bet you horn of brandy" said
the first, that tie chap has either pock-
et-oook or else he has snug little
hoard OF small change slowed away
among his shirts. And if not there. We
shall tind it in his pantaloon's pocket, {
but how if he wakes,'' said the other.
His companion thrust aside his waist
coat, pointing to the handle of a dirk,
and nodded. :
$50 1t be muttered the second william.
They approached the unconscious
David, and while one pointed the dagger
toward the heart, the other began to
search the bundle beneath his head
their two faces grim, wrinkled and ghast-
~ with guilt and fear, bent over their
victim, looking terrified enough to be
mistaken for iends, should he suddenly
awake. Nay, had the Williams glanced
aside into the spring, even they might
have known themselves as reflected there.
But David Swan had never worn more
tranquil aspect, even when afleep on lis
mothers breast.
81 must take away the bundle" whis-
pered one.
"But if he stirs, I'll STRIKE" muttered
the other.
But at this moment a dog seeming
along the ground, came on beneath the
maple trees, and gazed alternately at
each OF those wicked men and then at the
quiet sleeper. He then Tapped out of the
fountain.
"Pshaw!' said one VILLAIN, "we can do
nothing now. The dogs master must be
close behind.''
Lets take drink and be of, said the
other.
The man with the dagger thrust the
weapon into his pocket and drew forth g
pocket pistol, but not of that kind which
kill by a single discharge. 1t was a flask
OF liquor, with block-tin tumblel
screwed upon the mouth. Each drank 6
comfortable dram and left the spot. with
so many jests, and such laughter at theil
unaccomplished wickedness, that they
might be said to have gone on their way
rejoicing. In few hours they had tor.
gotten the whole affair, nor once imagln.
ed that the recording angel had written
down the base crime of murder against
their souls in letters as durable as eter.
nifty.
As for David Swan he slept quietly
neither conscious of the shadow OF death
when it hung over him, nor the glow Of
renewed life when that shadow was with.
drawn.
He slept, but no longer quietly as at
first. An hours repose had snatched
from his elastic frame the WEAKNESS with
which many hours of toll had burdened
it. Now he stirred; now moved his lips
without sound; now talked in an in.
waro tone to the monday spectress of his
dream. But noise of wheels came rat
thing louder and louder along the road
until 1t dashed through the midst
OF David's slumber; and there was the
stage coach. He started up with all Lis
ideas about him.
"Hallo, driver. Take passenger, be
shouted.
Room on top" answered the driver
Up mounted DAVID and he bowled away
merrily toward Boston, without even az
much as {: parting glance at that fountain
of dream like vicissitudes He knew
not that phantom Of wealth haG thrown
golden hue upon its waters, nor that
one of love had sighed softly to their
murmur, nor that one of death had threat.
ened to crimson it with his blood; all in
the brief hour since he lay down to
sleep.
Sleeping or waking we hear not the
airy footsteps of the strange things that
almost haDDen.