The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-05-21

open so that I could make a run out if ne
cessary. 1 fixed my eyes on the bed as / let
my boot fall The drover was evidently
sound sleeper, for although the NOISE made
was considerable he did not make the slight
est motion. This decided me, and / hastily
finished undressing and crept into bed.
OF course, was careful not TO touch my
companion. l do not know how long lay
awake, but the novelty of the situation drove
sleep from my eyes for some time. BY de-
grees, however the strangeness of my posi-
tiOn wore off. / felt reassured by my bed
fellows sound sleep, and the gentle muir
muring of the breeze outside caused me to
follow his example.
l have no idea how long slept before 1
commenced to dream. Isuddenly, 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 ut
tered terrible cry and threw himself upon
me. In spite of my natural cowardice, l saw
if did not struggle / should be killed.
thought l seized him by the throat, and
tightening my grasp, l saw him gettingblack
in the face. His hands fell powerless by his
side, smothering groan escaped him, but
still pressed his throat tighter, tighter-his
lace gre" DldCktE anu pidChtI
In agony of fear 1 awolle, and what was
my horror and dismay to find that my hand
was really pressing my companions throat
He did not move nor stir and his body felt
as cold as ice.
"Great God T. l exclaimed aloud "Can
he be dead >"
Jumped out of bed Morning had dawn
ed although the sun had not vet risen. 1
rushed to the window and pulled back the
curtain. | then ran to the bed again and
looked at my companion. My worst fears
were realized. He was dead, black in the
face-strangled in my sleep.
! shall not attempt to describe my sensa-
/ tion at this horrid spectacle. My body was
bathed in cold perspiration, my hands
trembled, and for few moments l believe
l was bereft of my senses. I recovered by
degrees-but it was only to realize in a more
I acute degree the horrors of my situation.
f There lay my victim, and / was a murderer!
NV trial, conviction and the hideOus gallows
/ all passed in rapid review before me. Who
would believe me2 1 sat down, buried my
face i'm my hands, ard sobbed like a child.
Nv wife, my own comfortable hOme-should
. / ever see them again2
What was to be done Should I arouse
the house and make clean breast of it ?
But what could I say y?-tell them had kill
ed a man in my sleep? Not a soul would
believe the story Could effect my escape?
Impossible the crime would be discovered
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 1 was dead.
Hanged by the neck? 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
handkerchief covering the dead mans clothes
A means Of safety suggested itself to my
mind. Suppose l could make it appear that
the man had committed suicide. Yes, that
was my only chance, and l determined to
put it into execution.
1 took the dead mans handkerchief and ad-
vanced to the corpse with great deal of re-
pugnance, but with more courage than l
could have anticipated. My own fearful
situation no doubt animated me to an extent
that should never otherwise have dreamed
of. 1 Imade a moose in the handkerchief aud
slipped it over the dead mans neck. then
.
chair fastened the other end of the handker-
chief to hook in the beam. 1 now let the
body go, and it swung in space.
1 jumped into bed and shut my eyes to
close the horrid sight from my gaze. l de-
termined to wait there until somebody 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 hang
ed himself
l lay quaking and trembling for over al
hour 1t grew broad daylight. l felt the sun
shining directly on the bed, but dared not
open my eyes for fear that / should en-.
counter 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 sec
onds more they would discover the body
My life depended in a great degree upon
their opinions. If they were deceived by my
ruse, others might be.
The door opened, and two men entered
the chamber, placing something heavy on tht
floor.
"Wen, I'm blessed if the man hasn't hang
ed himself again. exclaimed voice which
. Knew 10 DC Iilt lduutbiu =
''By golly that's true" said the othe
man. ''No, see how it is; the strange
found ont the trick you played on him, an,
not liking the idea of sleeping with corpse
he tucked him up there to get him out of tn
way"
, you're right" replied the landlord
[ ''well, he's cool 'un, anyhow, and woul
: you believe it, last night thought he was
coward that only shows how easy it is t
be mistaken in people. And now he sleep
: as soundly as a church lets be careful no
, to wake him.
t breathed freely, for / Immediately III
5 derstood the whole matter. The landlOT
t had put me to sleep with a dead man.
- heard them take down the body and put
into coftin-for it was what they Iva
f brought with them. They carried it ava
e and ! was left to myself. With my min
Y thus relieved fell asleep, and enjoyed tw
hours delicious slumber. l then got NJ
. dressed myself and proceeded down stairs.
4 Good morning." said to the landlor,
e who was behind the the bar.
I Good morning, sir" he replied, sheel
ishly 81 hope you slept well"
S 'Splendidly," ! returned my bedfello
a gave me trouble at first, but I soon got rid
e him."
' Il know You did, returned mine hos
It with n knowing wink. ''Well, l must sa
is you are the coolest chap ! ever saw"
& Not another word passed between us wi
5 reference to the affair. And l afterwai
e learned from the conversation Of the peop