The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-04-04


drew up to the fire thai shone upon
the hearth, the heat of which was very
grateful after my exposure to the
storm. | watched my host as he
placed some bread and meat upon the
table, and his every look and motion
went TO confirm the impression that
had seen him before; and then il
flashed upon nav mind when and
where. lt was IT the hotel where
had passed the previous night He
was among the rough, unshOrn loater>
that were standing around the bar.
The food being set out, he placed 4
rude seat by the table, and tpld HE
that my supper was ready, making
some excuse because ii was not better
answered him that il was IL good As
desired, and as hunger is the best
appetizer Il man can have, did the
coarse prOvenier ample Justice.
When | WAS satisfied. resumed my
seat once more by the fire, and Id en-
ter into conversation with my host &.
but | made poor Roadway. lie did
not seem inclined TO talk, and after
awhile | gave it up, and We sat i'll
silence for some time; he, ever and
anon stealing glance at he from
under his shaggy eyebrows, which, in
spite of myself, made IRE feel a little
uneasy, when | reflected upon the
money about NE. At last, tired of
this. / told him that would like to 90
to bed. if he had place where | could
lie down. Upon this, he rose and
led the way into the other small ap
partment Of the cabin, and setting
down the candle went out and closed
the door.
There was a rude bed i'm corner of
the room, covered with a ragged quilt.
and upon this / threw myself without
taking off my clothes. My six-shooter
| placed beside me, where / could lay
my hand upon it at a moments no.
tice, and then | blew out the candle
and tried to sleep. But | soon found
it was impossible to do so.
A nameless something kept me
awake. | could hardly define it as
fear. 1t was more Of a nervousness
that could not shake of, try as |
would. My eyes would not stay shut,
but wanted to remain wide open and
fixed upon the wall where the FIRE
light, which shone through the cracks
in the partition against which my bed
stood, played with a weird sort Of
light.
Try as / would, ! could not keep
my eyes from the wall. Did l close
them, the next minute they would be
again wide open. Did l turn my
head, l would be looking there again
almost before [ knew it. What l ex-
pected to see, | hardly knew. Yet it
came at last.
Suddenly upon the wall where the
light from the fire shOne the brig htest.
there appeared the shadowy hand of
man clasping long and deadly look
ing knife
For a moment my gaze was so
riveted upon it that could not turn
my eyes, but sound in the adjoining
room broke the spell Starting hastl-
ly upon my elbow, l peered through
the crack that was close to my head
and the sight | beheld caused another
thrill, similar to that which the
hand had given me. My
host, with long knife in his hand,
was approaching on tip toe the door
which led to my room. 1t was the
shadow of his uplifted hand that
had seen upon the wall.
That he had designs upon my life
/ could not doubt, and thankful for
the warning / had received, | pre-
pared to meet him. Noise!essly /
crept from the bed, and with my six
shooter i'm my hand, stationed my
self at its foot. The door was noise.
lessly pushed open, and the would-be
murderer entered the room as silent
IL as a phantom, and approached the
bedside. His arm, with the deadly
knife grasped i'm his hand. was for a
held above the bed; and then
it descended with force that would
have sent it through the body of a
man. had one been lying there.
This was all / wanted. Surely
there was evidence enough to justify |
ne in what l did. l raised my arm
mi fired; with a groan the villain
I'll forward upon the couch where |
mad lain hardly a minute before.
With my finger still upon the trigger |
should another shot be needed. /
struck match and lighted the can
lie; then holding it before me, | APP
,roached the bed. Tue villain lay |
nDtionless. Ny bullet had found a
yay through his heart.