Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-10-06

slow cutting off OF the gas dash, and
quick one dot my friend was spelling to
me Geographically: "Good morning, my
dear friend, Roscoe"
l answered him by serious of raps on
the wall. He went on with his writing.
rose and dressed.
My day was busy one. Arnold's day
was busy one. My day was quite like
other days, except in one or two partlcu-
lars. had a large quantity OF books come
by express, and SO attended to them In
stead of going home to dinner. We lived
far out on the edge of the city, and could
net spare the time to 60.
Arnold's day was quito like other days.
too, as have learned since. He sent me
a note from dinner, saying that he would
come to the bookstore after banking hours
that is, after 3 O'Clock. and asking me If
I could possibly leave my work in the
hands of clerks and take drive with him
into the country. sent back word that
I would go. 1 was glad hs was coming for
me, for the bank was long distance
from the store and the day was terribly
hot.
Ats o'clock was ready, but Arnold
did not come At 4, he sent another
note
"a mistake of few cents somewhere is
giving Us lots of trouble. l shall let the
rest go in a little time, but must stay un-
til the books are all right. Go without
me-"
sent one of the clerks out for car
riage, and drove out into the country.
got away from the hot air of the city. l
saw the green grass and the pure water,
and the flowers and the blue sky. But I
was too busy thinking to enjoy them much.
was running over in my mind the points
which | intended to include in the next
two or three chapters of my book.
returned to the city at 'clock, and
saw one of those unfortunate things occur
which are altogether too frequent in large
cities. A large nan, with very peculiar
face. which I need not stop to describe,
stood on IA street corner. Another man
came up.-Wor1s passed between them.
The large man knocked the other man
down and ran away Just as the police ar
rived
A window flew up, and some one inside
Ia woman judged, although the curtains
hid all but the hands) stood with hands
tightly clasped for moment. Then, beat
ing them up and down in the air in fran
tic manner for few seconds, the person
disappeared with a shrlll cry of Help !!
Murder
1t wasn't murder, though. The man
was senseless for few minutes; but before
L drove on was we'll enough to walk away.
l went home. Arnold had not arrived
yet. [ ate my supper, went to my room.
and spent the early evening writing in my
book. l remember that I wrote on the re-
markable sensibility of the ear in some
dreams and on the Interpretation of series
of dreams. Arnold had not returned
when retired at about midnight It is,
Der looking out on the hot su]try night. I
remember saying to myself that it would
rain soon. I remember closing my win
dow to guard against the Gaming storm.
To help cool the room, I opened the
watercock. 1 remember looking at my
watch, which pointed 70 five minutes to
IL and | am certain of nothing more, save
the getting into bed. until I awoke again.
To 10 ~ 90 fhnunh T 1aid for q
time In luxury of perfect restfulness, and
then sank slowly asleep. But as my dream
was of something happening in the night.
I shall not attempt to say when it began.
l thought it was morning. opened my
eyes. 1 wondered why the birds were not
singing. Ny door slowly opened. A food
of light poured in. 1t lessened and bright
ened. and read from the flashes 'Help!
murder!''
Iawoke to find my door shut, no trace
of there having been any gas lighted; and
saw the storm was almost upon us. The
thunder could not be heard yet, but the
lightning was very vivid. With such
flashes lighting my room at short inter-
walls, found no difficulty in accounting
for my dream. My watch pointed to Just
twelve.
slept again, and had another dream.
There was knock at my door. I OPEN
ed it lin my dreamy and found note from
my friend. 1t seemed as though I left my
bed to 60 to the door, but at once I was at
The door, it was the door of my store. 1t
seemed to be bright as day in the store,
but dark outside. Some of the darkness
Of the night seemed to drift in around me
as I stood in the open door and read the
note which the messenger brought me-
The note was an exact copy of the one
which really received from my friend
chat day when he made the appointment
for the ride into the country. I said to
The messenger:
But he's being murdered! He wants
lelp? I'll 60 to the bank.''
sent for carriage and drove to the
oank. The shutters were closed in front.
out the light shone out Of window on
he side which opened on narrow pas
age between the bank and an empty build |
ng next to it. I knew this window open |
ID from the room in which my friend
would work if at the bank at night.
passed up the narrow passage when sud-
lenly hand was thrust from the window.
recognized the cuff button as belonging I
% my friend. Up and down, up and down,
low with long sweeping motion, now
quick and sharp. And again the silent
message was, Help! murder!"
I sprang down the passage to the front |
If the bank to call the driver, and when l
,oked up to speak to him saw the face
If the man who had struck down the one
1t the street corner that afternoon. And
when he saw me he Iashed his horse into a !
'un and went down the street with rush
'ver the pavement that made noise like
thunder.
Yes, noise like thunder. For awoke |
hen, and aWOke with tho noise of real |