The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-08-21

mad hidden Us goodnight, my COM
panion's nasal organ proclaimed that
he Numbered. I had inadvertently
taken a cup of strong coffee for supper,
and now remembered, although too
late for practical benefit, that it invari-
ably excited my brain and nerves
to an unpleasant degree where
sleep was coveted. So I lay
restlessly awake for several hours,
striving to wear off the effects of this
light stimulant sufficiently to close my
eyes in restfu1 slumber. At last there
came a semi-obliviousness.
Whether it might be correctly called
a sleep I cannot say, even at this late
day. l seemed to be quite conscious
at first of my whereabouts. and Of the
various circumstances that had given
me my present quarters and roommate.
who still slept at my side, yet gradually
out of the darkness of the room a
strange scene was evolved.
1 saw a mountainous stretch OF
country; great boulders hurled about
by superhuman strength, strewed the
foreground. In the middle distance
arose a wall of rugged, time-worn
rocks, while far above this jagged line
a long range of -snow-capped peaks
lowered heavenward. Descending 8
rocky defle, and in the shadow of the
high-towering wall, were to be seen
two travellers, mounted on low but
muscular and sure-footed donkeys,
much used in such localities. Beyond
these four living objects, no other signs
of life were visible. 1t was q spot Of
great loneliness and solitude.
The travellers were habited in the
rude, coarse costumes suited to a life
amid these wild scenes, while the great,
wide-brimmed hats they wore con-
cealed their features from my scrutiny.
When they had advanced still nearer,
one of the riders paused, and pointed
forward.
I followed with my eye the direction
he indicated, and saw where a small
stream spouted from the ~crevice of an
adjacent cliff, forming a little pool OF
sparkling beauty at its base, then
wound in and out, like a sheeny ribbon,
among the loose stones, until finally
lost to view. The two travellers rode
to where the spring gushed forth, and
both dismounted.
While one busted himself about the
saddle of his trusty animal, the other
came to the spring and laid aside his
sheltering hat 1t was then I saw his
features for the first time. His face was
a pleasant one, nothandsome, but agree.
able to the eye, for a genial, kind nature
was discoverable in its lineaments.
His complexion seemed much en-
Drowned by out-of-door life and ex.
posure to wind and sun A large mole
just to the right of his nose, a little
above the heavy mustache, gave a pc.
culiar emphasis to his features, and
impressed still more distinctly on my
mind his countenance, which was thai
of an entire stranger. Carelessly run.
ming his hand through his matted black
hair, and tossing it back from his
heated brow, he knelt and began to
drink from the crystal pool at his feet.
BY this time his companion had reached
his side, and as the one stopped to
quench his thirst the other gave a swift,
searching glance around, then quickly
drew from its leather casing a CLEAN.
ing pistol and placed it at the Bonded
head of the unsuspecting victim.
As the murderous intent of the vii.
lain flashed across my brain, I instantly
sought to cry out in warning tones tc
his helpless and innocent companion
but a strange numbness seemed tc
overpower me, and seal my lips. ]
could make no sound.
/ strove to close my eyes, and shui
out the fearful sight, SO soon to be en-.
acted, yet the same strange power
seeming to hold my will in allegiance,
kept them Enclosed. There was a flash
a curl of smoke, and with a shudder o.
horror I saw the helpless prey fall for
ward into the clear pool. which grew
crimson with the life-blood dyeing it;
purity.
After another searching glance, the
author of this foul deed of blackness
gathered up the still warm body of his
victim, and carrying it to a crevice, OF
natural niche in the cliff not far away,
thrustitin and rolled some heavy stones
to close the aperture and hide hi
murderous work from human ken; then
going to the mule his companion haG
but lately ridden, he removed two
weighty bags of leather that were par
TALLY concealed under the saddle ant
placed them under the skirts of his own
Avarice had prompted the atrocious
act
Again approaching the spring, hi
carefully washed his hands under tn,
slender, falling stream, and then re
moved his wide-brimmed hat, as the
other had done, and bent to drink. A
he regained his upright position his fac,
was turned full toward me. I gazed
spellbound with astonished awe. /
Gas the face of the man who now slept q
my side!
I bent my closest scrutiny upon him
thinking it might be a trick of the i'm
agination; buta careful inspection con
WINGED me of the identity. The fac,
was a little younger and more sun
Drowned than that of the man besid,
me; but it was the self-same face. Th'
difference was only that which a few
years time and a little less exposure t.
the weather would necessarily occasion
At this juncture a fearful clap of thun
der seemed to shake the mountains, fol
lowed by the stentorian tones of SOM
huge giant, calling with a loud voice
In an instant the scene vanished-th
waters, the frowning cliffs, the patien
donkeys, the bubbling spring, even tn
guilty man, with his bloody secret Sc
curely locked in his cruel bosom-al
crumbled into utter nothingness. Di'
1 say all-no, not all-the face still re
manned. When I opened my eyes j
was bending over me, haggard and pal
in the dim morning light; but less sin
lister than when 1 SO intently REGARDED
it a few moments previous.
For q brief space l was startled an,
bewildered, then with a swift glanc
around I recognized the simple furni
ture of the room, and at once compre
hended that was still under the roo
which had afforded me shelter from tn,
storms of the previous evening.
"'Our host has remembered my re
quest to call me early" said my com
p%anion; 81 thought he intended to bea
down the door. Didn't it startle youp'
cit certainly did," l answered; '.bu
1 really forgive him, as it put en- end t
a most unpleasant dream that wa