The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-08-29

ing intently, 1 heard him sigh YEARLY
to himself, as if he were tired out.
Then he got into my bed, drew the
clothes over him, and in q few minutes
L heard him snoring. You can imagine
how pleasant I felt, and the scamp had
my money bag under his pillow too!
What was to be done? I thought of my
happy home and the dear little wife
now perhaps dreaming of me, and the
thought of her gave me courage. Ide-
termined to snatch at my money and
light for it with the unseen visitor to
the death, if need be. 1 was crawling
from under the bed when I heard an
other sound nearing the door this time.
In a minute the latch was quietly lifted,
the door was gently pushed open, and I
saw the landlord glide into the
room. Then q hand holding
a candle stole in at the door-only a
hand; but l knew those ~quivering fin
gers we'll enough. The man crept on
tiptoe to the bed and, leaning softly
over the sleeper, stabbed him to the
heart. There was one deep groan and
all was over. The murderer drew the
money from under the pillow and
crept stealthily to the door, glancing
behind him as though he feared the
dead man would get up and follow
him.
Shaking all over and with hair on
n [ crawled from my hiding place.
CROPPED about for my clothes. and, af-
ter standing a moment, dazed with
horror, followed the guilty couple.
Their room was almost opposite mine,
and 1 could see the light under their
door, which was barely closed. /
pushed it open and peeped in. The
table faced the door, and there they
stood with their backs to me, 80 intent
upon the money that / crept close to
them without being heard.
"'Look, look I heard the man whis-
per-'there is more than enough to save
our boy! How they shine! And all
ours, wife-ours!
"'No, mine, murderer! I shouted
with a voice of thunder, and snatching
the bag from his ~nerveless grasp, I
dashed the light from the woman's hand
and fled back swiftly to the room where
the dead man lay.
Opening the window, / CROPPED
about with one hand for an ivy
bough, clinging somehow to the sill
with the other, and at last managed to
scramble down, reaching the ground
bruised, shaken breathless. AS I rest
ed a moment to get breath, I heard
from the room above an awful cry sung
out in a woman's voice
MY boy, my boy, my only sonP
II clambered over the gate which led
into the street. A Matchbox stood close
by in the square, and 1 hurr1edly told
my story to the Waterman. He stared
in horror, as well he might, and wanted
to fetch his mate; but 1 told him we
We're more than a match for those we
should find at the inn, 50 he came with
me. A frightened servant opened the
door to lis, and l led the way to the
room l had just quilted. The watch.
man bent down and peered into the
dead mans face.
"'Ah,' he whispered, its as I feared!
It's their wv son-they didn't know he
was home, and so they mistook him fol
you, SIR
II felt myself turn queer and giddy,
for l knew the meaning of that pitiful
cry, MY only sonE
"And what of the murderers? They
had not SO much as tried to escape, and
the door wasn't even barred against us
The m lay moaning on the floor
the man sat huddled up in a chair by
the bed. When we entered he held Out
his hands to be manacled without utter
ing a word. When / told him how i
happened that his son had fallen a vic
tim instead of me he just stared in my
face, and made no sign that he heart
the CHASTITY tale.
Well sir, that's about all. The moth
err, poor soul, died raving mad, and thu
man wa hanged at Tyburn; but no
another word did he speak from frs
to last save once-and that was whel
the Judge passed sentence on him
Then he raised his head, and, with
look in his eyes which / can never for
get, he said:
Gan old, old man, my lord-my onl.
SOM"
"That's all sir. The strangest stor,,
you ever heard? Well, Idare say it is
but it's all true, every word of it; TO
I've got the papers to prove it, and, i
you'll be pleased to come in and see 'em
you'll be welcome as the flowers i
May, that you will! Not now? We'll
then, Til bid you good day, and thanl
you kinkly for letting me talk to yor
for it does me good to chat a bit some
times, that it do! Good day, sir, an
o pleasant walk to you'll"