McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1885-02-19

Yet, Notwithstanding the fact that you
have had money to bet at poker, you
have failed to keep your promise.
Yes, it is very good idea to punish
men for lying, and now since you have
reminded me of your untruthfulness,
I think it would be well to act upon
your conception of justice. Your
honor, make me out warrant OF ar
rest, please
For a time the marshal knew not
what to say. His face grew red. ''You
all know me-" he replied. II am not
a stranger. / didn't come here and
try to beat any of you. I'll pay the
ten dollars; don't fret about that. !
don't think it is right to hop on a man
that's trying to protect the commune
ty against fraud. I've got nothing
against this fellow and am willing to
see him turned loose"
II am glad to hear you say so," re-
Joined Mr.. Metford. ''You needn't
make out the warrant, judge. Well,
Mr.. Hockersmith," turning to me, '.as
there is nothing against you here. you
will please accompany me home"
| When we again went to the house,
Mrs. Metford's lip trembled. They
would not hear to my leaving them, SO
I remained all night. The next morn
ing 1 awoke with burning fever.
Then went into state of delirium
and for several weeks knew nothing.
When I regained consciousness, my
mind was so confused that could not
think. knew that talked incoher-
emily, therefore said but little.
One day while l was sitting in my
room, man was shown up by one of
the servants. MIR. and Mrs. Metford
were away from home, having gone
over to neighbours house.
"Don't you know me?" said the
man.
81 don't think that l ever saw you
before I replied.
He looked at me and smiled sadly.
"What do you mean, 1 asked"
81 mean nothing offensive. You
know Abe Catham?"
'.Never heard of him."
81 am sorry, for had hoped that
you would recognize me"
Chow can l recognize you, sir, when
| this is the first time we have ever
metz"
He shook his head and muttered
something which sounded to me like
.'poor fellow" Then he startled me
by saying:
81 have been your keeper for years.
eyes am connected with the Mis-
souri, Insane asylum"
81 don't dispute your position as
keeper, but [ can assure you that l
have never seen the Institution. 1 am
St. Louis land man."
''Let me tell you something which
has just come to light. You were
wounded at the battle of Antietam.
"Shiloh."
cat Antietam. You and young
Virginian, who to some extent resem-
bled you-a man named Hockersmith
fell close to each other. In the report
of the killed and wounded, you were
put down on the dead list and this
man Hockersmith was reported to be
wounded. You had been struck by a
piece of shell and was, upon recovery
of the wound, found to be hopelessly
insane. You went to Richmond, but
your supposed relatives spurned you,
so have heard and, after wander
ing around, you went to Missouri and
was placed in an insane asylum where
you remained until a few weeks ago
when you escaped. Your name I have
learned is Norval Metford and have
come to tell your parents, after Salts
flying myself that it is you"
The room began to turn around. The
mans voice sounded away off at a
great distance. He seemed to be
shouting, but l could not catch his
words. Then some one, dressed in
red tight breeches, came in and
danced on tho back OF chair. A
blacksmith led in a horse and began
to shoe him. His bellows roared and
his anvil rang so loud that [ had to
put my fingers in my ears. His fire
began to gradually darken and, with
sudden puff it went out, leaving me
in blackness of atmosphere. 1
CROPPED around, but could find no
opening in the wall. l cried aloud
for lamp and 1 cursed the black
smith for allowing his fire to go out
with such cruel puff. Crawling
around on my hands and knees l
1Ouuu q mdtCu L hlSScu IL. L pIeSSGu
it to my heart. "Thank God ~ cried.
THANK God that once more there
shall De light in the world" Tears
streamed from my eyes. tried to
light the match. The tears had damp
ened it, and with the feeblest little
glow, it died away, leaving me in de-
spair heard a voice, low and sweet.
"Who are your" asked.
A tear fell on my forehead, and
clasping my hands, l turned my face
upward. ''Whose tears are those fall
ing upon me!' 1 cried. The voice,
soft and sweet, sang, but the tears con-
tinued to fall. ooh, can you not give
me a lamp" 1 cried in agony.
Something touched me. 1t was a
lamp. cold and dark, but I Rugged it
close to me and took care lest my
tears should fall upon it. I placedsit
on the floor and with my hands clasped
around it, lay down and prayed. A
feeble. little CLEAN fickered between
my fingers. The lamp grew warm. 1
removed my hands. The little blaze
iickered, and then-yes, oh, glories
of heaven, then-there came a grand
burst of light. a flood of magnificent
illumination. / lay on bed. The
sun shone into the room. A face
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