The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-04-17

off" Here he put his hand to his head occasionally.
 But the gentleman didn't come to smoke retorted the manikin He come to see his dead friend who took too much smoke-and died.
 My blood all rushed inward My hands and feet were deadly cold and my head was hot as fire. What could this mean? Had I a friend who was addicted to the opium habit? Yes.
 " You masterpiece of human ugli- ness I gasped-whispered, for my power of speech was almost gone; hayo you brought me here to show me the dead body of my friend? Speak, or I'll throttle you" "
 He looked imploringly at the China man, who had stepped between us.
 "Stopee!' mildly spoke the old Celes- tial. Dlont hurt little man. Comee, I'll showeel'
 He threw open the door with back ward push of his hand.
 We entered On the floor of large room, bare of furniture, which was dim ly lighted by one lamp hung from the ceiling, lay at least one hundred men. all asleep walked up to the nearest sleeper and looked at him. Not my friend raised hand from face It was sad, hut powerful; but not his. An other lay on his side with his face to the wall. in awful dread within me l turned him oyer His face was grimed with dirt, his lips quiyercd tears dug fuIrows down his checks. Yet he was asleep. But l passed on; it was not he Tn corner sat one, his head between his knees gently laid him down, and scanned his features. No marble was eyer winter; still he was not dead, for could feel the heaying of his breast against my hand. In the center of the room, one man lay across another. l lifted him. when he opened his eyes as if in a walking dream, but closed them again as l laid him down. The one upon whom his weight had been resting was lying face downward. l turned him oyer The lamp sputtered, almost went out, then burnt more brightly Now saw the face, and my heart broke as l recognized my friend. But hope He may be sleeping like the rest. Vain hope His puls,, was still his hands, his face, were cold as stone Hi. features were not distorted; they were as resu- laf a> in life and no sleep of his ever looked more natural But he was dead. Gcd, thought l, in an agony of despair, what an awful fate it is to be alone in the world!
 Here the Chnaman, with that frozen smile upon his features, seemed to am ticipate the workings oc my mind. He held out to me pipe stepped for ward to grasp it. The room turned round and round ThcScnscless bodies flew about like sticks in a whirlwind, the light gave way to darkness. heard loud crash then fell to the floor, and knew no more.
 When l came to my senses again it was two o'clock the next evening" was in my bed at my clearinghouse At my side stood my friend, alive as life. He inquired the state of my tee!- ings
 We'll, but weak, replied But are you not dcad?'
 There you go again. Don't you see m not dead?'
 Yes, but something is wrong-I've been dreaming
 Exactly correct, in both cases said he When you were going home this morning, a scoundrel of thief slugged you. Al four clock d policeman found you. We had hard work bringing you to your speaking senses, and when you did get your tongue you seemed to be crazy about a manikin and a Chinaman. and me \ fine trio, certainly But you are all right now. Have cigar?'
 We smoked.