Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1888-06-14

"What! do you really believe in that nom
sense about her gifts as fortune teller!"
"Don't your'
I could not answer. recalled the strange
speech which seemed to indicate that the girl
had penetrated my designs on John, and was
abashed. The ride was continued in silence,
and in twenty minutes we had reached our
destination. The boy volunteered to take
care of the horse, and in another moment
John and I were in our own apartments.
John Immediately proceeded to undress.
In five minutes he was ready for bed. With
out delay prepared for the further execu-
ton of nv plot
"John," said /, "there's pint of cham
payne left in my closet It strikes me that it
would be Just the thing with which to top of
this nights adventure. What do you sayv'
"A most excellent idea, )" was Johns reply.
How smoothly everything was working!
I opened the closet, drew forth the bottle and
wrenched off the wire with witch the cork
was bound. I then glanced furtively at
John. He was winding his watch, with his
back turned toward me.
quickly filled the glass which contained
the drug and extended it to John. He
quaffed the contents with great relish,
meanwhile watching him over the rim Of
my own glass. He snacked his lips critically
after his glass had been drained.
''It seems to me that there is singular
flavor to that champagne"
I felt a guilty thrill and affected not to
hear him.
"How sleepy am" was his next remark.
"It must be the effect of riding in the cold"
Then he tumbled into bed, and the next
minute had sunk into deep sleep. The
drug had taken effect with surprising, not to
say startling, promptness, and I listened to
his heavy breathing with satisfaction.
now began to give serious thought to the
situation, and to deliberate on the necessity
of removing every trace by which the reality
of our nights adventure could be proven.
knew that John could by no possibility find
the place we had visited, for the route was
long and circuitous one and had been trav-
eied in darkness Ahl There was the SO
gold piece which the woman had paid him.
Without hesitation / removed it from his
pocket and placed it in my own. Was the
trail covereda l thought SO. In the morning
would declare that we had not stirred from
the house duning the night, and after per-
suading John that the whole thing was but
dream-making him commit himself fully to
that view of the case-tel him the truth and
thus confront him with a demonstration Of
my theory!
smiled with satisfaction. But hold!
There was the boyl Suppose he should turn
up. I must find him and purchase his silence
was SO intent now on the success Of the plot
that would have expended a hundred dol
lars rather than see .t fail. decided to go
to the livery stable in search Of the urchin
who had driven US to the abode of the sick
child
First, approached the bedside to make
sure that Johns slumber was so sound that
he would be sure to take no notice Of my de-
parture and return. He lay perfectly quiet,
but there was something singular in his ap-
pearance.
Igazed at him more closely, and was hor-
rified at change that had come over him.
He no longer breathed deeply, but in quick,
convulsive and exhausted manner. His lower
jaw hung down, his eyes were half open, and
he looked like one vainly struggling for a
hold upon life.
was paralyzed with disnay, and stared at
him in an agony of fascination. More faint,
rapid and spasmodic grew his breathing;
more distressing the heavings Of his chest;
more CHASTITY the pallor of his countenance.
Spellbound, as if in nightmare, I still
gazed upon him. The ebbing of vitality pro-
ceeded with frightful rapidity; there was at
length a mere flutter of breath; and then
came that awful repose, that unspeakable
silence, that dreadful calmness of the un-
tenanted clay!
Then the full horror Of the situation burst
upon me. The drug had done its work too
we'll: John Gorham was dead! l was his
murderer!
'John!" shrieked.
Aud then, with rapidly scattering senses,
staggered and fell heavily to the floor.
'Hal Hal Hal"
What mocking laugh was that ringing
through the aira Consciousness was return
ing, and with it the sound Of harsh, discord-
ant merriment.
Again came peal Of laghter. Was it my
own voice, and was I a lunatic9
Iopened my eyes and looked about. Twas
bedside John seemed to be sitting in chair
q state of bewilderment.
Again the laugh. 1t was his voice. Then
he spoke:
''Do you want me to come and help you
upr'
"Where am I, and what has happenedr
asked.
"You appear to be sprawled on the floor,
and it is quite evident that you fell asleep
and rolled off the couch" he answered.
At these words hastily rose and pulled
my wits together. The truth was soon ap-
parent. Following our discussion Of dreams, I
had read "Zanoni" until sleep had stolen upon
me, and both the conception and carrying
out Of the plot to convince John were but
the visions of dream. I was somewhat
mortified, but at the same time immensely
relieved, for John was alive and well, and
still held in his hand the medical report
which he had been perusing when our dis
cussion began.
We soon retired for the night, but neither
at that time nor on any subsequent occasion
did relate my dream to John, for in it is
the keynote of an experiment mean to try
some day for his benefit. It is the only way
in which he can ever be convinced that the
phenomena Of dreams involve possibilities
beyond those dry, matter Of fact realities
that now form the boundaries of his expert
ence and mental vision.-O. S. Adams in
The Epoch
The Crow in India.
Crows are as gentle as are sparrows
with US. Indeed, much more so. / saw
one in Calcutta taking its meal from a
quarter of beef which butcher had on
his head, and several times I have seen
them steal food from mans dish when
be was eating before his door. They
come within five or six feet of natives at
every railway station, but eye very sus-
piciously foreigner, and can hardly be
tempted with crumbs nearer than ten feet
or GO Thara are vast numbers of them