The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-07-02
lowiy he advanced until he stood be-

MY eyes were closed, but for all that
could Enthusiastically feel his sharp eyes
peering down ut me.
Slight sound as it made, heard him
take the knife from his teeth and run his
fingers along its edge
Then all was silence again; could not
even hear him breathe
Probably he was wondering whether
he had best kill me before robbing me.
Whatever the cause of his deliberation
it was maddening, unendurable-
Finally tore open the garment over
my heart and said:
why don't you kill me. if you wish
to. and have done with it2'
With half suppressed yell of amaze
ment the man dropped his knife and
sprang from my bedside straight out
through the window.
My desperation had terrified my Tar
tar friend into the belief that he had at
tempted the life of some demon
had hailed the first sight of the
weapon with a sort of fierce joy; it was
a probable avenue of escape from the
miseries of unrequited vengeance
But the grotesque performance which
had been the result of my impatient
words aroused my mirth
=
shaking with grim laughter.
| When this mood changed sank into
troubled sleep
1t was full of dreamed plans of retri-
button on many persons for multitudin-.
GUS ofenses. but they all ended like my
recent reality--in the death of an over
jaded horse at the supreme moment.
At length ! was awakened by a sound
within my room. The moon was now
so far to the westward that its beams
fell across the open trap above the ladder
! by which had climed to my loft. And
coming up, and half way through the
floor. / saw the body of another nocturnal
visitor.
| His face was in the shadow, but his
bulky figure satisfied me that it was my
host
In another minute he had completed
the ascent and was in my room, crouch
ing on the floor, his face in my direction
Without arising, he finally started to-
ward me, creeping on all fours-
AS he advanced saw dangling from
his loose robes a small, short handled ak
destined no doubt to make an immedi
ate plunge into my skull
This thought sent another fierce tide
of desperation surging through me- The
sting and chagrin of a thwarted life pur-
pose was likely to end that night after
all One resolution ] made swiftly.
This man should not be interrupted by
word of mine. The silence should not
be broken by me-my experience with
the other would be assassin having at
least taught me wisdom in that respect
Assassinl
The word startled me
Would l not also have been an assas-
sin. could my will have prevailed?
Most assuredly. now came to think
of it
True the man l had no long hunted,
determined to slay him, had imbued his
hands with the blood of my dear ones,
and had even done them worse harm
but who had appointed me administrator
OF vengeance, giving me power over life
and death and the right to answer crime
with crime?
With this first true confrontal of my
real position came an entire revulsion OF
feeling
am glad now-honestly, heartily glad
that my long cherished violent purpose
had ended fruitlessly The morrow. i
the morrow ever came, should witness
for me return to worthier things thar
man hunting, and with this feeling came
another which had not experienced be
fore in months-an intense desire fol
life
This brought me to q recollection O
my immediate surroundings, and cas-
another glance in the direction of IN,
second visitor
He was still cautiously approaching
me.
When directly before my bed he sur
prised me by seemingly passing under it
instead Of arising to finish me with hi
ak, as had expected.
a minute passed, and another. Still
there was no further sign nor sound o
him.
What did it mean? Was he waitins
; to enjoy hand to hand tussle with m,
when awoke? Or was he. Tartarlike
bent on getting double pleasure ont O
his foul purpose-irst by anticipation
then by reality?
The suspense was maddening
Soon | could bear it no longer
Pulling myself together for might,
effort. | sprang from my bed to tn
window and plunged through it to tn
3 ground below.
: A dense thicket was close at hand, an,
. into this instantly betook myself
Scarcely was l out of sight when tn
! face of my host appeared at the windoy
I I whence had escaped.
The evil working of his dark features
which the moonlight plainly revealed
I left little doubt in my mind as to wha
my fate would have been had tarrie,
in that dingy loft much longer.
!, Fortunately had flung myself upol
J my bed with my clothes on, and SO, wit
. the exception of my hat and my saddle