Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-11-25

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ing upon the green fields and The sway
ing trees of the country that, when
night came, it found us completely
tired out with our trudging up and
down the dusty streets and with Toms
clothes still unpurchnsed.
s'Well, | can buy them just as wellin
the morning before we start for home,"
Tom said, as we seated ourselves on
the hotel verandu. We had just fin
ished supper, and it need not be said
had done ample justice to the bountitul
meal set before us. MY! how my
feet and legs ache,p Tom continued, as
he stretched those useful members out
before him. I'm more nearly tuck.
cred than if I'd followed the plow all
day How is it with you, Bill?9
Got little walk left in me-" ] re.
piled, "but not much more than enough
to take me to my room" =
Neither of us felt much like tramp
ing around town any that night, and so
we lounged about the hotel office until
near nine o'clock. when we went to our
room more tired and sleepy than we
had ever been after hard days work
on the farm. Nevertheless, boy like,
we both imagined that we had "big
time" and fun enough to more than pay
for all the aches and pains in our legs
and feet.
The room which we were TO occupy
was long and narrow with bed at one
end and small washstand at the other.
We set the lamp down on the stand
and at once proceeded to disrobe, Be.
fore getting into bed Tom placed the
pocltetbook, containing the twenty
dollars, under his pillow and by its
side he very gently lay the old re.
volver, remarking as he did so: "My
grandma used to say cold steel would
keep bad dreams away
"And burglars, too" added, laugh.
ing.
The twenty dollars and the revolver
under Toms Uranium seemed to unduly
excite his brains, for no sooner had our
heads pressed the pillows than he be.
gan to tell of daring robberies and
bloody murders, as usual supplement.
ing each tale by relating what he would
have done under the same circum-
stances, until in short time we were
both SO excited that sleep seemed quite
impossible. think it must have been
near midnight before we at last closed
our mouths and eyes to go to sleep
had just begun to doze off when felt
Toms hand clutch suddenly my arm un-
der the bed quilts and heard him whis-
per, excitedly: Bill, Bill, what's that
noise?" At the same tune a sound like
that made by man snoring reached
my ears. So clear and distinct it
sounded that it seemed as if it must
come from the room in which we were.
81 don't know, Tom," replied, "un-
less it is some one snoring And-and,
! Tom, it sounds to me as if it came from
right under our bed"
Maybe" and Toms voice grew
husky, while his form shook so | could
feel the bed tremble, 'maybe it is a
man who knows l have got twenty
dollars and who has hidden under our
bed to steal it and forgotten where he
is and gone to sleep. Oh, Bill
Bill! What shall we do? He'll murder
us! | know he wiIlv'
Somehow none of Toms wonderful
plans came to his rescue at this critical
moment, when they were so much
needed. He was all of n trembe, ano
knew that his right hand had hold OF
the revolver under the pillow.
Suddenly there was shutfling sound
and we felt something moving under
the bed
This was too much for Tom with G
shrek he bounded out of bed like an
India rubber ball and started for the
door. yelling at the top of his voice
"Thievesl murder! police police'
When just outside of the door he hap
pened to recover part of his courage
for he stopped, turned about, and
standing in the doorway, began wildly