The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1892-06-03

~ $50 k$sSI
He4had eyidently moved away, bnt
] had heard no sound to indicate his:
whereabouts. The darkness was SO
intense that I could not see even the,
yaguest outline ofanything.
..He is satisfied that / am asleep, J,
/ thought and will return to his
search for the money. So long as /
am quiet / will not be disturbed. The
game We are playing has conditions,
then, and my safety depends upon
myself.
This thought was r-eassuring. Be-
sides, familiarity with danger lessons
its effect. l grew calmer, and began
to think less about losing my life and
more about my money. l decided to
risk moving a little hoping to gain by
Glow degrees q position where I could
secure my revolver. It would be OF
little use in such darkness, but the
burglar might at last risk making a
light, and in that event l resolved to
act at once.
was about to move when I heard
coins blinking. That was the change
In my waistcoat. l remained quiet
Having made that noise, he will
be very watchful for awhile" l
thought
waited a few moments. NV ON
ddence increased. A gain of several
inches, and the revolver would be in
my hand. | stretched my right arm
to the utmost but without reaching
IT. This caused a slight rustling of
the ~bedclothes. / waited. l was pre-
pared this time and when the odor
was again perccptible it gave me but
little concern; itwould soon disappear.
as before. l heard the clock strike
three. This might last two hours
more l thought but a moment afterI
felt hand on my right arm. It was
a light touch; no doubt there was a
suspicion that | was awake, but not a
certainty. 1t moved slowly along nv
arm toward my hand.
He suspects, | thought not only
that l am awake. but that l am reach
ing for something; he will find the re.
volver. and then whatp l suddenly re-
membered the dictionary, and the word
murder" came before my mental
vision as distinctly as in print. These
thoughts passed like flashes of light
ming. Now or never" | thought
and Immediately reached out vigor-
ously Tor the revolver grasped its
handle. and at the same time sat up.
The light touch on my arm Instantly
changed to a vice-like grip. l then
heard a sound like the twisting of a
cork and recognized the odor of chic
reform. Abortion of dampened sheet
was thrust into my face. I did not
then know that chloroform requires
from two to five minutes to produce
Inconsistencies. but believed that its
effect was almost instantaneous.
With a frantic effort 1 tore the
sheet from my face, and then, with
out further struggle. the other hand
that had held me relaxed its grasp
and a moment afterward | heard the
sound of a heavy body falling upon
the floor. Perfect stiffness followed.
What could it mean? had neither
struck nor pushed my antagonist. l
no longer thought of fear: and rose
without hesitation and struck a
match, which showed me a large man
lying on the floor. He did not move.
l lighted a lamp and examined him
more closely; he was dead. The doc
tors said that his heart had been dis
eased and that the excitement had
doubtless brought on heart failure.
There were indications that the desk
had been examined. He had secured
the small change in my waistcoat
pocket but nothing more. One of
the clerks in the bank though, that
he identified in the dead robber a man
whom he had seen near me when I
drew the money.
But | would not care 10 90 through
a similar experience.-Natlonal Trio
ma