Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-03-28

But the grotesque performance which
nhd been the result Of my impatient ,vords
aroused my mirth "'a'
For long time lay there. fairly shall.
ing with grim laughter.
When this mood changed sapt ,nto !.
troubled sleep. '"'o
IL was fall Of dreamed plans az ret,,,,
lion on many persons for multitndinons
oHenses, but they all ended like INV recant
reality-in the death Of an oyeriaded borsa
~ the supreme moment.
Az length | was awakened nv n so,ua
Within my room. The moon was no,s ~
Iar TO the westward that Its beams fsII
across the open trap above the ladder ~.
which had climed to my loft. And con-.
Ing up, and half way through the aonr :
saw the body of another nocturnal v;s;.a ,
LIS ms tace was In the shadow, but his
host. '"' ~ was my
IN another minute he had completed the
A. a', anu was IN my room, crouching on
'ne noor' his face In my direction.
without arising, he finally started toward
me, creeping on all fours.
AS ne advanced l saw dangling from his
loose robes small, short handled ax-des.
'iheu no doubt to make an immediate
plunge into my skull.
ms thought sent another fierce tide Of
desperation surging through me, The
SUNG and chagrin of thwarted life mr..
pose was likely to end that night after ali.
one resolution | made swiftly. This man
should net be interrupted by word Of
mine. The silence should not be broken
oy me-my experience with the other
would-be assassin having at least taught
me wisdom in that respect.
| Assassin!
The word startled me
would not also have been an ASSASSIN
could my will have prevailed
Most assuredly, now came to think al
| it. VI
True, the man had so long hunted. de.
termined 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 yenoe
ance, giving me power over life and death
and the right to answer crime with crime,
| With this first true confrontal of nv
real position came an entire reyulsion 81
feeling.
! was glad, now-honestly, heartily plad
that my long cherished violent purpost
had ended fruitlessly. The morrow-if tbe
morrow ever came-should witness for m,
a return to worthier things than man hunt
ing. And with this feeling came another
which | had not experienced before in
months-an intense desire for life
ms brought me to recollection Of m,
Immediate surroundings, and cast an
other glance in the direction of my secont
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 his 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 waiting t.
enjoy hand to hand tussle with me whel
l awoke? Or was he, Tartarlike, bent OF
getting double pleasure out of his foul pur
pose-frst by anticipation, then by reality
The suspense was maddening.
Soon l could bear it no longer
Pulling myself together for mighty Ell
fort, sprang from my bed to the window
and plunged through it to the ground be
low.
into this instantly betook myself.
Scarcely was out of sight when the fac
of my host appeared at the window whenc
had escaped.
The evil working Of his dark feature.
which the moonlight plainly revealed, lei
little doubt in my mind as to what my fat
would have been had | tarried in tina
dingy loft much longer.
Fortunately, had flung myself upon m
bed with my clothes on, and so, with tn
exception of my hat and my saddle bags
was none the poorer tor my sudden high
Whether my disappointed host attempte
to follow me have never learned. Any
way, he failed to overtake me, and long b.
fore noon was safe at Utch-glad rathe
than otherwise, of the trying circumstance
which had taken murder out of my heart
Lew Vanderpoole in Buffalo Express.