The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-11

w OF space between him and the out
side without touching him at all.
screwed my courage up, and began
to undrcss. Before finishing, however,
determined to make an experiment to
see whether he slept soundly or not
L had left the bedroom door open, so
could make run for it if necessary. l
fixed my eye on the bed as 1 let my
boot fall.
The man, whose clothes, by the way,
lay on Il chain ut the foot of the bed,
from the quality of which 1 imagined
he was Il miner. never made the Slight.
est motion. He was evidently n sound
sleeper. This decided me, and hastily
finishing undressing, 1 crept into bed.
OF course l was careful not to touch
my companion. l do not know how
long lay awake, but the novelty of the
situation drove sleep from my eyes for
some time. Gradually, however, Nor
pheus gained the ascendancy, and
being rcnssured that my bedfcllow
slept profoundly, l soon followed his
example.
have no idea how long slept be.
fore commenced to dream. sud.
denly thought that my companion
woke up and sat upright in bed; that
he glared around, and suddenly his
eyes fell on me. He then uttered a
terrible cry and threw himself upon me
In spite of my natural cowardice, saw
that if did not struggle l should be
killed. thought seized him by the
throat, and tightening my grasp, 1 saw
him getting black in the face His
fn l..
smothered groan escaped him; but still
pressed his throat, tighter and
tighter-his face grew blackcr and
blaclier.
In an agony of fear 1 awol1e, and
what was my horror and dismny to
find that my hand was really pressing
my companions throat! He did not
move nor stir, and his body felt as
cold as ice. Great Godw I exclaimed
aloud, "can he be dcad!"
l jumped out of bed. The candle
which l had left burning was not quite
extin guished. Selling it in my hand
l rushed toward the bed, and let it's
rays fall full upon the mans face. NV
worst fears were realized He was
dead, black in the facet had stranglcd
him in my slccpl
1 shall not attempt to describe my
sensations ut this horrible spectacle.
My body was bathed in cold per-
spiration, my hands tremblcd and for
a few moments believe was bereft
OF my senses. recovered by degrees
but it was only to realize in more
acute degree my situation.
There lay my victim, and 1 was a
murderer! My trial, conviction, and
the hideous gallows all passed before
mel Who would believe me? ! sat
down, buried my face in my hands and
sobbed like child. My wife, my own
comfortable home, should ever see
them again?
What was to be donep Should I
arouse the house and make a clean
breast of it? But what could say?
Tell them I had killed q man in my
sleep? Not soul would believe the
story. Could 1 effect my escape? I'm
possible; knowing the town was in and
the nature of its inhabitants, 1 could
not even hope for n trial. Good God,
could sec it all; the wild mob, the
hastily erected gallows, or perchancc,
rope hung over the branch of n tree,
Hanged by the neck! Yes, that would
be my fate. AS this terrible thought
crossed my mind, l cast my eyes around
the chamber, they fell upon beam
with hooks in it;from thence they wan
dercd to the mans clothes on the top
OF which lay-cvidently his-a large
bandanna handkerchief
sudden inspiration seized me: n
means of safety suggested itself to my
mind. Suppose could make it appear
that the man had committed suicide.
Yes, that was my only chance, and l
determined to execute it. I took the
dead mans handkerchief, and advanced
to the corpse, with an awful rcpug-
nance, however. My hands trembled
SO could scarcely adjust the moose,
but finally succeeded, putting one end
around the mans neck. l stood on a
chair and fastened the other end of the
handkerchief to hook in the beam;
letting go of the body it swung to and
fro, into space.
I jumped into bed and. closing my
eyes, shut out the horrible sight; by
this time twas broad daylight. AS lay,
qualSing with fear, heard the steps of
two men on the stairs. They seemed
to be carrying something heavy be-
tween them. The long anticipated
moment had arrived. In few seconds
they would discover the body. Would
the rusc succeed with them? If SO l
might hope to deceive others.
The door opened and two men en-
tered the room, placing something
heavy on the floor. never stirred.
"Well, I'm blessed if this ere man
amt gone and hanged himself again."
said voice which recognized as the
landlords.
uJ(v rOIly tbof,s tr,,op, o.:1 Az,