St. Paul daily globe., 1893-02-06

the grove, when the black spot. upon
which my eyes were fixed, moved
swiftly toward him, and yelled, Look
out, Frankv
: 1.-THE warning came wellnigh too late.
as the words had barely passed my lips
when masked man, CORES sponding in
all respects with the one seen in my
dream, darted from the shade, and.
without word, struck at my friends
head with a murderous-looking blud-
geon, which, if the blow had aiighted as
intended, would have crushed his skull
like an egsShell.
'Frank, however, had partially turned
at my cry and inStinctlvely raised his
own heavy cane, which, meeting the
descending weapon, so far DETECTED its
aim that the stroke fell upon his left
shoulder. but still with such force that
he was dashed, for the moment, sense
less to the ground.
''In the twinkling of an eye the as
Sailant Was upon him, and, going
through his pockets with wonderful
speed. intending, doubtless, either to
etaWay before 1 could come up. or, if
need be, Overpower me also, or, per-
haps, if driven to it, to use his revolver.
$50 far my vision had been realized
with remarkable fidelity. but now, hap
PLY, there was break. | was not
struck dumb and motlOnleSs as in the
dream, but, on the contrary, stimulated
TO exceptional activity; and while the
absorbed villain was in the act of CROP
ing for Franks watch, [ reached his
side, and with one blow of my black
thorn sent him stunned to the ground.
Turning him on his face, was bus
lily engaged tying his hands behind
him when Frank recovered from his
temporary daze. We then somewhat
improved upon the dream programme
by taking off our cravats and securely
binding the scoundrePS ankles to-
gether.
ION examining Stayner's hurts 1
found that his lett collar bone was
broken. and the arm on that side quite
helpless, but otherwise he was all right.
His aSSallaDt had net Jared so well; he
remained apparently lifeless.
"Stayner made ligh! of his wounds,
but he was unwoutedly serious. Old
man. said he, this is most astounding
realization of an apparently wild and
causeless dream. How to account for it
L do not know. But suppose we now
carry it out as closely as possible by
taking this vagabond to the police sta
ton. Probably the parallel will fail us
there. If it holds good L shall be dumb
founded, indeed, and ready to believe
in anything.'
you know" continued Phil, ''that
am somewhat Of an athlete, so after we
had deprived the thief of his last steal
ingS, and moreover of loaded bulldog
revolver. shouldered his not very light
weight and set off to the village. while
Stayner followed with the captured
bludgeOn and pistol.
I'VE had nearly half mile to walk
through the solemn stiffness of the
night, and thus several times | laid
down my load in order to rest myself
On the last of these occasions the ruffian
revived just as L was reshouldering him.
Finding himself disarmed, impotent
prisoner, he poured forth upon us such
a Yolley of curses that | dropped him
again to the ground, and by the help of
his own suspenders and wallet gagged
him effectually.
"Then l hoisted him again as one
might do a sack of wheat, and we went
on rather relieved to find that we had
not become involuntary eXecutiOners.
AS we plodded along we indulged in
many speculations TO the identity of the
wretched creature. But neither of us
seriously believed that the police were
likely to enlighten us upon this point.
'Twould be too wonderful for my dream
to come true in this particular also.
Judge. then, of our feelings, perhaps
more Of awe than aStOniShment, when
upon entering the station the man in
charge, with single glauce at our cap
tive, said:
"'Well. gentlemen, you've made a
good nights work. sure enough. This
is the escaped convict, Ike Berry.
rI Of fNr h
capture, and all the police of the state
have been Oh the lookout for him since
last April
Frank Stayner actually shuddered
as the officer spoke. Turning to me he
muttered: This is most too much for
me, Phil. It's awful. Let's go round
to the doctors and get my shoulder
fixed up Then to the officer: Well
turn the reward over to you, Jim. The
glOry'S enough for US
But before leaving we told the whole
strange story to the man, whose run
ming commentary OF almost incredulOus
surprise was from time to time accent
uated by a smothered curse from the
now iron-shackled prisoner" q
"Well, Phil" said | with judicial
gravity, may be it's rude to ask the
question after your Introductory re-
marks, but, honor bright, now, is this
really an out-and-out true story you've
given me?"
Ills as true as that you aud l are
sitting here, old man. Ike Berry is now
serving out fourteen years sentence
i'll state prison, and Frank Stayner is still
alive to testify as to the dream business.
But why that -vISiion-lntelli-
gence foreshadowing-call it what you
will, was sent to me was one of those
occult mysteries which neither you nor
l nor any other mortal at present under
stands.