Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1893-10-26

dictate that he was about seven feet
high, and 1 could see that he was
feigning sleep and watching me. l
determined to bluff it through" If
possible. Placing the candle again on
the shelf, 1 unbuttoned the overcoat
and drew forth my big "navies;"
putting them on half-cock, l twirled
the cylinder around and looked care
fully into each chamber; then, with
sigh of relief and as if to say, That's
good for six shots anyhow" | laid
them on the bed | was to occupy.
Then ! pulled the old SLOUGH hat as far
over my ears as possible, turned down
the blankets, and, with boots over
coat, and hat on, turned into the bed.
The pistols placed one on each side
of me; the knife | laid under my back.
l walened Mac, who, totally ex-
hausted, was asleep on the floor; made
him jump in and lie down close to me,
and then pulled the blankets over
half-sleep A movement from the
other crealy bed awakened me.
opened my eyes, and by the dull snow
light which struggled through the
window could see the outlines of the
man in the other bed, and he was sit
ting up.
In an instant was on the alert but
made no movement. He leaned for
ward and seemed to listen; then he
dropped down again. In about five
minutes he once more raised himself,
and for time was motionless; then
one leg was put outside the cover;
then the other and he stood erect.
With the utmost caution he invested
his long legs in the proper garments,
and then, gathering up his other
clothing and boots in his arms; he
stole quietly as robber out of the
room.
heard him descend the stairs and
knock lightly on the door of the land
lords chamber; several times he
knocked; then the door was opened,
and | could hear the dull muttering of
the big German, the shrill whispers of
woman, and earnest, though low
tones which must be those of the
stranger. Then the two men went
down into the bar-room, and decided
that | was "in for it." | crept out of
bed and went to the door,-no lock or
catch was there. l looked for some
thing TO brace against it; nothing
could be found. One of the two chairs
had only three legs, and neither had
any back. was caught in trap.
had fought my way through every
grade, from private to captain, in the
field, and done every line of duty from
picket to pitched battle but | never
had such trying hours as passed in
that bed. could recognize the
shufiiing of stocking shod feet on the
first floor, and could hear a steady
conversation for about fifteen minutes.
Then all was quiet for time. Next
| heard heavy but cautious tread
ascending to the landlords room, and
the woman's whispers were renewed.
The garret-room door was open Just
a crack. There l fastened my gaze.
To that point directed the barrels of
my pistols heard the stairs creak,
and the wind howl.
/ watched and waited and finally-I
fell asleep. When awoke, Mac was
lio!sing my face and broad daylight
was streaming through the window;
my pistols lay where they had fallen
from my hands l felt in my pockets;
there was my money ali right
Quickly l made my way downstairs
In the bar-room, which seemed rather
cozy by morning view, was the host,
who now looked an honest, sturdy
fellow. Can | have breakfast for
myself and dog?"
We'll, guess so, after bit"
And all the time he was cycling me
most curiously. / took seat by the
hot stove; he came and ratified it a
little with the poker, and at last said;
Say, vat init dat other Teller you
do, lasht night, dot you so much him
skeer?"
Dor said l. 81 didn't do anything,
and as to 'slSeer, I'll bet horse he
wasn't half as much sleered as l was;
the laundering big border ruffianl"
by Shimminy! dot good one was.
He comes down all init der drimbils,
und wakes mine wife und she myself
wakes, und he say to me, 'Wot fer you
sent to my pet room OPP dot Teller nit
a vite mask his face on, unit ton pish-
tolls unit dot pig ploothoun' dog? |
shtay not der room in nit no such
ploothoun' unit murterin' cudtrote' l
hat de shairs in de kitchen for him fix
unit he at de daylight leaf mitout his
breakfast what for he de last night
paid"
In spite of its very tame, though
decidedly satisfactory ending, that
was as trying night as ever passed
in my life.
What Is Dew Pond?
In some of the English chalk hills
4