The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-09

People looked at each other with
questioning eyes, as If wondering II
some Of their own townspeople might
not prove to be implicated in the affair.
1t was supposed by everyone that Mr..
Dean had seen enough of his assailant
to be able to identify him if known, or
describe him If a stranger, and busi-
ness was almost suspended in the anx-
iety and eagerness all felt when it was
whispered about that he had awakened
rational.
Only the officers of the law and the
bank president were admitted to the
room adjoining the one where Mr.. Dean
lay After uneasy movements, partial
ly arousing and drifting off to sleep
again, he had finally opened his eyes
and looked about. Noticing the doc
tor, he said:
"Why, doctor, you here?'
The doctor merely nodded, watching
him closely as he rubbed his eyes again,
felt his head and then exclaimed:
"Oh, l remember now! This is to-
morrow, is it not?"
Eyes, this is tomorrow" the doctor
answered "How do you feel now?'
"All right" he answered, promptly,
and then added, smiling, ''but that
blow was a swinger, wasn't it?'
The listeners, out of sight, craned
their necks and strained their ears to
catch every word. He semed to come
suddenly to a full understanding, for
he said, quickly:
'Why, l must have been pretty badly
stunned to lie so all night. Were you
frightened, Alice?" he asked his wife.
"Oh, yes," she answered, almost in
tears; 81 thought the wretch had killed
you"
"WhoT' he asked, then added:
s'There was no one"
"There, never mind" said the doc
tor, soothingly. "Drink this and don't
get excited"
Though everybody was aching to hear
what he had to say about the assassin,
they feared the abrupt way in which
Mrs. Dean had mentioned him would
retard matters.
"Ought to have been. led up to very
carefully" muttered the detective.
st am not excited" said Mr.. Dean to
the doctor. "But 1 want to know what
my wife meant. Is it supposed that
somebody attacked me with an ax?'
Certainly" said the doctor, seeing
that the truth would be the best. "And
he very nearly killed you, too. Can you
tell US who he was or what he was
like?"
In their eagerness the listeners edged
inside the door. Mr.. Dean lay and
laughed; then catching sight of the
bank president, said:
"Good morning, Mr.. Akers. You here,
tooT
"Yes," said the president, 1--WE are
anxious to know all you can tell US
about it-what he was like, what he
said and If he let out anything about
the gang"
The doctor put up his hand. "Don't
hurry him." he said. "Take your time,
Mr.. Dean"
Mr.. Dean laughed again as he said:
"There was no one here but myself;
positively no one"
"But you were struck a murderous
blow by someone. Don't you remem-
ber?'' said the rather impatient presi-
dent.
Nobody struck me at all. did II
myself" said Mr.. Dean, fatty.
There was a sensation.
| "He doesn't know what he is saying
He is not rational" said someone.
Mr.. Dean looked at the blank faces
and put out his hand, saying:
"You will find my pulse quiet, doctor
have no fever. 1 know very well
what 1 am saying. 1 remember how
it happened"
"He certainly is all right" said the
doctor. 'Tell us about it, Dean" he
continued.
81 usually split wood while for ex
ercise after coming home from the
bank. There was no one at home, and
l left the kitchen door open, meaning
to carry in big armful. got hold Of
| a particularly tough stick and 1 was
bound to split it. swung the ak with
all my strength, to fetch tremendous
blow, and it caught on the wire clothes
| line above me, bounded, turned an6
came down on my head before coul6
possibly dodge it. You see how easily
that could happen. So easy that won
der you did not discover it for your
Selves" and he laughed again.
Yes, they saw now how easily I
could happen. They were convinced.
"Well, I'll be bowed" exclaimed tn,
bank president, slowly, and as the!
silently dispersed Mr.. Dean sent hi
parting shot after them:
"If had killed myself suppose yol
| would have always believed me to hav,
been murdered and would have fast
ened it upon some poor fellow and pun
ished him for it."-New Orleans Times