The herald., 1898-01-30
VI FELT THE ROPE TIGHT TEN AROUND MY NECK -

and writhing in agony, at the same time
uttering the cries l heard. His fac,
bore a look of mortal terror such a.
hope never to see again. Realizins
that he was suffering from some horri
bic nightmare, l tried to wake him up
By calling his name repeatedly anc
shaking him 1 finally succeeded. He
started up and gazed about him with a
wild, frightened look, as though he did
not know where he was. Gradually he
came to his senses, but he was trembling
like a leaf A drink of brandy from my
pocket flask steadied his nerves some
what, and he began to put on his clothes,
explaining that he did not dare go to
sleep again, but was going out for a
walk.
If you don't mind I'll go with you
said l, for, to tell the truth, | don't
believe l could sleep either"
I'm sorry I've spoiled your night s
rest" he replied, but if you really
wish to go out with me ! shall be glad
to have you"
We lighted our cigars and strolled out
into the night After walking some
distance in silence my friend said: TT
is strange that that dream should
me for years. There was a time when
it haunted me SO often that l had to be
watched constantly while 1 slept. As
soon as l showed any signs of agita-
ton the watchers would awaken me.
If they had not my mind would undoubt-
edly have given away under the terrible
strain. There is a story connected with
that dream. Do you care to hear it,"
lf I I
and begged him to go on.
THE dream | had tonight" he con-
tinued, lis merely the recollection of a
terrible experience l once had. 1 was
very young at the time-scarcelv
eighteen. | was without any near rel
ative and dependent entirely upon nv
own resources. You remember the
time when gold was discovered in Colo
rado, how people focked there from all
parts of the country to make their for
tunes. Well, l caught the fever. too.
tand taking what little money I had
saved up, l went to Denver. There 7
remained some time, mingling with
miners and learning from them all
could about the gold mines. From sew
eral sources l heard that gold had been
discovered in paying quantities at Sill
va (iiiA' "ilu l utClutu TO go there,
stopping on my way at Pueblo to buv
horse and other necessary parts of a
miners outfit
The evening before I left Denver
was sitting in the lobby of my hotel.
when an old gentleman sat down he
side me and entered into conversation.
He was Very pleasant companion.
and I took to him immediately, telling
him my plans and all about mvsolf
When he learned that l had lust come
from the east and knew nothing about
gold mining, he advised me to return.
But L was young and hopeful, and
moreover, yearning for adventures of
the sort depicted in the cheap novels
had read, so his advice was thrown
away. Finding that ] was not to he
dissuaded from my plans, he good-na-
turedly gave me great deal of valu
able information and told me some
very interesting stories of his own ner-
sonal experiences.
THE next morning found me on NV
way to Pueblo. Arriving there 7 went
to hotel and began making inquiries
as to the best means of reaching Silver
Cliff. The landlord was very oblieing
lie assisted me in selecting a horse
told me what I would need on nv
journey, and promised to let me know
when he heard of anyone who was going
70 the same place On the third dav
o' my stay he introduced me to a man