Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-30
CHAPTER K.
THE STUFF THAT DREAMS ARE
MADE or.

THE STUFF THAT DREAMS ARE
MADE OF.
Stiffness fell. The noise in the dis
lance from which ! had hoped some
thing, was heard no more, and only the
grinding went relentlessly on. I might
as we'll have spared my lungs.
Then, suddenly, a shrill cry rang out
III q woman's voice. There were words,
but could not be certain of their i'm
port. stop it! Stop it," ! thought
they had commanded, and, as if in re-
Spouse to an order the jaws Of the ma
chinery champed no longer. After the
constant rumble, which had, through
its monotony grown to seem part of
the silence, the sudden lull was like a
shock
Once more the candle guttered and
died. was in total darkness.
How long a time passed I do not
know, but presently the rustling in the
adjoining room came again-a soft
luttering and Tapping, as of the wings
Of bats. After that it could not have
been five minutes before strangely
pungent scent puffed in at me through
the apertures above the door, like the
hot, fragrant breath of some great ami
NAL upon the other side.
At FIRST l wondered; then my facul-
ties were slowly numbed. l felt my
powers failing. yet was Indifferent alike
to the fact and to its consequences. My
hold upon the door slackened; knew
that was falling, and knew no more.
s'Why, sir-beg pardon, sir, but was
you wanting to go or stay?"
The voice floated into my dream,
and dimly was aware of its familiar
ity, yet could give it no place among
my life's landmarks. / strove to open
my eyes, and did so finally, though by
supreme effort, for weight well nigh
resistleSs had seemed to hold them
down. It was like the sensation OF
lifting ones lids under a great body
Of water, though even more pronounc-
ed. When at length had succeeded l
found myself looking up into the face
of man whom, after an instant of be-
wilderment, I recognized as the land
lord Of the Spinning jimmy Inn. His
expression was one of mingled surprise
and humane concern.
is anything wrong, sir?" he ques-
toned.
without answering threw dazed
yet searching glance around me.
l sat in the small "guest-chamber,"
to which had been conducted at
what now appeared prehistoric per-
iod. / was in the one chair which the
room possessed, and had the uncomfort-
able sensation at the nape of my neck
which follows the unconscious falling
back Of the head after a long sleep in
q cramped attitude.
On the mantel candle burnt and
flickered, as If it's fellow had never
gone out upon a transformation scene
which heralded death. Everything
was in its place, as though it had never
been so horribly, so incredibly disturb
ed The floor was once more level
plane; the steps at the door had no
downward slant. The bank-notes sent
me by Mr.. Smith were half-slipping
from my hand.
was speechless, confused, as II l
had been whirled into madness by the
wild swing Of merry-go-round which
had swept me into Hades and brought
me back to earth again.
you don't look quite we'll, sir" said
the man respectfully, seeing that re-
manned dumb. "Shall / fetch you a
glass of brandy?"
Then / sprang up, enraged at the
internal yillain!" / calculated. ''You
cowardly murderer! What is the mean
Ing of this new triek?"
With quick movement felt for the
lctOltCI udu pidCcQ III uiy pOShCb
chow long ago.? at the hotel, and, to
my amazement and delight, found it
still there Out it came in a flash, with
click of the trigger, but the fellow
did not blench; afterwards, | was to
guess why, in guessing at other things
which had suddenly been shaken by an
earthquake of uncertainty.
Il don't understand you," he pro-
tested meekly. scarcely shrinking from
the threatening mouth of my trusty
little friend. Perhaps you ave lad a
bad dream. 1t looks like it anyhow,
for know I amt done nothin' that
YOU should turn on me this way"
"A dehced bad DREAM" echoed saw
agely. do you take me for fool,
that you expect me to believe dreamt
what happened in this room-this muir
der trap? We're man to man now,
thank God, and it remains to be seen,
4 you try to keep me here, which one
Of us is the better
Bles me, / don't want to keep you,
sir!' the landlord answered, opening