The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-11-13

lamp on the mantel. I thought 1t no
more than kindness that L leave II
burning for my neighbor. L must con-
| fess, too, little feeling OF curiosity
concerning this neighbor. pre-
ferred to study him, even by feeDle
lamplight, rather than to guess at his
| lineaments in the dark.
must have fallen asleep soon after
nv head touched the pillow. How
long I slept have no idea. All al
once I became conscious that l was
sitting I'D in bed. and that there were
peculiar noises in the room. Some
one had entered, was positive, for l
heard the door creak. then open and
close again. That some one was now
stirring about, walking with soft foot
fall. I found the room in total dark
ness: the treacherous lamp had gone
out wondered why Mr.. Bancroft
did not light it, for. Of course, it was
he who entered. Was it out Of regard
for me? Did he fear the light might
awaken ME? Was he creeping off tc
bed in the dark so as not to disturb
me? I would reassurc him.
I spoke to him. There was no re-
ply. 1 spoke again. Still no reply,
Was the poor man really deaf or only
surly? | remembered what the serv'
ant had said abou his paying TO at
tention when spoken to, and decided
it must be the former. With a feel
ing of pity for the poor gentleman in
his infrmity I lay down again and
went off to sleep.
The sun was just beginning to
tinge the window panes when l
awakened the next morning. My first
1honght, as had been my last, was OF
the gentleman in the other bed. de-
cided that I would raise myself and
take a. cautious view Of him. I knew
that + could easily do this, as the foot,
boards Of both beds were low. Lift
ing myself on my elbows, what was
nv astonishment to find him doing
the same by me! was not only sur
prised, but somewhat angry. I
scowled at him, hoping to make him
succumb. This scowl he returned
with compound interest. What a vii
lainous-looking wretch he was! No
wonder he was spoken as queer and
keeping late hours. could guess at
bis calling without trouble. If he
didn't patronize the high roads then I
was no judge Of appearances. High
wayman was written on every line OF
his face. And to think had been for
the night at the mercy Of such a vii
lain, in the room with him! 1 was In.
teed glad that I had left my watch
and purse in the hotel safe. I Won
dered he hadn't cut my throat sup
posed it was only because he was
afraid to, under the circumstances.
The risks were too great. We contin'
ued to scowl at each other. What
would he do next? I was determined
I would speak to him.
"Why do you stare at me in that
impertinent way?" I asked.
He opened and shut his mouth as
though to mock me. could stand no
more. I unclosed my lips to use a
more vigorous tone in addressing him
when-I sneezed. Where was my
handkerchief? reached for 1t, keep.
ing my eye upon the villainous coun-
tenance of the man in the other bed.
What movement was that? He had
surely reached under the pillow. OF
course it was for his pistol. had no
weapon at hand. Only my gun was
in the room, and that 1 had carelessly
left leaning in corner. In q mo-
ment or more I would be entirely at
the mercy Of the villain; he would
have his pistol drawn on me. I must
act, and act quickly. Near my pillow
lay my water-fask. I had placed it
there to have it convenient, as I fire.
quently drank water during the night.
This 1 grasped swiftly and hurled at
the man in the other bed. would
either knock that pistol out Of his
hand or stun him so he couldn't use it.
There was the sound of breaking
glass, and the man in the other bed
vanished as completely as though he
had been ground to dust and blown
away on the air. At the same mo.
ment, with a yell of fear, my favorite
hunting dog. Beppo, came from IN
der the bed and approached me. I
stared at him stupidity, and then at
the empty bed before me.
saw 1t all now. Beppo was the in
truder-the one had heard moving
about softly the night before, the gen.
tleman to whom 1 had spoken with
out ellciting any reply. He had left
Amos to come in search Of me. Find
ing the door ajar, for the careless
servant had failed to latch it secure
ly. be had pushed it open and entered,
the door swinging to behind him. The
sly rogue had refrained from coming
to me for fear I'd drive him out again.
shook myself free Of the bed
clothes and stood upon my feet to
contemplate the damage done to the
other bed. A handsome mirror that
had adorned the centre Of the head
board was smashed into a thousand
pieces. In making wrathful fling at
the man in the other bed 1 had simply
thrown at my own reflection in the
glass! 1 must confess to feeling Of
wounded pride when recalled that 1
had stamped myself as a villain and
highwayman.
Later in the day learned that Mr..
Bancroft had not come In at all that
night. He had sat up with a sick
friend. But the part I shall remem-
ber longest about this little episode Is