The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-02-04


he muttered lit amt none too
comfortable a feelin 70 know you've
got 70 lock up every shilling you get,
and not tell anybody where you put
itu
He ate his supper that evening IN
silence; Jennie and Dick chattering
incessantly, and Mrs jameson told
about every ache and pain that
racked the woman she had been to
visit
But the miller could only wonder
whether or not that frank, manly
face and those cherry tones Of his
employee belonged to knaye and a
sc0undrel
.An' Jennie and him seemed TO
understand one another far too well, "
he s0.il0quized: II used 20 like the
lad, but now I'd as lief see my girl
care for old blind Jack the fiddler as
this fine gentleman. AS Greene says,
he's too fancy about himself TO be
honest I've often heard the greater
the rascal, the more eenteel, an ]
guess I'll load the rife.
He did load his rife, and placed il
near his bed, telling his wife that he
''warn't going TO lose any more
money, but the first one that came
for dishonest purposes would lose his
life.p
Mrs. jameson was very nervous
concerning the pre- ximity Of The rife;
she begged her husband 70 pitt it
farther away: declaring he might
touch it in his sleep, ''an' make the
thing 60 of, and probably kin her
Il never move in my sleep, 30 you
needn't be scared, he told her III
/ touch the gun. you can be sure it
will 90 of; but TN not touch il in my
sleep; ] sleep like an honest man, /
do.
So he went to bed, and thought
more Of his daughter than Of the
money under the carpet However
he did think OF his money sometimes,
and, in fact, his thoughts ran from
that TO Jennie, as the thoughts Of
the mOney-lender ran fiOm his ducats
to his daughter
At last he slept but not any too
soundly; dreams visited him, and uu-
pleasant ones they were. Vision af-
ter vision came and faded and his
wife was alarmed beyond measure TO
see his unconscious hands 60 out
again and again, perilonsly near
sometimes, TO the loaded rifle.
1t was midnight before she slept at
all, but chen her sleep was profund.
1t was broken at last by the strangest
and most thrilling Of sounds, no less
startling than heavy fall, andfa
loud. harsh. reYerberating report, as
though a cannon had been fired at
her ear
No woman is ever too frightened TO
scream, and Mrs. Jameson's shrieks
were loud and shFill as she covered
among the bedclothes; and a scramb-
ling in the darkness and muttered
words she could not understand did
not tend TO calm her.
There was a rush of feet in the hall
without: a stout shoulder sent the
door inward with crash, and Dick
LevOe who had made this uncere-
monious entrance. stood there, with
light high above his head, his keen
eyes scanning the apartment swiftly
1t took him a moment to compre-
hend, and then he laughed with inn
measurable amusement
The miller, clad but lightly, was
sprawling on the floor, dazed won
der in his face, the old rifle, which he
had struck as he fell. lying harmless
beside him. and now unloaded; a win
dow was Open and through it came a
fine sheet OF rain: the old man was
soaking wet, and raindr0ps glistened
on his hair and scanty garments his
bare feet were muddy and altogether
he presented anything but an agree
able or presentable appearance.
'.What has happened?" asked Dick
as soon as his mirth could be sup
pressed, as he aided the miller to his
feet
"I-I don't know" stammered
Jameson.
His wife hearing voices cautiously
peeped out from under thecoyerlet.
''Robbersin she Cried shrillY They
have heen here again Have they
shot you, Harvey"
NO, wife, I'm not shot" said
Harvey: IAN / don't think there's
been any robbers round. Fact IS
I've been slecp-walking-
What"
i've been walkin' in my sleep sure
as you live, groaned the miller I'm
all wet, so I must have gone out Of
doors, an the Lord only knows where
4 I have been or what I've been doin'.
I / was Greamin' OF that ten pounCs-'
He broke OF, and hurried TO the
spot in which he had hidden the
/ money. Ii WIS not there.
.iYou'rc rather old for such cApers
Harvey" his wife was saying
But he didn't hear her Very
blankly be turned % Dick who had
now retrcated to the threshold where
Jennie was standing, white and
startled. but ravishly pretty.
Lad. the miller said, s0lemnlE
j believe I've robbed myself Two
/ Lnar1 of ctteh fhtnua am now / In-