The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1902-01-07


went or to bed. after dimmiug the
lamp on the mantel. 1 thought II no
more than kindness that 1 leave It
burning for my neighbor. must con-
Tess, too, n little feeling of curiosity
concerning this neighbor pre-
ferred to study him. even by feeble
lamplight, rather than to guess ut his
lineaments in the dark.
must have fallen asleep soon after
my head touched the pillow. How
long l slept l have no idea. All ut
once l became conscious that l was
sitting up I'm bed and that there were
peculiar noises i'm the room. Some
one had entered l was positive. FOR 1
heard the door creak, then open and
close again. That some one was now
stirring about. walking with soft foot
fall. l found the room i'm total dark
ness; the treacherouS lamp had gone
out. 1 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 to
bed in the dark SO as not to disturb
me? l would reassure him.
l spoke TO him. There was no re-
ply l spoke again. Still no reply.
Was the poor man really deaf or only
surly? 1 remembered what the serv-
ant had said abou his paying no at
tention when spoken to, and decided
ii must be the former. With n feel
ing of pity for the poor gentleman in
his inirmity l lay down again and
went off to sleep.
The sun was just beginning to
tinge the window paues when L
awakened the next morning. My first
thought as had been my last, was of
the gentleman in the other bed. 1 de
clded that / would raise myself and
take cautious view of him. knew
that l could easily do this, as the foot
boards of both beds were low. Lift
ing myself on my elbows, what was
my establishment 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 n vii
demonstrating wretch he was! No
wonder he was spoken as queer and
keeping late hours. / could guess at
his calling without trouble. If he
didn't patronize the high roads then 1
was no judge of appearances. High
wayman was written on every line OF
his face. And to think 1 had been for
the night at the mercy of such viii
lain, in the room with him! l was in
coed glad that l had left my watch
and purse in the hotel safe. | won
dered he hadn't cut my throat. I sup
posed ii 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? l was determined
l would speak to him.
why do you stare at me in that
impertinent way?' l asked.
He opened and shut his mouth as
though to mock me. / could stand no
more. l Enclosed my lips to use n
more vigorous tone in addressing him
when-I sneeZed. Where was my
handkerchief? / reached for it. 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 ii was for his pistol. / had no
weapon at hand. Only my gun was
in the room. and that had carelessly
left leaning in corner In n mo-
ment or more l would he entirely at
the mercy Of the villain he would
have his pistol drawn on me- l must
act, and act quickly. Near my pillow
lay my water-fask. / had placed It
there to have 1t convenient as l fire.
quently drank water during the night.
This l grasped swiftly and hurled at
the man in the other bed. 1 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 un-
der the bed and approached me-
! stared at him stupidity. and then ut
| the empty bed before me.
! saw it all now. BeppO was the in
! truder-the one / had heard moving
! about softly the night before. the gen.
] tlcman TO whom / had spoken with.
/ out elicitiug any reply lie had left
| Amos to come i'm search Of me. Find
! ing the door ajar for the careless
! servant had failed to latch 80 secure
| ly. he had pushed be open and entered
| the door swinging TO- behind him. The
sly rogue had refraupl from coming
| to me for fear ia drive him ont again
/ shook myscl. free of the bed
/ clothes and stood upon my feet 10
contemplate the damage done to- tho
other bed a handsome mirror that
had adorned the centre OF the head
board was smashed into q thousand
pieces I'm making wrathful fling at
Che man i'm the other bed I had simply
thrown at my own reflection in the
glass, / must confess Co "a feeling of
wounded pride when 7 recalled chat /
had stamped myself o- villain and
Mghwaymau.
Later I'm the day learned that Mr.
Barefoot he'd NOS come iu at an thai
night lie had sat NIP with a sicl
friend But the part ] shall rcmcm
Der longest abou tM- little episode i
the bin I bad to pay for this ltu,
ling at myself Hard. wasn't it,
Wayerloy Magazine
a Dcadi, Trade 1IaIady.