The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-15
TOLD JUST IN TIME.

'I beg pardon. sir" said a gentle
man to another standing on the deck
OF Hudson river steamer. is that
Poughkeepsie2
yes. sir" said the man addressed
He waa a tall, spare man, with mutton
chop whiskers and a professional look
about him
"Beautiful river" remarked the first
speaker
"By the bye, can you recommend me
to a hotel in Albany"
1.-THE Blank is a good house
The questioner shuddered- Wouiq
urefer another house. The fact is 1
STAYED at the Blank once and passed
q very uncomfortable night.
WAS it the fault of the manage
con. no. The room was comfortable
enough. though there was a pohucai
convention in session at the time ana
was obliged to share my aparli,l ZEN
with stranger. But we We're poLn
or1forfa bile having separate beds
Before we went to sleep we got INTO an
exciting discussion winch neateu my
brain and possibly accounted Tor WnaI
foUoved [ had eaten roast pork Aol
zfnrar Pork never agrees with me,
and this especial piece was not prop
erIv cooked. When man eats wen
rrenarad pork he's very unWlse' ou1
when he eats badly cooked pork, ne 5
rrrs mans views were ridiculous, anu
since a. was quite deaf I was opilseu
TO shout very loud, so tnat lilosS -
rvina neiEhboring rooms pesah !" -
ssbut up,' Give us a rest! ana sucH
reminders that we were anno4inB 49, -
FINALLY when some one threatened "a
~ar The notice we stopped disputlng anu
went to bed. .- eloer b,1t
two or three times IN my me
q aIaarl1NaIEeI. SIT
..rbat night i dreamed that the mar
from she other bed was s1allu 5 ,+J
me with a knife I aWakeneq Win "a
start and my heart was beating most
,,-4,errff,iuy The other fellow was
snorine in his bed. After lying awake.
an Aour i Went 70 sie Sc. +,,1,a tbe
dreamed again. but tins uine ti,
dream was on him. I dreamee mat 1
got ont Of bed took my razor our or my
Fatchel. went over to the bed WltIe
he was sleeping and stood over hlfn
There was a light in the hail Whlch
Fhone through the transom over re
door so that I could see him PLAINLY
his breast was bare. and the sleeve
Of his nightshirt had craWled up SO
FAR as to leave ore arm bare TO La-
elbow. / seemed to take Eendish de-
light in the situation. i did not lntehu
to kin INN at once. but to take long
time about it, I drew the sharp edg
Of the razor lightly over his arm IN
several places. also over his breast,
only skin deep. just enough TO draw
blood He must have been good
si-eper for it didn't awaken him.
though he drew ua his arm and turned
over
"AlI this was a dream. mind you. but
ST ended quite differently. Suddenly
awoke and found myself in the position
have described.
well sir. the horror of that position
shall never forget. I wish 1 hadn
begun 70 tell you about it, I have
never told a human being before hut
the moment I began to talk to yoL
there seemed to be some impelling mo-
tive 70 draw It out of me-"
Never mind that" said the other inn
patiently. we're approaching the
Poughkeepsie landing. Finish your
story"
III was so demoralized that in shutting
my razor 7 tried to shove it back into
the handle and cut cash in my hand
that bled all over the floor"
The narrator paused took out his
handkerchief nervously, then put it back
in his pocket.
"Go on" said the listener.
Now. what's the first and main idea
that came into my head, do you sup
II don't know Wen be at the docl
pretty soon and you told me you were
going to get off here. 7 believe"
Why no, I didn't. What made YOU
think that"
"Oh, go Oni'
The idea that absorbed me was thai
Id be accused of an attempt at murder
was an Of a tremor. 1T seemed as il
3 my heart had stagnated I would ratheI
have died than have got back into bed
felt that I must get out and at once
Tt was almost morning and I was t.
leave by an early train. I dressed a.
quickly as possible, threw my things
into my bag. collecting my wits sufh
GENTLY to be sure I left nothing behind
to incrimInate me. though this was o
no use Tor my name was on the hote
register. and L stole down and out of tn.
ladies' entrance without meeting any
one. The railroad station is very neal
the hotel. and I passed through it anS
over TO the river bank. for L had som'
time to wait for my train. Where arr
you going in such a hurry ?"
10 going to get off. q"
"Dn YOU live here 2'
NE"
Hurrying after his listener. the stor-
teller caught him by the coat tail jus
as he was about to dash up the gam
plank.
Let me go"
mot tin you've told me what ha
started you ashore in such a hurry"
I'm going to send a telegram, tele
phone, anything I can get throug