The Washington times., 1906-09-30

pathos Of whose condition when
she walks IN her sleep, her mind
overwrought with the horror Of
the crime which she and her hus-
band have committed, cries out for
pity.
Through the long hours OF tho
ni8ht Mrs. Rocker lay beside the
man whom she had called husband
fearing to believe what she knew
must be true. fearing TO tax the
man with the crime lest be- should
seize her and crush ONT Hsr life as
be had done with Schroeder. The
horror of the situation nearly
drove her mad. She feared 70 sleep
lest she in turn should habbls TIE
story OF the crime and her hus-
band, hearing that he had been
found out should kill her while
she alep&
When at last morning came ahs
lay and watched the man whom she
felt sure had murdered her first
husband, watched him with the
fascination with which the bird
watches the snake which Il knows
Is hungering for it, waiting only
the oPpOrtuns moment to take it
The man stirred at last uneaEilv
under the steady gaze and opened
his eyes She read suspicion In them
and her throat contracted IN ter
TOR. But Ehe WIS mistaken. II was
only the natural expression, tho
expression which had become nat
ural to them after four years Of
living alone with his crime.
She was early astir, leaving the
man 10 dozs for a abort tine. She
felt that she II she lay longer be-
side him she must scream out sI
know your crime, and you must
hang for #" When finally he, too.
wa up and dressed. Mrs. Rocker
talked 70 him about the ordinary
things Of the day. about the work
that must be done, the COW that
must be dootored, the stores that
must be bought the next time hs
went to town. But at last she saidt
What were you dreaming about
last nightP You cried out In the
middle OF It all and woke me I'd.
thought some one was being muir
dered."
'Eh, what's thatf WhAt's Il 70
you what dream about?' his
eyes clouded suddenly.
well, want TO know" said his
wife stubbornly. 'You said some
mighty queer things while you
were asleep, too" and when she
saw the expression on his face she
wondered how she had found the
courage 10 question him.
What did I say" asked Rocker.
breathing hard. What do you
know, woman. Come, out With IT."
he said harshly. as she hesitated.
You were talking about August"
she replied.
AYE, and what did I say"
''Thst you killed him Ach, let
go. you brute" she screamed, for
the man had clutched her sudden
" by the arm. She fought him of
but gradually he was overpower-
ing her. Her strength was nearly
gone when suddenly he released
his grasp.
You fool" he said "Because 7
talk in my sleep you say killed
Schroeder. Who would believe
you," he sneered.
She steadied herself against the
wall Il know" was all she said.
And what If you do know" said
Rocker, his mood changing again. [
did kill him. There you have it." he
laughed boarseIy. Tt seemed as II
a great load had been lifted from
his mind At last he had told Il his
crime. The hideous story wasSno
longer bottled up IN bis head.-An-
other shared it.
Curse him, the drunken beast
the man cried impatiently. He de-
served 1t, Now see here, little vvo-
man, be continued. walking to
chest of draws and opening one.
you know about this thing. but
Il you ever tell''-he did not finish
the sentence, but pulled a revolver
from the draw and leyeled it at
her head. The woman quailed for
a moment. Her lips moved but gave
OUT no sound. Finally she managed
10 gasp;
Il won't tell"