The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1910-03-25
HotO He Found
Sleep.
py sALLls MENpEEM.

M and getting away between midnight
and dawn. when the cops are most
drowsy. While | was doing job |
thought Of nothing except my work
and was both cool and watchful. |
wasn't one OF those blOkes who scare
people 10 death or who are ready II
necessary TO add murder 20 robbery.
The truth Is never liked the prospect
Of facing either charge.
As was saying. while Engaged at
my work. however dangerous. was
steady as monument. but when dan
ger had passed and had nothing 10 do
bur think | went downhill very fast.
What bothered me most was that
couldn't sleep nights-that Is. when
comfortably slowed away in bed.
once took nap in n gentlemans par
Tor and was only Weakened 10y the sun
coming up and shining In my eyes |
lust got out I'm time to save myself.
But when lying on soft mattress.
with warm covers ard no chance OF
being disturbed. sleep wouldn't com"
10 mo lay awake thinking OF the
time when would hear prison doors
clang behind me. The thought was
dreadful. I'm afraid | was too fine
grained Tor the business.
Month after month my hours OF
sleep grew less till feared insanity.
One night woke up at midnight after
having slept TWO hours and knew there
would be no more slumher FOR me till
the next timc went 10 bed. was so
desperate that got up with the In
tention ~ goinC into some house where
I had no right and there snatch an
other couple Of hours sleep. ! had a
crib in view. small house with not
much in It But | was looking for
sleep. not plumber. ! went there. took
out a pane II glass. entered and went
upstairs TO find a place to settle down.
stood in n dark hall looking into a
room where night lamp was burning.
In the room woman was in bed with
q child. both asleep. The child was
sleeping on the front Of the bed. very
near the edge lie was boy and. !
think. about five years old.
on narrow lower bed. close beside
the other. slept another child. a girl Of
about three She was sleeping in the
center az her bed on her side and had
her chubby fit MP against her fat
cheek. 1t was hot summer weather.
and none Of them except the woman
had any covers whatever
What Interested re VAS that the
boys head was hanging over the side
Of his bed and - auch ~ hs body,
too. that il looked d. wr as U he was
about 10 fan He WIS r. less. aud
knew he would lc yer very soon.
Somehow I wanted ~ go him fall.
though | kept va To-" GstN 50 that he
woudl', e ue Il he woke up III
next Kick he made sent BIN over II
fell a couple Of feet. hut didn't wax
up. lie landed partly an the little girl,
bur she didn't Naac up either ex'
pected she would. as she uioaned once
or twice in her sleep aid luraed over
but finally she slept as pes -efully as
before.
Ii was such a delightful picture to
one suffering from insomnia that
kent on watching the children. The
boy continued his kicking and crowded
the girl. pushing her with every move
10 the front edge Of her bed. Ii must
have been half an hour that he KEEP
this up. when there was a thump. anc
the girl lay on the floor. But sh'
seemed to be as comfortable there al
on her bed. At any rate. she showed
not the least sign Of waking.
Meanwhile | heard the muttering O
distant thunder. and while | was look
ing at them all there came one territi'
crash loud enough 10 wake the dead
The mother turned over. but neithe
OF the children. moved. Then followe,
one crash after another. and ! expect
ed that at least the mother woul,
wake up and take n look at her chill
dren. But She slept on. She must hav'
been very tired or had lost a lot o
sleep or she couldn't have slep
through those terrible bolts. Neve
had heard such thunder before.
The only effect the storm had on an,
Of them was TO increase the restless
ness Of the boy. He rolled and tum
blfN III Ills NAttJ llht II sup ApNNtu ".
the waves. sometimes lying for fey
minutes close against his mothers bed
then rolling over to the outer edge O
his own. was sure he'd In time tun
BILE out Of this bed. as he had out o
the other. and was bound to see hii
do t. Sure enough. before | expecte
II he gave lurch and landed plum
on top Of his sister.
Neither Of them awoke.
reckon women know I'm their slice
what's going on with their children
for now that the storm was over an
everything was still as the tomb, IN
mother sat up IN bed. glanced M he
children. got up and put them in the
proper places. Then she went back I
bed herself and was asleep in n ms
mcnt
'WeN." | said TO myself. IF that
what a clear conscience will furnis
I'm going 10 have a clear conscience
went back TO my room resolved me-
CT TO enter any mans house again bl
my own, at least not for plumber
| 90 loH opt etnt.f lfl-n ton r.