The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1918-06-14

Hoev He Found
Sleep.

BY sAlIIE MENDEEM.

was this: mad mighty good nerve and
wasn't afraid OF any one. I seemed TO
know what kind~of crib to crack and
bow to do IL without waking anybody
mp and getting away between midnight
and dawn, when the cops are most
drowsy. While was doing q Job
thought OF nothing except my work
and was both cool and watchful
wasn't one OF those blokes who scare
people TO death or who are ready II
necessary to add murder to robbery.
The truth Ia I never liked the prospec
OF facing either charge.
As was saying. while engaged at
my work. however dangerous, was
steady as u monument. but when dan.
ger had passed and I ha" nothing TO d.
but think | went downhlll very fast
What bothered me most was that !
couldn't sleep nights-that In. whe'
comfortable slowed away In bed.
once took Il. nan 10 gentleman's par
Tor and was only Weakened by the sun
coming up and shining I'm my eyes. ]
Just got out I'm time to save myself
But when lying on q soft mattress.
with warm covers and no chance of
being disturbed. sleep wouldn't COM
to me. my awake thinking OF the
time when ( would hear prison doors
clang behind me. The thought was
dreadful. I'm afraid |. was too fine
grained for the business.
Month after month my hours OF
sleep grew '~ss TIL feared insanity.
One night mp at midnight after
having slel hours and knew there
would be ! re slumber for me TIL
the next :, went to bed. was so
desperat' got up with a., Tn
tention into some housS here
/ had Il ~ and there sra,ch an.
other couple III hours sleep. had q
crib In view, avSplall honss With not
much I'm II. But v, cooking for
sleep. not plumber. w"'t there. took
out pane cf glas ." .ered and went
upstairs TO md &c TO settle down.
stood I'm 4ail looking ipto
room where az lamp was burning
In the roo ,man was I'm ted with
a Child, .sleep The child was
sleepinc - front OF the bed. very
near tie edge. lie was boy and,
think. about five years old.
On narrow lower bed, close beside
the other. slept another child. girl Of
about three She was sleeping in the
center ~ lar bed OH her side and had
her chubby fist up against her fat
cheek. II was hot summer weather.
and none Of them except the woman
had any covers whatevaf.
What interested me wAs that the
boys head was banging over the side
Of his bed and so much or his b~dy,
too, that IL looked to me AZ IL he itas
about to fall He was restless, and I
knew be would be over very soon
Somehow wanted to see him fall,
though | kept In the dark SO that he
wouldn't see me II he woke up. The
fell a couple OF feet. but didn't wake
up. He landed partly on the little girl
but she didn't wake up either. | ex
pected she would, as she moaned once
or twice I'm her sleep aud turned over.
but finally she slept AS peacefully a.
before.
1t was such delightful picture to
one suffering from insomnia that
kept 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 ihat he kept
this up. when there was tbulnp. anf
the girl lay on the floor Bar sh,
seemed TO be as comforta ble there IL
on her bed. AT any rate. she shuwes
not the least sign OF waking
Meanwhile ] heard the mutfrriug %
distant thunder, and while | MAS look
Ing at them all there came Que t"rric,
crash loud enolgh to wake the dead
The mother turned over, but neither
Of the children moved Then followed
one crash after another. and | expec,
ed that a. least the mother would
wake up and take look ut her chill
dren. But she slept on. She MUS; have
been very tired or had lost lot of
sleep or she couldn't have slept
through those terrible bolts. Never
had / heard such thunder before.
The only effect the storm had on any
Of them was 10 Increase the restless
ness OF the boy He rolled and tum-
bled In his sleep like ship tossed by
the waves. sometimes lying for a few
minutes close against his mothers bed.
then rolling over TO the outer edge OF
his own. I was sure he'd I'm time tum-
bic out OF this bed, as he had out Of
the other. aud ssyas bound TO see him
do II. Sure enough. before l expected
IL he gave a lurch and landed plumb
on top Of his sister.
Neither OF them awoke
reckon women know IN their sleep
what's going on with their children,
for, now that the storm was over and
everything was still as the tomb, the
mother sat up In bed. glanced at her
children. got up and put them In their
proper places. Then she went back to
bed herself and was asleep In q mo
nent.
We'll" said to myself. III that's
what q clear conscience VIII furnish
Tn going 10 have a clear conscience"
I went back TO my room resolved new
or TO enter any mans house again but