Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 32: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

BONNY JEAN. 25 -* Philip stood for a moment gazing upon the unconscious man. It was not the effects of the liquor that he had imbibed ; Philip knew that old Corney had been perfectly sober, and the Tom and Jerry would surely not have so seriously affected this tough old pine woods veteran; so Philip was forced to conclude at length that the liquor which had been intended for himself _ | had been drugged. Foul play, then, was meant. First to stupefy his senses, then rob him, and probably put an end to his existence. He hada fine gold watch and a considerable sum of money upon his person ; his horse, which he had just purchased in New Orleans, was worth the two hundred dollars which he had paid for him ; there was, altogether, quite enough plunder to be gained by putting him out of the way, and every occurrence, as well as the strange warning words to which he had listened, pointed to something sinister and evil. Philip stood there beside the sleep- ing man and thought it all over, He was ina tight place, de- cidedly, for he was sure that the worst was meant. Sometimes God gives us warning, or premonition, of coming danger. When the skies are fair, and there is apparently nothing to fear, He, knowing what is coming into our lives, sends us certain warn- ing; but we often laugh at our own superstitious folly (so we term it), and disregard the presentments which are hung like danger signals across our pathway, and then we inevitably suffer. Philip began to see that he had made no mistake. But he must perforce remain in that dismal place until morning, and he must be on his guard. Carefully he drew his revolver from his pocket and examined its contents. It was a six-shooter, and loaded to the muzzle. With a look of satisfaction on his face, Philip returned it to its hiding-place, just as the low mur- mur of voices fell upon his ears. He glanced toward old Cor- ney. The old man was sleeping as though his life depended on the soundness of his slumbers, and Philip ventured to move cautiously forward in the direction from whence the voices Eomircbooks.co