The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1860-01-13

nough TO keep still, very stin. lust now 49,
, I'm close on a large vein, YOU see. rioht IN
. your neck. Keep very still and don't stir.
Q l Know what would happen, and 50 DO lou
II You stirred or spoke word
Good Godl Thesewcrc hidcous words
but the glare of the mans eyes. as he
came round in front of me was eppall-
ing. ! could not have uttered syllablo
II ! had died otherwise
"Now," said he, "listen, but don't
move" and ne pressed the fat BLADE a.
gainst my throat as IL by way ofwarninr.
q don't like this, can't stand il. I'm
goingl And so help me God, Il YOU lin a
hngor to stop me. or make one noise, both
ofus will have to diet I would a little
rather not hurt you; ut--Romemberp'
He sprang away, and caught mp my
cloak and hat, which lay near, still keen.
ing the razor in his hand. The moment
its frightful contact was removed nv in.
ertness vanished. leaped up, seized the
chair in which | had been sitting. and
shouted Justify. He urnedupon me like a
tiger.
"Ah, you will have il, thenw he eriod,
and rushed toward me-
thrust him aside with the heavy chair
and lifting il high in the air, brought il
down crashing upon him. He sank for a
second, but quickly rose again. He was
heavier than and twice as strong, sup
lpose. Persons who have thus been in
positions ofgreat danger will not be as
tonished to hear that forgot after my
FIRST cry, to call out at all. thought on
" Of defending myself
This state Of things did not last a quar-
ter Of a minute. He would have beaten
me down soon enough, had not, in sheer
desperation, made use of trick which
had once before seen successfully employ
ed. ! moved my eyes suddenly from him
and stared wildly into the space behind
him, pointing, at the same time and in the
same direction, with my arm. by lucky
chance | pointed to the window.
think that movement saved my life.
He stopped, irrosolute, glanced at the
window, flung his hands above his head,
gasped as Il he were choking, and, DASH
ing the razor against the stone wall, fell
trembling upon his knees. As stepped
swiftly ucross the floor he called out 20
mo;
"Don't 90, don't go" he said "Stand
there, at the door, ifyou choose, but wait
a minute. It's all over now; and perhaps
liz you hear me, you won't wonder that |
was driven mad.
hardly knew how 10 act; but as in-
voluntarily checked my steps he eontin-
ued
"Look out at that window sir, and you'll
see, Just over the road, woman with a
child in her arms, standing in doorway.
That's my wife and baby-my poor wife
aud baby. She doesn't know I'm here
thank God for that | came here under
a wrong name, and she supposes I'm far
away at sea. ] guess II would break her
heart to know the truth. Well, sir, that's
my home. I've seen II, and I've seen her
every day, now, these three months. II
used to mako me crazy, but bear II bet
ter now. But this chance-this great
chuuce--was too much for me. And TO
think that l came near losing all hope OF
over seeing her again"
Could doubt those struggling sobs and
tears! There was truth in every tone.
looked through the window, and saw,
as he had told me, woman standing on
a threshold opposite, with a little child.
She tossed il up l0ughingly once or twice
and disappeared
"You won't trust me, know" said the
prisoner; "but / want to beg pou not to
let the warden know OF this. It's no use
] guess. Well, | swear that be true to
home after this, Nothing but three
years solitary now, and who can live thro'
thatl No, no, you'll let this go by, won't
you! You may believe mc-you may,
indeed"
Feet shuiIling along the passage an
nounced the return Of my companions.-
The prisoner endeavored TO calm himself,
and put on an air of unconcern which
think was very successful under tho cir
cumstancos.
"Not shaved yeti" said the warden, as
tonishod. IL he had but known how
close shave had been throughl
81 have broken my razor" said John
son, looking Oppealingly at me. "See,
sir | must have another"
avery we'll" said the warden. "Will
you wHitw he asked me.
al think not" said |. "Another time
will do for me-"
So | wiped my face, and we went on
our way.
OF course / was bound to tell the war
den what had happened; but even in that
great excitement which naturally follow
ed 80 narrow an escape, think set for
ward all that could in the poor fellows
favor. The warden received the story
with perfect composure, and assured me
that he would act in such manner as he
thought the occasion needed. He con-
demnod his own heodlessness in opening
30 evident an opportunity for guilt with
much more earnestness than he spoke OF
the event itself.
l could not resist visiting the wife o,
Johnson. discovered that his story was
true, and learned his real name. She
was happy in her Ignorance of his real
condition. ! sought 10 ascertain whether
she was able 10 sustain herself until he
should rejoin her; and then she told me
that Mr.. --, the warden Of the State
Prison, had also come 70 her, shown in.
terest in her behalf, for which she coult
not we'll account, and assured her Of hit
aid and protection in any need that NIGH
come to her. She was most greatful, bu
wondered why he had done 50.
A few monthe ago the following news
paper paragraph appeared. Il was mucl
copied. and | suppose, will be readily re
memberod:
at is the custom at the State Prison
in c., to permit prisoners whose termi
are within few weeks Of expiration, Il
work outside the walls, under the super
vision Of an officer. This privilege is, IL
most cases, gladly accepted. A fey
weeks ago, however, II was declined by .
man who, - his time Of freedom drew
; near, appeared more restless under hi
confinement than any others. On inqu.
~ il was found that this prisoner had 4
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