The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1864-04-21
could not utter syllable If had died

move, anu ne pressed tue hat oiaue
against my throat, as if by way of warn
ing Il don't like this can't stand it,
I'm going. Aud, SO help me God, if you
lift fuger to stop me, or make one
noise, both of US will have to die! l
would little rather not hurt you; but
remember!' r.
He sprang away, and caught up my
coat and hat, which lay near, still keep
ing the razor in his hand. The moment
its frightful contact was removed my in
ertness vanished l leaped up, seized
the chair in which had been sitting
and shouted Justify. He turned upon me
like tiger.
sAh, you viii have it, then!' he cried,
| aud rushed towards m"
4 thrust him aside with heavy chair,
and lifting it high in the air, brought it
down crashing upon him. He sank for
second, but quickly rose again. lie was
heavier than | and twice as strong, l
suppose. Persons who have thus been
in positions of great danger will not be
astonished to hear that forgot, after my
first cry, to call out, l thought only OF
defending myself.
The state of things did not last
quarter Of a minute. He would have
beaten me down soon enough, had | not,
iu sheer desperation made use of a trick
which | had once before seen successful
ly employed. Imoved my eyes suddenly
from him, and started wildly lnto the
space behind him, pointing at tho same
time and in the same direction with my
arm. BY lucky chance l pointed to
the window.
think that movement saved my life
He stopped irresou'e, glanced at the
window, fang his hands over his head,
casped as if he were choking, and dash
ing the razor against the stone wall, fell
trembling upoa his knees. A stepped
swiftly across the floor, he called out to
me:
Don't 60, don't go!' Stand there at
the door, if you choose, but wait min.
ute It's all over now; and perhaps, #
YOU hear me, you won't wonder that |
was driven mad'
hardly knew how to act; but as in.
, voluntary checked my steps, he contin-
ued:
"Look out at the window, sir, and
you'll see, just over the road, woman
with child in her arms, standing In a
doorway That's my wife and baby-my
,or wife aud baby. She dorsn't know l
am here-,hank God for that came
here under wrong name, and che sup
, poses l'm far away at sea. am sure II
, would break her heart to know the truth
l. yN.>u sir. <l~.'s my home. I've seen It
/ and I've seen her every day now, thest
r three months 1t used to make me Orc
q w, but | bear it better now. But th''
f chance-this great chance-was too
much for me. Aud to think that | came
near losing all hope of ever seeing he'
: again!
Could I doubt these struggling sob
o and tears? There was truth in ever,
e tone. | looked through the window, ant
saw, as he told me, woman standing OF
r threshold opposite, with little child
d She tossed it up laughingly once or twic
d and disappeared
you won't trust me, I know, said To
G prisoner, 'but l want to beg you not t
d let the warden know of this. It's no use
,e | know. Well, l swear III be true t
home after this. Nothing but three year
, solitary now, aud who can live throug
that? No, no, you'll let this 60 by, won
If you? You may believe me-you may IL
N deed
Feet shutting along the passages al
H. nounced the return of my companions
" The prisoner endeavored to calmn hin
oe self, aud | put on an air of unconcer
w which I think was very successful und
IN the circumstances.
Not shaved yet?' said the Warden a
he tonished. If he had but known he
close shave l had been through.
-, i have broken my razor,' said Johr
n, son, looking appealingly at me- 'se
sir! I must have another
ed VERY we'll, said the warden. wv
YOU watt? he asked me.
. Il think not said l. Another tir
H. will do for me-
'g, So wiped my face, and We went
de our way.
IN Of course was bound to tell the w
EN- den what had happened; but even IN II
ey great excitement which naturally folio
it, ed so narrow an escape, l think that
lev set forward all that | could in the p'
fellows favor The warden received
Il a story with perfect composure, assured
to that he would act in such manner as
are thought occasion needed. He conden
,ar ed his own heedlessness in open ne
ra- evident an opportunity for guilt, W
ter much more earncstness than he spoke
els the event itself
re- could not resist visiting the wife
low johnson. l discovered that his st
had was true, and learned his real name.
and was happy in her Ignorance Of his
ru. condition | sought to ascertain whe
er she was able to sustain herself u
His he should rejoin her; and she told me
in, NJ. ---, tie .agiyn OF the prison,
S so come to her, shown an interes
t 4 her behalf, for which she could not
1t , account, and assured her of his aid
G protection in any need that might c
n to her. She was most grateful, but v
L. dcred why he had done so.
# I A few months ago the following nj