The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1869-12-24

, ond later and I seemed 10 have
Q thunder storm in my head ..-,' :
The blow was an ugly one, AZ i
r was doubtless meant to be, and I fel
the warm blood trickling down m,
neck; but I was not stunned for NOR,
than breath. Before l could move
( however, even 50 much as to turn nj,
J head after it received the terrible
stroke, 1 felt hands slide something
, over my head aud around my neck;
which something was drawn so tight
that could barely slip in my fiugers
between it and my throat to keep NE
from straugling. Then voice that
sounded very familNr, shouted, "The
moon is out -
Tue driver ceased his song, shouted
"whoa!' to the gallop,ng horses,
jumped from his perch. and opened
the door as my hitherto unseen assail-
ant slammed back the other.
With the first blow Of the assassin
/ had instinctively kicked my little
valise under tho frnnt scat and was
prepared to fight over it so long as
had consciousness or the liberty of SO
much as a finger. Though it may
seem egotistical, declare that I was
net frightened but enraged, crazy
with the strength of an anger that l
had no idea was part Of my nature.
/ :eemed TO consume with its fierce
ness.
| When my assailant opened the left
door of the carriage, the light from
the lamp in front glanced across his
face and revealed Mr.. Rodderiek
Murtagh as, from the voice, l had
half expected. He looked in with a
leer of triumph on his face more dew
ilish than human. In an instant my
mind reverted to that night when I
found him in the Office, and the safe
open, then back again to my treasure,
hid under the scat. Regardless of
the consequences which must iuevita-
bly, follow mp action, I quickly drew
up my leg, and. with all the strength
at my command, sent my heavily -shod
boot full and fair into that fendish
face. Before l could recover myself
the driver was upon ME with his full.
weight, holding me with the grip Of
giant. Then I began to shout
Murder, though tho cord around
my neck seemed cutting through to
the bone. Then, as if in a horrible
dream, uprose the fayed and hastly
face Of Mur.agh, and in his uplifted
hand shimmcrcd knife.
"Let me at him, Jim,' he hoarsc.
ly whispered.
"None of that. Rhoddy. none Of
that" answered the ph!egmatic Jim,
insinuat,ng his hand into one after
auothcr of my pockets. "No muder,
you know! You promised me that"
Just one slash and you may keep
everything a.,
"No! no! I tell you no murder i!
Put up that broad-sword."
! Yet kept crying all the while,
"Murder murder murdcr anu
struggling tcnaciously for liberty. :
Jim hunted awhile on the bottom
of the carriage, guarding himsclfskill-
fully against my kicks, and finally
shouted
Damn it, it's gone
''It's in the vallse!" cried Roddy.
That's gone. Stop his noise !
this ism a slaughter house,
''I'llm make it one was the savage
answer as he leaned into the carriage
with upraised arm. STEADY, Rod
dy?' and Jim looked through the
back window. Curse my luck! there
comes carriage. The horses are on
the keen run, and there's star on
the front scat. They're after us''-
and he backed out Of tho vehicle,
ana began to run across the prairie as
fast as he could 60.
Roddy did not seem at all fright
ened at this news. He put one hand
Oil my shoulder. With my compli.
mcnts.' he whispered. Then felt
the knife cut through clothes and
flesb, and grew deathly SILK with
the wound. Again the knife descend
ed, and another spasm of unutterable
agony ran over me. Apparently sat.
isfed with his work, the ruffian leap-
ed from the steps and followed his
companion as quickly as possible.
One, two, three shots ia quick sue
cession from the approaching carriage.
One Of our horses uttered prolong-
cd cry of pain. kicks furiously for q
second, then they both bound madly
forward at right angles to the course
of the other hack, which follows in
pursuit of Jim and Roddy. .4.av
Now steals over me feeling Of
sweet relief, a sense Of bliss, Of re-
slgnation, Of utter carelcssne.s as to
life or death. Is this feeling the &C.
stacy of death, wonder! The warm
blood bathes my body. and, growing
weaker and weaker as the ruu-away
steads fly along tho grounh. humping
fhe hack against hummock after hum
mock, I pass into Inconsistencies.
At times my eyes open. and for min
ute or more l am able to recall the
event Of the night. yairly at such
periods DO struggle to loosen the
cord around my throat. 1t has worn
and chafed into the flesh. and each
tremor of the coach is keen torture.
At last after repeated efforts be-
come conscious that it is fastened
outside. and 50. BY degrees, I am al le
to get cut my knife, and saw and cut