Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1871-08-17

] had placed myself on the outside
of the way on starting, and | believe
the first thing that aroused any un-
comfortable feeling in my mind was
noticing that one or the other of my
companions managed to change his
place by falling step or two in the
rear and coming into line again on the
outside of the walk, thus placing me
between them. l tried to hold my
position, but it was of no use if 1
held it for moment, one of them in
variably stepped out of line and re-
sumed his place on the outside. l
fancied once that / heard quick
word pass between them, but l was
not sure. Still the suspicion was
enough to set me thinking very busily
and not pleasantly. I believed that
their non-acquaintance was ruse, and
that l had fallen an easy prey into
their designing hands. "Well," l
thought, "two against one are not the
odds one cares to see, especially when
ones self happens to be the one, but
forwarned is forearmed." Still l was
far from comfortable. An occasional
word passed between us, but there
was no attempt at conversation.
We had crossed the bridge, and
were walking quickly toward the
Canadian fall, in the order silently
but persistently insisted upon by the
other two, when suddenly-for it was
quite dark at that tine-we came up
on man who stood alone in the mid.
die of the pathway. We stopped and
apologized, for we had nearly run him
down, and in return he asked us where
we were going.
"To the tower" replied one of my
attendants.
"This is just the night for such an
expedition" replied the stranger
"With your permission, 1 will join
you"
Instantly the thought flashed
through my mind that this third one
was an accomplice who had been
awaiting our coming. would have
backed out, pleaded fatigue, anything
to get away from the band but re.
membered that the proposal had been
mine, and, furthermore, if mischief
was meant, any indication on my part
that 1 suspected my companions would
only hasten the evil moment. There
was nothing for me but to keep on
and trust to Providence to show me
some way of escape.
The moon was now shining brightly
upon the group. The addition to the
party I discovered to be short, thick
set man, with low brow and short
neck, just the figure, it seemed to me,
for a rufiian. He was apparently Of
great strength, and l thoug Int what
quick work he could make of me, even
if he depended on his strength alone.
"This is a lonely walk, friends" l
said. "Have you any shooting-irons9 9''
"No," they replied, and they eyed
me in sinister manner.
Armed or not, they were evidently
in league, and l was to be the victim.
They could dispatch me easily enough
without the aid of fire arms. The
thunder of the falls would drown any
scream for help, or pistol-shot either,
for that matter.
There was nothing for it but to keep
as cool as possible, and at last l said,
"Forward is it?" and Forward it is y
was the answer. So we moved on
still in the same order, except that
two walked at one side and one on the
other. l fell back and pretended tc
be gazing at the moonlight effect, but
it was Of no use. My vigilant keepers
still maintained the order they had
chosen. This maneuvre was repeated
several times. Once, when the moon
shone out brightly, 1 found that The
latest arrival=the one I set down az
the arch-viIlian of the party-had tax
en- up his position in the rear, so that
/ was completely surrounded, and, try
as I might, this order was preserved
all the way. I startled them at one
time by abruptly leaving them ant
jumping upon bench by the roadside
under pretnce Of looking at the view
The arch-villian Immediately took hi
place beside me. I turned my gaz'
upon him and looked steadily into hi
eyes, and he returned the look. Fo'
a moment we stood regarding eacl
other fxedly, vainly endeavoring 7
read one another. A wicked face,
felt sure, but there could be no doub