The Lincoln County herald., 1872-11-13

however, constantly to watch the man
over the top Of the paper. Tho man
himself did not stir, but sat like a statue
OF stone, rigid, silent, deadly.
On rushed the train, laundering
through rocks and cliffs. IL soon en-
tered a mountainous district, and sud.
denly the engine blew a long whistle,
which leapcd from crag to crag, and with
the noise of a thunderboIt falling among
the Alpine mountains, the train rushed
into tunnel.
The abrupt change from broad day
light to . gloom deeper than night made
it impossible for Fairfax to use his eyes
Hs tried to pierce the darkness, and while
doing so felt the mans hands upon HIS
throat, while q voice shouted some words
viii ch il was impossible to catch.
The dread Of death, the love OF life,
the unuttcrable horror OF the situation
we're strong in Fairfax. He struggled
with the fury Of madman, but the iron
arms of his assailant we're too powerful ;
asd step by step, he felt himself dragged
to the door, through which, it was plain,
the man intended to hurl him on to the
rails.
He believed death to be certain but
IN that extreme hour of mortal anguish
grew the fiery resolution that, If he was
to die, the cowardly wretch he struggled
with should die too.
Amid the thunders awakened BY the
passage Of the train through the tuuLe
the two men wrsstled. The door was
dashed open the man had his hand on
Fairfax's throat, Fairfax had his hand en-
twined in the handkerchief around the
others neck. The train, taking sharp
curve, heeled over, aud the two men fell
out.
The man was underneath. This prob
ably saved Fairfax's life. The fall had
either stunned or killed him, for he lay
quiet. His hand had relinqui.hsd Fair
fax's throat.
The young man staggered to his feet
rhe tunnel was pitch dark. After he
heard the roar Of the retreating train
then came silence as deep as the grave
Ilc stumbled against the rails until
his hands touched the damp, cold walls
of the tunnel. He began to walk rap
idly through.
On on F! Suddenly he stopped. A
faint, low murmur grew upon the air. II
rapidly increased like the sound Of thun
der, gathering strength each second
The perspiration started on his forehead
he fell upon his knees. That sound he
knew to be q train coming through the
tunnel
Which side was he on? lu the pro
found darkness ho could not tell tc
which end Of the tunnel was he making
his way.
The train neared. He saw the light
Of the engine, like the eyes Of tiend
growing upon the darkness. They ap
proachsd-they passed with deafenin,
roar and mighty wind the red furnace
in the engine throwing crimson lieh
upon the reekiDg walls of the arti6cia
cavern. Then The lights on the hindmos
carriage died, the noise tainted away, an,
rising to his feet Fairfax pushed forwar,
once more.
After walking half an hour, sometime
stumbling over the sleepsrs, sometime
pausing to listen for the fear of hl
assailant pursuing him was always strou,
sometimes stopping to lean against th
side of the tunnel t. take breath, tb
welcome daylight at length streame'
upon him. He strobe forward vigorousl,
now, and gained the extremity Of tn
tunnel, clambersd up tue bank and looke'
around him.
About half mile onward was small
station. A few houses clustered togethe
exhibited o little village. He Wake.
languidIy toward them, and having
reached the platform, told the open
mouthed station master his story.
: He presented, indeed, piteou
spectacle. The blood flowed from larg
scalp wound his clothes were torn
his face was blsckened, and two of hi
fingers we're broken. He had barrel
concluded his astounding narrative, whs
he tainted dead away.
He lay for ten days unconscious. A
one time bis life was despairsd OF, bu
those who found hln, from certain letter
thoy had found on him, had been able t
communicate with his friends, an
through their fundamentally his lif
was spared.
When he awakened from his delirlum
the police had Investigated the affair, an
the following narrative was communicate
to him.
1t seems that his assailant, Terry, ha
been betrothed to a sirl whom he love-
with the vengeful and jealous Passlo
that is peculiar to his race. But on
day he had found her in company with I
youu man. He did not rsproach ter-h
pretended, indeed, not to care but il
reality he took solemn oath to murde
his rival That rival aud that yeun
girl Fairfax had como upon during ii
walk he had taken on tho last mornin!
Of his stay at D.. Terry had mis-
taken him! 1t was Terry who had 6re'
the shot.
The jealous man, finding his shot in
sffectuai. hung about the hotel, with tn