The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-04-15

that Lynch is within two feet of me, and
they must send help"
| A short pause, Us though my message
Occasioned some surprise, and then came
the response: "All rightr' which assured
me / need not repeat.
"Wal," growled the deep voice of
| Lynch, fare you going to send my mes
sage'"
WHAT Does all that tickin' mean
what l told your"
"Yes, and if you'll wait fifteen or
twenty minutes you'll get an answer"
"Wal, dunno as l want an answer.
Jim, he'll understan' it all right"
but I'll tell you soon whether he's
there or not. Sit down."
So Lynch reluctantly took his seat,
looking around at the doors and windows
once in a while in sn uneasy way. Twas
determined to take him now at any cost !;
and verify believe should have planted
myself in his path had he insisted upon
going now.
"Tick, tick, tick." the battery called
out, and l listened to the message:
Keep cool. Gould has gone for the
police" Strange it was, wasn't it, that
l SHOULD sit there and talk through $50
A1AOS VI Sp0SC Will U4hu uOt u8l1 b
mile from me?
whats that signerfy?" inquired my
companion, as the ticking ceased; and I
replied that the clerk at Cohoe had just
written off the message and sent it out.
He seemed satisfied and settled back in
his chair, where he sat in sullen silence,
his jaws going up and down as he chewed
his weed.
Oh, how slowly the minutes crept along!
The suspense was terrible. l sat and
watched the minute-hand of the clock,
and five minutes seemed as many months.
My companion seemed nervous, too. He
moved uneasily in his chair.
"Ain't it about time ye heard from
Jim?" he asked, at length.
1--WE shall get word from him in few
moments now" answered, and fell to
watching the clock again. Five minutes
more passed. Lynch got up and began
pacing to and fro across the room. At
length he paused and said:
II don't believe I'll wait any more.
I've got to see man down at the Penn
sylvania House, and he'll be abed eff I
don't get thar pretty soon."
"Hold on q moment, and I'll see what
they're up to-" cried hastily, and I
touched the key again. snake haste"
was my message. II shall lose him if
you do not. Not moment to spare"
Straightway came the reply, short but
encouraging: "Asquad Of police started
for the depot five minutes ago." Thank
heaven! They ought to be here now. l
looked at Lynch and thought of the
$500.
"Wall, what's the words" he growled
impatiently.
"Your friend is coming" I answered
for want of a better reply.
"Comin'! Comm! Wharf"
Coming to the Office at Cohoe. He
probably has an answer for you"
"An answer for me? Jim Fellers?
What should he answer for!" Lynch
stood in stupid thought for q moment,
and then he looked at me with danger
Gus light in his eye.
"Look a. here, young fellerv' he cried.
"It's my private opinion you're lynn to
me. And eff We are"-here he uttered
horrible oath-"l'll cut yer skulking
heart out! l don't know anything bout
that thar masheen, but l swar Jim Eel
lers hain't nothin' to answer. More like
he'd git up and scatter wen he heerd
that message"
He stood glazing at me as he uttered
these words, his hand on his revolver. I
cannot account for it. As / before re-
marked, I am timid man by nature.
But this action only made me holder.
Everything depended upon keeping him
few seconds longer. 1t must be done
at any cost. tried a new plan.
"What do you mean, sir" shouted,
rising, "by coming into this office and
talking in that style? Do you think I'll
| endure it? Leave this room at once, sir,
or III" and l advanced threateningly
toward him. My unexpected attitude
seemed to amuse him more than any
thing else, but it silenced his suspicious.
He put his hands in his pockets and de-
livered loud laugh in my face.
oval, wal, my bantam, we needn't git
so cantankerous. Who'd thought such
little breeches as you had such spunkr
Haw! haw! hawl Why, l could chaw
you up 'thout making two bites of ye."
"Well, sir" said, still apparently un-
notified, "either sit down and hold your
tongue or leave the Office" And he
good-naturedly complied.
Once more we we're sitting listening to
the ticking of the clock as the minutes
dragged their slow length along. Would
help nes er come! Three minutes more.
Great Heavens! The suspense was be-
coming intolerable. must so to the
stair and listen if l die for it. I arose
and took a step toward the door, but .
voice stopped me.
"Hold" shouted Lynch, standing up
right, all his suspicious aroused once
more; Eyer can't 60 out Of that door
afore me. Come back here!"
"Sirp'
Some back here, or by the Eternal
| ~ ord thu MIC til, ~ 1<o ~,
the face. He stood now half-turned from
the door and was facing it. Slowly and
| without q particle of noise I saw the
knob turn and face under . blue cap
peep in! Thank God! Help had come!
| felt q joy uncomfortable come over me.
must keep the murderer's attention an
instant longer till some one could spring
upon him from behind. walked straight
| up to him, but his quick ear had caught
q movement behind. As he turned with
an oath sprang upon him and bore
down his arm just as the revolver went
of, the ball burying itself harmlessly in
the floor. Before he could free himself
from my grasp half . dozen officers were
upon him and he was quickly secured.
The next morning the papers were nlled
with glowing accounts of the capture of
the murderer and praise Of my conduct.
The principal business men of the town
made up purse of $500 and presented
it to me; and this, with the reward that
was paid me the following week, enabled
me to get married ct Christmas. But !
shldder at the remembrance of that half
hour l spent alone with Tim Lynch, and
don't think u, 600 would tempt me to
60 through it again.