The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-09-25
mid command. measure the dis.

BOON we were III pOSltlOu, huu Il
found myself in an attitude that was
net looked for or desired, as it was not
my purpose to shoot Meier, or to be
shot by him.
We cooked our revolvers and stood
waiting for the signal that would be
very sur to bring fatal results to one
if not to both of us. / determined to
carry out the duel now that things
had gore SO far, and b~reathlessly
watched for the action Of the ele-
ments.
A half minute passed in profound
silence, save the mournful gurgling of
the brook, then there darted out g
lurid flash, but just before it came a
terrible oath from Mezler. | turned,
and Just in time to see him felled to
the earth, and to save my shot. The
officers had knocked the pistol from
the hand of the desperate, and threw
him upon the rock.
The work of binding Mezler and
starting him of for Denver was quick
IL performed, the next day found us
on oar way to Louisiana, with the
prisoner firmly secured.
He was identified and remanded to
prison, bat before parting be found
opportunity to whisper in my ear
that be the time long or short, he
would murder me il he had to go to
the end of the earth to do it, as soon
as be escaped confinement.
| received the reward, a snug sum
Of money, and engaged in business
as before my exploit in the land of
gold.
Time passed on, and | had almost
forgotten the oath of the convict,
when one evening, while stopping in
a hotel in q Southern city, and during
the time Of the rebellion, | read with
no little interest that Mezler was
again at large. Then the curse OF
the villain came back TO me with all
the force that it had at first been re-
ceived.
| had noticed during lounging
hours in the bar room a dark eyed
man, with heavy whiskers, watching
me closely, but thought nothing of it,
further than a certain familiar look Of
The features, until seeing the news
paragraph.
The strange man had then disap-
peared, but the matter gave me no
little concern. / thought, however,
my apprehensions might be ground
less, and said nothing of the matter,
but took my lamp and went up 10 my
room.
/ set the taper low, to allow it to
burn during the night, and tumbling
into bed without undressing, went to
sleep after several holrs spent in rest
less meditations.
As to the time / slept nothing de-
finite q be told, but suddenly my
eyes flew open. A restless fear was
pressing upon me. What had awak-
ened me | did not know. The room
was empty and all was still. Final
", concluding that it vas a vague
apprehension, | changed my position
and tried to sleep again.
After a time / passed into a rest
less doze, when l was startled by the
sharp click Of my door lock. Lying
quiet, | watched the key with breath
less anxiety. 1t turned from pincers
on the opposite side, and then the
door gradually opened, and the burly
frame of the same strange mar that
| had seen in the evening, entered the
room.
IN the hand of the intruder there
was a cleaning knife, aud with a
catlike tread he moved 10 my bed
side. My revolver was cooked and
held in my right hand under the light
spread that covered my breast. Ny
eyes, although apparently closed as il
in slumber, were sufficiently open to
allow me to watch his movements.
The demon cleaned upon me with
evident satisfaction. He measured
with his eve the location of my heart,
and then lifted the steel high above
his head to make a fatal blow.
There was not another instant to be
lost, and the thought for the first time
flashed through my mind. what if the
weapon should miss fire?
Ny finger pressed the lock, and q
~deafening report folio we'd. | leaped
to the other side of the bed, while the
knife fell from the hand Of the fend,
and he made for the door.
As it happened, there was a closet
door on the side of the room next TO
the hall close to the one for entrance,
and through this the desperate
plunged, and | followed him, turning
the key as SOC as he was fairly in
side.
The report of the pistol brought a
dozen men to the Don at once, and
after l had told my story the closet
door was opened and the occupant
ordered to walk cut and surrender
himself, which he promptly did, as
be was suffering severely from O shat.
tered shoulder blade. The ball from
nv revolver had made powerless the
muscular arm raised against my life.
After binding the fellow, / said to
him:
@Mezler," for, as the reader has be-
lieyed, ii was no ore else, "'this is
twice for me; will you give it up
now ?n
Bringing his teeth together SO that
they cracked as if made of steel, aud
uttering q fearful oath, he said
"Stone aud iron will not hold NE
until you are the food of worms"
II will see ID that" ] replied, as
we started The fellow off TO the sta
ton. lie carsed ike q maniac at
First, aud thea settled into sGllen ST.
lence.
| felt better when | knew that the
iron doors of prison were closed upon
him again, but still was i'll at ease,
for | knew that Mezler would kill me
,5&apy time should be escape, or at
Kpiraticn of his sentence. Bot
~ came soon. A few months af.
third incarceration the convict
died ia his cell, and ! breathed easy
again.
An Irish Legend,