The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-05-21
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Nelly Martin was lurking somewhere in
the vicinity, and he was determined to
know more of the matter. But it was a
dangerous undertaking needed all his
skill and caution, and his own life might
at any moment be sacrificed.
All his efforts to find either the robber
or the young wife were unsuccessful. and
he CROPPED around until the day began to
dawn and he could distinctly see his
way. Then he looked anxiously around
to ascertain his whereabouts looked at
the ground, to see if he could not ac-
cidentally find some trail. To his intense
satisfaction he found the imprint of
little shoe! It could have been made by
none other than the woman he was in
search of, and he followed until it sud-
denly disappeared-was lost even IN the
middle of huge ledge of rocks.
"The devil must have lifted her up
and carried her," he snapped out, as he
saw the accompanying footsteps were
more deeply impressed; "and there
must be a cave hereabouts.
AS he was speaking, thin scale of
stone that had been placed over an open
ing gave way he found himself in one.
He fell to considerable distance, lay
partially stunned for few moments,
and was recalled to consciousness by a
woman's scream.
"Nelly, is that you?'
eyes"
Her eyes had grown accustomed to
the darkness of the cavern, and she saw
more distinctly than he could do at first
Chow long have you been here ?" he
asked again.
"Ever since yesterday; for it must
now be morning"
"And the black-hearted man that
carried you off? ?"
81 have seen nothing of him since he
left me here, and tied me SO [ could not
possibly escape"
The bonds were instantly cut, and she
told me how man crept into the cabin
and dragged her away.
"But the blood upon the foor?" he
questioned, with exceeding interest.
cit was his. [ struck him with a
knife"
From that moment his admiration for
her increased, if such thing were posi-
BILE. He sat in deep thought for a few
moments; and his first plan was to re-
main and wait for the rObber, and shoot
him down as he entered. But, though
he cared nothing for his own life, there
might be chance of the young wife s
being injured, and even revenge could
not be thought of when the price might
be even one of her precious hairs. No,
she must first be placed out of all dan
ger, and having decided upon this, he
began to examine as to the means of
escape. That was not difficult. The
cave had often been used as a place of
retreat and concealment, and rude steps
had been cut in the rocks. Satisfied
that Nelly could ascend without assist
ance, the old scout crept up, and looked
around on every side. There was no one
in sight, and not sound to be heard.
He called to her, and they were speedily
! journeying toward the spot where he
had left his companions. He met them
following the broad trail he had purpose
ly left, and little council was held.
But, like the one of the previous even
ing, it was cut short by the report of a
rifle, and the whistling of bullet that
cut a shining curl from the head of their
angel. Then their wrath burst through
all bounds, and the men would have
rushed UP the hill to where the famous
and infamous Joaquin could be seen
standing, coolly reloading his weapon.
"Yer'd only go ter yer death-ter be
shot down like SO many dogs inter-
posed Kit Oliver, as he commanded
them to take to cover "The devil has
got the best of it, and it hain't no use
tryin' ter fight him with fair wepans. I
said he war devil, and he am and,
boys, we'll make it hot enuff for him p
They understood his meaning and,
while one guided Nelly homeward, the
rest separated, surrounded the wooded
hill, upon whose top the robber was
standing, and in a very brief time flames
and smoke arose in great volumes. The
outlaw was literally hemmed in by fire.
There was blazing, roaring hell upon
every side, and escape seemed impossi-
ble Should he attempt to rush through
the burning furnace, bullet would put
an end to his career, and the scout grim
ly watched for the result. They could
see Joaquin, as the smoke momentarily
lifted, standing upon the same spot.
The flames seemed to meet above his
head, and blazing cinders fell in i'm
mense showers. Long and anxiously
they watched, until the flames and smoke
had somewhat disappeared. No trace of
a man was to be seen, and they returned
home exulting in the death of the out
law, and to rejoice that they had saved
Nelly unframed.
But they were mistaken. Joaquin
was not dead. They had forgotten what
a safe retreat the cave was, and his death
was written in blood long after that of
the Angel of Rock Camp"
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