The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-09-23

more ugly face in all my life. /
knew he meant to murder me, and
| stood for an instant and hesitated
whether | should suddenly assault
or obey him. The revolvers were
held steadily at my breast his fing-
ers on the triggers, and I left the
road He followed close behind me
chuckling to himself, and as we
walked through the woods, he said:
"Yon remember | said / would
ONE for you. You got the advan-
. tage Of brother Tom, but / don't
think y,u'll get much ahead OF
me. Go more to the. left. '
After walk of about twenty
minutes, he said:
stop, now, and back up against
that tree, and put your hands be
hInd you. -r....-
What was the use of asking
him # he meant to murder me. or
course he did! | could read it in
his looks and actions. and wonder
ed that he did not shoot me as we
walked through the woods. | back
ed up against the tree, put my
hands behind me, and he came
ropnd and drew them behind the
tree and made them fast. | was
sorry then chat | had not made
some effort to save my life, though
any Struggle Of mine must have re
suited in my receiving bullet.
"There. Now he said, as he
finished tying, and came in front of
me. Now, I'm going to have my
fun. You raised - among the
boys, hanging and shooting, but
YOU won't bother us any more! I'm
going to scalp you the first thing,
and then we'll do something else"
"You can't be such an inhnman
being as thatr' said l, twisting at
my bonds.
81 can't, eh?" he laughed, pro-
ducing bowieknife and strapping
it on his bootleg.
IF you want to kill me why don't
you shoot me?"
because that wouldn't hnrt you
enough" he replied, rising up.
81 shall twist your scalp off as cas-
iIv as an Indian could do it, and
then I'll slice off your ears"
/ drew in my breath to shout, but
he seized my throat and choked me
until sparks of fire danced before
my eyes.
None O that" he growled. as he
let 90; ''just give one yell and I'll
open your throat from ear to ear"
He threw off my hat, seized a
handful of hair, and said:
"Here goes to revenge poor Tom, ="
The last word was yet on his lips
when he staggered back, raised his
arm, and I felt a pain in my shoulder.
After what seemed whole minute,
| heard the report of a shotgun, and
Red Jack sank down. There was
boyish yell, and little Dan bound
ed past me, waving the dubbed gun,
and he struck the dying outlaw
over the head until the stock was
broken and barrel bent, though the
man was dead when the first blow
fell.
In searching for the horse, Dan
had discovered Red Jack prowling
through the woods. The boy found
the pony, made circuit home, and
reached there soon after | left He
knew Jack was waiting for me, and
WI ,hout saying a word to any one
he shouldered the gun and took my
trail, and came upon US Just at the
right moment. In firing the shot
ne buried few of them in my shout
der. and the rest in the outlaws jug
ular. but the wound | got was
of no account.
When the villagers went out for
the body, and heard the story, they
made up a pcrse of 5000 for Dan,
and | aided him to get the county
rewards. was made his guardian.
and to-day he is one of the most
successful business men along the
Southern sea board, all the credit
for which is due to himself.