Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-03-17

I stepped behind the post and watched
for the reappearance of the phantom
like figure. The coal cars swept around
a curve. One by one their lights disap-
peared, and the grimy avenue was de-
serted and silent. The faint, yellow,
sickly flames of the widely separated
permanent lamps only served to reveal
the intense blackness of the passage
way. With strained eyes I strove to
penetrate the gloom. Soon saw the
specter-ike figure glide out from behind
the timbers and stand for An instant
irresOlutely between the iron rails, ap-s
parently examining the avenue to see if
it were unoccupied. Satisfied that it
was deserted, the figure, bending low,
came slowly toward me. To my horror,
l saw a second figure come stealthily
out and follow the first. The second
moved faster than the first, and gained
quickly on il. The first figure stopped
to listen. Instantly the second disap-
peared. The dull reports of distant
blasting made the heavy, smoke-laden
air CULVER, and the first figure
vanished before the air ceased vibrating.
The play of the two figures began to
wear on me. half believed they were
specters. grew desperate and waited
greedily for their temperance and ap-
proach. Out stepped the first one. l
decided to rush on him as soon as he
got within eight or ten yards of me and
crush him before the other came up.
From behind the timbers the second fig
ure emerged and glided after the first.
The leader stopped to listen. Again
the hindermost disappeared. l then
realized that the second figure was hunt
ing the first, who was hunting me.
From that moment knew that Willie
had slipped into Haskell's room as he
passed it and told him of seeing me
standing at the entrance of my room,
and knew the second figure was Haskell.
knew, too, that the slayer was to be
slain, that death 1urked close behind
him, and I waited with absolute uncon-
cern for it to fall on him. The shadows
glided noiselessly on, coming nearer and
nearer to me and to each other The
air grew heavy and foul with the smoke
of the exploded powder, almost yelling
the figures from my view. Now 1 could
see part of an arm or leg; then the
head of the first would be visible, and
only the arms and body of the second;
then, as the smoke foated by, the whole
of their forms would be indistinctly seen.
At last the first figure stood motionless
in front of my room, peering into the
blackness that was before
him like wall. raised my sharp
pick and leaned forward to strike him
dead. l was just about to deliver the
blow when Haskell noiselessly came be-
hind him. stayed my hand to let Has
kell have the satisfaction of sinking a
pick to the eye in the assassin's brain
There was whiz in the air, sharp
blow, and an indistinct heap of some
thing lying on the tramway.
Are you there, Watson?' in a
whisper. yes Help me with him.
We will bury him in your goof' We
dragged him in and buried him Deep
Then, putting in top shot, we knocked
fifty tons of slate down on his body.
Grasping my hand, Haskell said: you
will have to get away from here to-
night. He will be missed by nine
O'Clock, when the society meets. Go to
the surface as soon as it is dark. Bid
Anna good-by, and get away at once.
will not be suspected. You will be
killed tonight if you remain. Get out
of the anthracite regions went to
the surface in the last car. Fastening
from the shaft to the house, 1 saw Anna
standing at the gate waiting for me. She
cheerfully asked: sWhat makes you so
late? feared an accident in the mine.'
Before / could answer she ran into the
house to prepare supper. I thought
lessly followed. Onfentering the room
she saw blood on my hands and cloth
ing. Anxious, alarmed, she asked if I
was hurt. Assuring her that was I'M
;pi,rod wout into mn noon, uo chod
and put on my holiday clothes. Excit-
eddy Anna looked at me when | re-
entered the kitchen, but said nothing
in front of me, she clasped my
hands, and looking into my eyes said ::
Tell me the truth Have you had trouble
with the Molly MaguiresP' I told the
story briefly. Her mother had entered
the kitchen, and, standing by Annals
side, heard all. Both women said
you must leave here instantly. You
will be killed for this before morning if
found you will be brought back and con-
victed of murder by false testimony
Anna kept our money. She went
to little hole in the slab and drew out
a roll of bills and handed it to me, say
iilS lAOuS uu "O "OuiSA AetFO tAlo "
start in our married life with; but we
can not think of that now, Tears filed
her eyes as she saw our happiness pass
ing away. divided the money, giving
her two-thirds. Then, thinking heard |
and light footsteps on the
side below the house, passed
out Of the back door. Anna clasped her
arms around my neck, and whispering,
{ Do not write, as the postmarks will be-
tray your whereabouts, kissed me and
said, make haste, my love, and turn
ing, entered the house and closed the
door behind her. sprang lightly over
the vine-elad fence and was in the forest.
1 walked over the mountains, and by
daybreak was at railroad fag-station.
[ tagged the first train that passed, got
on, went to Harrisburg, and from there
direct to Leavenworth. From there
wrote to Anna, saying that could not
tell her where to write to me, even if
she dared, but that as soon as the power
Of the Molly Maguires was broken
would return to her. I joined q party
of miners and went To Montana with |