The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-03-18

I stepped behind the post and watched
for the temperance of the phantom
like figure. The coal cars swept around
a curve. One by ore 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 l strove to
penetrate the gloom. Soon saw the
specter-like figure glide out from behind
the tmbers and stand for an instant
irresolutely between the iron rails, ap-
parentiy examining the avenue to see it
it were unoccupied. Satisfied that it
was deserted, the figure, bending low,
came slowly toward me. To my horror,
l saw second figure come stealthily
out and follow the first. The second
moved faster than the first, and gained
quickly on it. 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. 1 half believed they were
specters. grew desperate and waited
greedily for their temperance and ap-
proach. Out stepped the first one. I
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. then
realized that the second figure was hunt
ing the first, who was hunting me.
From that moment I 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.
l knew, too, that the slayer was to be
slain, that death lurked close behind
him, and I waited with absolute uncon-
Germ 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 I 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
impenetrable blackness that was before
him like a wall. I 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. I stayed my hand to let Has
kell have the satisfaction of sinking
pick to the eye in the assassin's brain.
There was whiz in the air, sharp
blow, and an in1istinct heap of some
thing lying on the tramway.
"sAre you there, Watson?' in
whisper. sYes.' 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 I 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. Onsentering the room
she saw blood on my hands and cloth
ing. Anxious, alarmed, she asked if I
was hurt. Assuring her that I was I'M
injured, I went into my room, washed,
and put on my holiday clothes. Excit-
eddy Anna looked at me when l re-
entered the kitchen, but said nothing
until I had eaten my supper. Then,
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 Maguires?' 1 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
you stay. If you escape and can be
found you will be brought back and con-
gicted of murder by false testimony
Gamma kept our money. She went
to little hole in the slab and drew out
, roll of bills and handed it to me, say
ing: Il thought we would have this to
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, I passed |
out of the back door. Anna clasped her
arms around my neck, and whispering,
Do not write, as the postmarks will be-
ray your. whereabouts, kissed me and
raid, Make haste, my love- and turn
ng, entered the house and closed the
loor behind her. sprang lightly over
The vine-elad fence and was in the forest.
[ walked over the mountains, and by
laybreak was at a railroad fag-station. |
tagged the first train that passed, got |
IN, went to Harrisburg, and from there |
lirect to Leavenworth. From there I |