Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1882-02-23
V the whole thing and he shall swing

Aol IL, Sdlti Il VOICE DcIllllu HE.
81 turned, and there stood one of
the other brothers, with leveled rifle
bearing upon me. L attempted to
speak, but he would not let me.
& March straight to the house, and
if you try to get away I'll kill you
like dog. l would shoot you now,
but for the pleasure of having you
hung!'
''My own protestations, Lily's tears
and entreaties, were of no avail, and
to avoid immediate violence thought
it best to comply.
son the way to the house we were
joined by the other brother, and af-
ter few words in some language un-
known to me, they both hurried me
on. The old man was not at home
when we reached the house, and af-
ter another consultation, chained me
securely, and then made preparations
for journey.
''As 1 gathered from hints-pur-
posely let drOp-they intended to take
me to Fort Smith to be tried. / did
not exactly see the object of this,
since, if the case was once brought to
trial could easily be cleared on Lily's
evidence.
AFTER sending some of the SER
wants to bring in the body, they
mounted me on horse, tied my
hands behind me and my feet under
the horse, and, with one riding before
and the other behind, we set out
Lily begged to be allowed to 90,
but they refused. 1t was a lonely
country where Mr.. Williams lived, no
house within 20 miles, or she would
have gone for help to stop them.
THE first days travel passed with
out accident. My captors were tao
turn, saying nothing to me and but
little to each other. AT night they
loosed my hands sufficiently to allow
me to eat, which was little more
than | expected; but after supper my
hands and feet were securely chained,
and the chain carried around tree
and fastened with a paddock.
| The next morning our journey
was resumed. We had reached the
kiamatia mountains, over which we
were going by Il bridle-path--a wild
/ desolate region, fit place for a deed
of crime. | began tofear, from the
looks and words which passed from
one to the other, that | would never
reach Fort Smith. 1t would be an
easy matter to kill me, cast my body
! down into some one of the ravineS
which we were constantly crossing,
and invent some plausible excuse for
my disappearance.
AS night came on, they frequent
| ly stopped and held consultations
with each other, casting wild glanccs
of mingled hate and triumph on me-
1t was easy enough to tell the mean
ing of this but even it l had conde-
scendcd to entrcaties. it would have
been of no avail.
Let my fate be what it might. l
must meet it in silence. Many were
the thoughts which passed through
my mind on that hurried ride, but it
is needless to dwell on them.
The night of the second day We
camped on the edge of an old field,
grown over with brown grass. The
same precautions were taken as on
the previous night, and soon my cap
tors were wrapped in slumbcr. !
knew that in all probability it was my
last night On earth, and many con-
flicting emotions filled my mind, driv.
ing away sleep. But chiefly l though,
of Lily, my prairie flower, left to the
mercy of those rude men.
about midnight my mcditations
were interrupted by a soft rustic be.
hind me in the bushes, but before ]
could speak or make motion a voice
whose music l never expected to heal
Oh earth again, said: 'Hush!' ant
in moment Lily was beside me.
Then, with her arms around me
her lips close to my ear, she told mi
that she had overheard her brother
talking of killing Inc ON the way, be
ing afraid to do so at home; hat
caught two of her own horses and hat
! followed with the hope of rescuins
me.
"She had key which she though
would open the paddock fastening 9
Il the chain that held me. The padloc]
Il was one of the spring kind, with th
: key-hole, a simple slip, at the bottom
The key is a plain, fiat bar, with va
S rious indentations in it to fit the ward
of the lock, and by simply pressing
e the lock flies open.
a Lily tried the key but it would nc
e fit. AS l could see by the moonlight
It an expression of dismay fitted owe
it her face, and she pressed her hand
d to her head as if to think. AS fo
s me, had so long given up all hope
Y life that l sat in silence. awaitin
y what she would do, unable to offs
:. any assistance.
e 'Then, with the murmured word:
Ut 1T may do!' she left me for mt
ment, going into the old field. The
II she returned, bringing a handful {
:, the broom-grass with her. Selectin