The Butler weekly times., 1883-05-30

he had insulted. left its red scar
across his cheek
Wild with pain and passion with
out utterlng word, he drew a keen
pointed dirk knife and made one fur
ious thrust at his weak little adser-
sary's heart. Instantly as he did so,
howevers, Stephens, seized stout
umberrella which he held in his left
hand, interposed it as a defense and
was able for moment to hold him
at arms length. The knife fel, short
CT its mark. Once more II was
thrust at Stephens. cutting 4 deep
cash ia his arm, but reaching no Vi
tai point. eighteen times it cut deep
| into his breast, arms and body. but
still he did not fall. Then he could
hold out no longer. No courage,
no spirit however firm and unyield
ing, could long withstand such an
attack. Cone was determined to
finish his work. He threw all his
weight against the umbrella which
| held HIM away from The man he in
tended to Kill. 1t broke: Stephens,
halt fainting fell upon his back. The
giant Cone was at his throat in a
moment; his head, by GRIP OF IRON,
was held against the cruel floor; the
keen and blood-dripping knife was
held alott before HIM for the last ia
tai thrust; but still the poor, pale
| face of the little hero was set and de-
| tlant-his black eyes still flashed un-
dauntedlv.
"Retract, or I'll cut your cursed
throat!' Kissed Cone.
''Cut! I'll never retract!" gasped
the almost lifeless Step hens.
| Like a flash the knife came down.
With an almost superhuman effort
the prestrate man caught It i'll his
right hand. Clean through his mus
cles, tendons and bones of the hand
1t cut, and stuck fast and reached no
vital part. With desperate strength
lCone tried to wrench It fire. With a
grasp almost of death the horribly
mangled and mutilated hand still
held 1t fast. In the struggle Steph-
eas was once more dragged to his
teet. The blood was rushing IN
streams from his wounds. His hold
upon the knife which sought his
brave heart began to relax. He was
dying. But when he believed the
next moment would be his last.
strong men came to his relief. The
madman Cone was secured and
| held fast.
| Then quickly the wounds which
Mr.. Stephens had received were ex-
amined 1t was found that one o
them had penetrated within six
teenth OF an inch of his heart. An
intercostal artery had been cut. Ths
doctors declared that he would sure
ly die. Happily their prediction
we're not verified. HIS life wa:
spared by the unremitting care of {
surgeon. his devoted friend, who a
good fortune would have it, happen
5 ed to be in Atlanta at the time
i When he recovered, with magnan
? | ,mity of which few men are capabl
even of understandin he refused t
prosecute Cone, and that person in
stead of getting his deserts In tn
dark cell of = state prison, was fine
ST., 600. and, with his ''honor Wind
t Gated" was allowed to go free. I
e the dav OF his death Mr.. Ste epher
e spoke of him in terms of considers
e ton and forgiveness, Not long ag
e referrin. to the terrible struggle
l. have attempted to describe, ar
= showing me the great hole in h
'r mangled hand, he said, with qu,
v and faraway look in his deep, da1
lie eyes: ''Poor Cone. I'm sure he
S be serry if he knew what trouble
iy have to write with these stiff fnge
e. of mine. ."-Cincinnati Conerci
'a Gazette.
of
If an editor omits anything. he