Dodge City times., 1883-02-15


another sound near at hand-a crunch
ing of feet on the stony road, and look
ing toward the gate l saw a man open
it and hurry in, and come up to the
door. I was not surprised that he
opened it without knocking, for people
were not ceremonious there, but I felt
little startled when saw that he was
a stranger. He was out of breath, as
though he had been running. His face
was damp with perspiration; his
clothes, which were good otherwise,
were torn, as though he had made his
way through thorny bushes, and it was
evident that he was listening intently.
l. too, heard something; what, I hardly
knew.
AS soon as he could do so he spoke.
"Are you alone in the house, young
lady?" he said.
Eyes" l answered.
"For Gods sake, tell me where I can
hide!' he said. 1.-The lynchers are
after me''
knew what he meant. I knew, too.
that men were only lynched for fearful
crimes; but I had woman's heart.
Whatever he had done, he asked my
help.
Yet where could he hide? There
were five rooms in the house; each mad
small cupboard. There was no exit
to the roof-no secret closets-no large
furniture, and 1 heard them coming.
Suddenly thought struck me.
''Go into that room,'' said. "Do
not shut the door. Get into the bed
you see there, and tie the handkerchief
OH the bedpost over your head. Turn
your face to the wall. It's your only
chance"
He obeyed me. I sat down by the
table, dragged my work-basket toward
me, and began to sew and sing. l heard
many steps upon the road. The gate
changed. l knew that men came up the
path and peeped in at the window. Then
the door was opened. A Arough face was
thrust in. One man entered-another
and another. knew them all by sight.
Excuse me, Miss Becky" said the
leader; ''but we're after a man a
stranger in these parts-that has done
a murder. We saw him come this way.
We rather reckoned he'd got you to
hide him by some lie. Have you seen
him? Where's the deacon?''
'.Try not to wake grandfather" l
said. ''He' not we'll. You can look
under his bed, if you choose. There's
no other place to hide in in that room,
as you see.''
One of the men went on tiptoe into
the room, and looked under the bed,
laughed softly, and came out.
"You may 60 over the house. if you
like,' said |, "and see if you can find
the fugitive
''He can't get away if he's anywhere
about" said the man. 1.-THE house is
surrounded.
They took some candles which I gave
them and Went through the house.
They went to the stable, fortunately
padlocked on the outside, so that they
did not see that it was empty. They
beat the bushes, and peeped into the
chicken-coop, and went OF together,
furious at their disappointment, and 1
was left alone with the man they had
spoken of as that fearful thing, mur-
derer. l shut the shutters and drew
down the blinds, and he came from his
hiding place, pale but calm, and stood
looking at me a moment. a5
''You will hear the whole story to-
morrow" he said. ''DOn't believe me
guilty. l should have been a black
hearted brute, indeed, if had commit
ted the crime they charge me with, but
| am innocent. God bless you Sr your
mercy. can save myself now"
He opened the door and darted out
into the night. A little later Sally
came home. Later, my grandfather.
who had heard horrible story of
woman murdered in the settlement be-
yond.
l told neither of them anything. /
kept the adventure to myself for few
davs after tho fr1:th was 6iocovorod and