McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-09-11

tered here and there about the bar,
chatting noiseily for the most part,
though a few drank in sullen silence;
but, except the lounger by the door,
who stood with his hands plunged deep
lg in his pockets, and his slouch-hat
drawn low over his restless eyes, each
man had some mate to reflect his hui
NOR or contradict it.
''That is the Italian fellow" I whis-
pered, nodding toward him.
Eyes; cleaned out or Whereabouts, :"
Quincy answered, in low tone, and
then we turned to leave together.
AS we passed out some impulse
prompted me to turn towards the
stranger, and, extending sovereign on
my open palm, said, CURLY:
''Have it, mate?"
81 did not beg" he answered, coldly,
speaking with distinct foreign ac-
cent,
''Of course not, but it will bring
you luck. Money from the pockets of a
successful digger always does" said
lightly.
''Thank YOU"
He took the coin from me, but held it
doubtfully in his hand while he followed
me with his eye.
"That fellow is desperate I should
have said nothing to him, on the princi-
pie of letting sleeping dogs lie," Quincy
remarked.
cit is always well to do a kind ac-
ton when one has the chance l said
carelessly; ''that may stave off suicide
another week. and then Quincy and
shook hands and parted, with some
vague hope of meeting somewhere,
some time, if we could.
1t was dark night, and when once
had left the lights of Tarrangower be-
hind me, the darkness seemed to close
around me with sense of discomfort.
After all, had been wise to carry all
that money on my person, and to take
my way, alone and unarmed-for an
unloaded pistol was a mere toy
through a district so familiar in those
adventurous times with deeds of vio-
lence? Several men saw the money at
the bank, and others knew that l meant
to draw out my investments that day.
Why had I not told Quincy, and let
him come home with me? Why had
not?
But pshaw! What was the good of
shrinking like child before dark
night? There was no danger-none in
the world; the men who had seen the
money were as honest as 1 was, and
once had reached my hut would load
my revolver and be ready for an at
tack.
To keep up my heart I fell to hum
ming one of Janie's old tunes, while I
strove to concentrate all my attention
on the path before me. Ihad proceed
ed thus half way home, and my first
terrors were fading away, when just
where the uncertain roadway dipped
into thicket of Eucalyptus, a hand
was laid on my shoulder and a vibrant
voice said TREMENDOUSLY:
''Your money or your life!"
cha, it is you, scoundrel, whom I
helpedr' said, wheeling around sud-
denly on my unseen assailant. s.Dog
of an Italian, would you dare?''
1t was furious Indignation and scorn
of such base return of my kindness
that animated me at this moment. Bat
ting for existence of my treasure had
not occurred to me yet.
Eyes, l would dare because I am
mad" the man painted forth. You
must give me the gold; you are young,
you can gain more. You have hope, I
have nothing-give it me.''
Eyes, shall give it you-that," I
said striking in the direction of the
voice, and then we closed with each
other.
After that neither of us spoke, but we
wrestled like giants, while each
clutched the other by the throat.
My money was safe still, secured by
a flap and button over the pocket, ac-
cording to fashion prevailing in the
colony at the time, and my chance of
life lay in the endurance of my thews
and sinews, for 1 knew I was con-
fronted by desperate man.
Round and round, backwards and
forwards, circling recklessly and grasp
ing each other furiously, we went,
while the sense of strangulation, due to
his grip on my throat, increased as he
strove to throw me.
''Ten seconds more and I shall be
ShOhOu, UhouSAO, ohu Uioh 1ooo0
ened one hand from its hold of him,
and struck out with my clenched fist
towards the region of his heart.
The blow told; he fell like log, be-
ing apparently paralyzed for the mo-
ment; but in falling he dragged me
with him, and his grasp of my throat
never relaxed.
81 am dying" I thought, striving
with all my remaining strength to
loosen his hold of me, and then my
thoughts wandered confusedly toward
my mother and jamie, and the home I
had meant to make for my darling; and
then remember no more, I had either
tainted or been suffocated into insensi-
bility.
How long I remained thus I cannot
tell. When / recovered consciousness
the murderous pressure had fallen of,
but my assailant still lay beneath me,
breathing heavily.
simultaneously we seemed to recov-