, 1885-10-13
TO THE DEATH.
An Avenging Husband Meets His
Man at Last.
A Den of Wild Dogs Become More
Ferocious Than Wolves.
Special correspondence of rmr LEADER.

IANDEhi W lusf Ot- IL NJ thc hil
crossing OF Sand creek, on the Cheyenne
and Black Hills Stage line, a slight de-
preston in the sand at the foot of a giant
cottonwood, marks the spot where side by
side moulder the bones of two mortal
enemies.
A village in southeastern Missouri, in
1876, numbered among its small popula-
ton DR.. William Strong and his wife,
The doctor enjoyed a snug practice, owned
a comfortable home, and was altogether
well off in the world goods. Mrs Strong
was considerably younger than her hus-
band, and prior to her marriage had been
called the belle of the village, a title she
did her best to hold Some of Dame
Rumor's many tongues asserted with
more probability han usually attended
madam's utterances, that the lady's res
ponses during the marriage
service had been directed more
to the doctors possessions than to
the worthy physician himself. The pair,
however, lived as happily together as the
usual unfortunate devotees OF Hymen,
until there came a young stranger to the
town. The stranger was a male, hand
some aud well provided with money. En-
gaging a suite of apartments at the best
hotel, and displaying his elegant and fash
ionably clad person frequently on the
streets, he was soon sought after and in
troduced to the best society of the quaint
little town. The hotel register bore the
name of Allen Wallace, but it was not
until he met the doctors wife at more
han one social gathering; that he said
he was from California, and was amply en-
'dowed with the wealth of the golden state.
Manoeuyering mothers and disguised
papas tried to foist their daughters on
the glittering Pacific bird, in vain. 1t
was not long before he forsook the hotel
and took up his abode at the doctor res
idence, for the sake of quiet home.
After that the town watched and waited
on the an uiue for what everyone but the
doctor, saw what was sur to happen.
One morning the doctor found his fascin-
ating guest gone, his wife ditto, and the
house robbed of everything of value that
could be carried off. And then Ethe ton
CUES were freely loosened ,and the choice
morsel rolled from one to another. The
betrayed husband said nothing. He
quickly and quietly arranged his business
matters, turned everything he had into
money, and one morning he, too, was
missing. The t%ownspeople looked at each
other with expressive eyes. They felt
that an implacable vengeance was on the
track of the guilty pair.
One day in the spring Of 1876, there was
a sudden cutlery in the streets of Chey-
enne. A woman had been run over by a
passing team and badly injured. The
sufferer was hastily removed to an ada
cent house, and a demand was heard for
a doctor. A man apparently bent with
age, but in whose morose countenance a
stern purpose could be traced, pushed
through the crowd. said he was a phys
ician and offered his services. He was
hastily led to where the injured lady lay.
There on the bed of a charitable stranger,
surrounded by alien faces, with the seal
Of reckless dissipation on her haggard
features, was the wife who had once lain
on his bosom; already the signs Of death
we're on her brow, Of no avail to bind up
the broken limbs, and only the Great
Healer himself could minister to the
bruised soul. As the ,agonized gaze Of
the upright husband rested upon her,
the fallen wife opened her eyes. An aw-
iul recognition filled them. With a last
effort she raised herself, gasped forth his
name and fell forward into his outstretched
arms. The kindly strangers about them
fell away and no careless cars heard the
words that were spoken in that last, brief
but awful interview. Soon the whispers
of the erring wife ceased. With her
head pillowed on her husbands bosom,
she was dead. And now with the som
bre fire again alive in his eyes, DIR. Strong
strobe from the death presence. The
next morning found him a passenger on
the stage enroute for the Black Hills. A
guide post had been set in the path of his
vengeance. Several days and nights
passed and his destination was not far
distant. One evening, the setting sun
cleaned redly ON the coach as it entered
the sandy expausc that led to the Dry
crossing of Sand creek. On the banks OF
the barren stream grew a clump of cotton
wood. As the coach entered their shade,
there came the stern cry Of halt, and
masked men with leveled pistols lined
either side Of the road. The coach came
to a sudden |standstill; the frightened
kpassengers huddled together. The doc.
ttovmas on his feet, his right hand clutch
his pistol, and the fire of a deadly
Purpose in his eye, lie had recognized
the voice that called halt. A moment
more and an active figure stepped lightly
to the coach door and the same voice in
mocking accents said. gentlemen, be
pleased to step this way and hold up youI
hands as you do 90. The doctor was
the first to step forth and as he did 50 he
exclaimed. Allen Wallace, we meet
again and the sharp report ola pistol
accompanied the words. The stricken
bandit fell to the ground, but was on his
feet again instantly graphing with hii
enemy. But he was wounded unto death.
His hold soon relaxed, and he fell once
again to arise no mon, His followers at
once poured a volley into his slayer, liter.
ally shooting him to pieces. The remain
inc road agents hastily robbel the eoacl