The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-01-30

some time, If we could.
1T was q dark night, and when once
had left the lights of Tarraneowe
behind me, the blackness SCENE
to close around me with
sense OF discomfort. After all, ha
l been wise to carry all that money o
my person, and to take my way, alon
and unarmed-for an unloaded pistc
was Q mere toy--through a district $
familiar in those adventurous day
with deeds of violence? Several me,
saw the money at the bank, and other
knew that ] meant to draw out my in
vestments that day. Why had l no
told Quincy and let him come hom
with me? Why had I not?
But, pshaw! What was the good O
shrinking like a child before q darl
night? There was no danger-none il
the world the men who had e til,
money were as honest as I was, ant
once / had reach my hut 1 would loac
my revolver and be ready for attack.
To keep up my heart I fell to hum
ming n of Janie's old songs, while
stroye to concentrate all my attention
on the path before me. 1 had proceed.
ed thus half way home, and my frs
terrors were fading away, when, JUS
where the uncertain roadway dipped in
to a thicket Of eucalyptus, q hand wa:
laid on my shoulder, and a vibrant
voice said TREMENDOUSLY:
Your money or your lifep
NHa, it is yon, scoundrel, whom ]
helped!" said, wheeling round sud.
denly on my unseen assailant. DOC
OF an Italian, would you dare!"
1t was furious indignation and scorn
OF such a base return for my kindness
that animated me of the moment. Bat
ting for existence or for my treasure
had not occurred to me yet.
Yes would dare, because I am
mad" the mar painted forth. "You
must give me the gold; you are young,
you can gain more. You have hope, i
have nothing-give it mel"
Yes, l shall give you-that,nI said,
striking in the direction OF the voice,
and then VIC closed with each other.
After that neither of us spoke, but we
wrestiedlike giants, while each clutched
the other by the throat.
My money was safe still, secured BY a
flap and button v the pocket, accord
ing to . fashion prevailing in the colony
at the time, and my chance of life Law
in the endurance of my thews and sinews.
for l knew / was confronted by q des-
perate man.
Round aud round, backwards and for
wards, circllng res.lessly, and graphing
other f%uriously. we went, while
sae sense OF strangnlation due to his
grip on my throat increased as he stroye
70 throw me.
len seconds more and I shall be
choked," / thought; ind then / loos-
ened u hand from its hold of him,
and s1rack q with my clenched fist
towards b regions of the heart.
Inc blow told; he fell like o log. be-
ing apparently paralyzed for the mo-
mem: bus l falling he dragged me
With him. and his grasp of my throat
nevsr relaxed.
am DYING, I thought, striving
with all my remaining strength to loos-
en- ms bold OF me, and then my thoughts
wandered confusedis towards my moth
er ms JANE szd the home I had
meant to make for ny darling: and
shen 4 enasraSNr NO more | had eth
tainted OF been susosataa INTO nsea-
AtstssF
how foag 1 renamed thus I csnsos
tell Mssn l rstoverea CONSCIOUSNESS
.ae 1crasrols pres<z7ra aaad ssIfsn OIL
nus ny assailalt still lay benssssa Ms
breathing hsavily-
siianEtanaf1rlsfv We sse1as5 sgs rt=s..vFar
CONSCIOUSNESS anl II Easdsz We russs -
oIr Test / wss trembling "a evsrF
nerve ny aching sEesaaGs ss~snzssdsaar1-
ing fron NsF Essd, Ev pars&a,1 ssre,sa
resassat 10 usse- . ssE11av and ny EassIiII-
ant seemed U. no better elss-
For en- Snssans re stood apsrt. gEar-
ing st each Sshsr tnrusgh ths darkness
.asn, As thosaga ut = given signal,
We closed HEsa eaaa other again,
nss1nssisssy, neither knowing why.
! nssBeFe be had no more thought
OF taxing b money than | had of de-
tending II There seemed nothing
sEaks 10 Es bat mere animal fury; brute
force opposed brnse force, demanding
victor! At any cost
AGAIN We Efsstled and strore, white
ace Close To white a IN the gloom,
and again the contest was SO equal that
0o spectator would have known on
Snich ssde TO promise victory. For many
minutes y e wreatled silently, AMI
We fell again, and at this
anne ! was undermost. And then
snsued a struggle such as | had no
dea men were capable OF. We rolled
each other. We strained every
a to Kill the other, we dealt
other desperate blows at random,
then. when exhaustion forbade an
'sner movement mechanically we de-
'sssed, and, and as mechanically rose
ma drew 9 few labored, gasping
'reaths, and rushed to the contest