Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-08-18


soundly. As was my invariable Gus
tom, took my pack along with me,
ard climbed the ladder to find myself
in long, low room, lighted by win
dow at either end. The bed was at the
further end and the lower sash of the
window was up its full he'll ht. From
the window to the bed was a distance
of about four feet. Notwithstanding
the rain, the chamber was close and
sultry, and for this reason the woman
had raised the window, and for this
reason left it up. 1 placed my pack
on the foot of the bed, blew out the
light and sat down to think. The widow
dow had acted in a suspicious manner,
and yet there Was nothing, when I
came to think it all over, which real
~ condemned her. l won't admit that
that was bit alarmed, but / found
myself trembling at some unseen and
underlined danger. 1t was a curious
position to be placed into feel no fear,
and yet to be shaking as if some ter
ror was upon you. Hooked out of the
window, but the night was so black
that made out nothing. l lighted a
match and looked under the bed, which
had valance around it, but there was
not even box or basket hidden away.
l think l sat by the window full
hour before deciding to 90 to bed, and
then simply pulled off my coat and
boots and lay down on the outside,
fully determined to remain awake for a
couple of hours at least. l had a
trusty revolver with me, and I felt GER
tain in my own mind that any one who
attacked me in an open manner would
find me tough customer. There was
no movement whatever from below.
heard no doors open-no voices-no
footsteps. The clock struck II soon
after I got into bed. I as wide awake
when it struck II. never felt less in
clined to sleep, but had certainly
dozed off when a noise at the open
window aroused me. / listened until
sure that some one or something was
there, and then swung my legs off
the bed to face around. AS my feet
touched the floor there was flash of
fire and loud report, and by the
monetary light l saw the head and
shoulders Of man outside of the win
dow. had my revolver in my hand,
and the fash of his weapon had scarce
ly passed away WREN I gave him a
bullet. heard fall outside, and as
sprang to the window I felt the ends
of ladder which had been raised. 1t
was only then that l knew his bullet
had hit me in the calf of the leg,
though the excitement kept the pain
almost subdued, | gave the ladder a
heave and heard it 60 crashing down,
and then drew away from the window
fer fear OF. being fired on. Just then
the clock struck one.
There had been an attempt to MUIR
der me. Was the would-be murderer
the Widows son? If not, the firing
must have aroused her, and she should
have called out. If so, had 1 killed
him? Would it be safe for me to 20
down stairs? Wouldn't the mother &C.
cure his weapon and fire upon me as
descended the ladder? There was no
let up to the rain, nor did the darkness
break away. l decided to remain
where l was until daylight, providing
I was left undisturbed. From that
time until day broke I heard no sound
to alarm me. / sat in a chair, revol.
YER in hand. and the pain from my
wound making me cringe; and if ever
mortal man was glad to see the dark
ness fade away it was the person be-
fore you. The rain ceased about half
past 2, but made no attempt to get
to the window and look out until day
light was strong enough to see every
thing plainly.
The ladder was lying on the ground,
but nothing was to be seen of my mid
night visitor. took up my pack and
limped to the open trap door in the
floor, but no one was stirring. With a
good deal of an effort l descended to
the ground floor, half expecting to be
attacked, but the house was deserted
and the back door open. 1 washed
and dressed my wound as we'll as l
could. helped my self to something
to eat, and hobbled off down
the road until l reached cabin,
where mule and cart could be hired.
What did do about the cold-blood-
ed attempt to murder me? Nothing at
all. If | had made complaint 1
should have been detained for weeks
or months as a witness, and could
not have sworn to the identity of the
man at the window, nor to any circum-
stance that would have convicted the
woman. I gave out that it was an
accident, and though it was not seri-
GUS wound, it gave me this limp for
life.