Nevada County picayune., 1886-09-08

But the time had quickly passed so l rose to put on my coat and wrapper, saying, as I did SO
 II fear it will be late before reach N.-."
 It was not much to say, but it gave clue to the direction l was going, 1 bid them all "Good-night," !" and was once more in the darkness and the cold.
 had now to descend a steep pathway, which led into an old quarry, through which I had to pass.
 Some parts of the path were only about four feet wide. On the one side was a solid rock; on the other precipice, a fall down which would end any mars troubles, as far as tEis world is concerned.
 Well, 1 was groping my way down as best 1 could, when sud denly l felt something spring upon my shoulders, followed by a horri- ble sensation of strangling.
 For a moment or so was stupe- fled; but on missing my hand, l felt a mans arm pressed against my throat. | knew 1 had no time to lose, so 1 leaned backwards 8 little. This threw my assailant off his guard-no doubt he thought bad tainted; and then, with the wild strength of despair, 1 bent forword, ana threw the fellow over my head. But before l had fairly recovered he was upon me again like tiger, and this time it was a hand to hand struggle.
 We wrestled for some time, till at last we fell, and my head was projecting over the prec!pice,
 1 felt the hot blood rush to my head; a numbness seemed creep ing over me, but 1 shook it off, and determined to have another struggle for my life.
 AS 1 raised my head, the moon came from behind a cloud, and l recognized my would-be assassin as the stranger at the inn,
 And at tine same moment 1 saw something glisten in his hand, and l knew he meant to stab me.
 l caught his arm as it descended, and with my other hand clutched his throat. He snatched his right arm away, and quickly drew the knife across my hand that was at his throat. Though it cut me, my struggling prevented it being a deep wound. Again that fearful knife was being brandished before my face, and more than once | felt the cold steel touch my neck; but each time l succeeded in beating it off; and all this time we were close to the edge of the path.
 How we kept on the pathway at all is a mystery to me.
 Once, in trying to stop a blow, l seized the keen blade in my hand inAicting a terrible would; but l succeeded in getting the knife from him, and l threw it away as fir as l could. Then came the real struggle for life--who should go over the precipice!
 It was a hard time! We were very equally matched, and both strong.
 Several times he kept me from going over, because l held him so tightly that he would have gone as well.
 At last, got the better of him and throwing out my hand to steady myself, l gripped a large, sharp stone.
 With all the strength l could muster, l struck him upon the head with it.
 He groaned, and fell back insen- sible. l must have tainted, too, for l found myself lying across him with one hand still at his throat.
 As soon as my scattered senses returned, 1 tied his hands fast to- gether behind hls back with my scarf, and with his handkerchief and my own I tied his legs.
 So left him. .and hurried back to the inn for assistance l direct ed them where to go, for I was too weak with the loss of blood to ac- company them,
 They found him just as I had stated, and before two years had