Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-05-10


and the Parson turned into the Ca1
amore, road, and rolled on North.
IF we're not there in half an hour,
he said, III put you out of pain" Th
mare was suffering severely now. / hat
driven her twenty-five miles across coun
try, hill and sand and mud. Ihad KEEP
her well up to her speed every rod o
the way, and she held out nobly. l
went against me to keep her up, but i
was life and death to me, and we wer,
headed home. The pace was plainly
much slower, though.
Cant you work her up?" he said, will
a fierce impatient glance
Don't You see the mares dead fag
ged:' | answered.
He put his head out and called:
ride ahead, Chisel The mares play.
ing out. She'll follow better"
He came up and went by. 'Straight
on:" he called. Straight ahead" 1 an
Swered.
He rode on. We followed. The mare
went slower and slower. l knew the
/ emu WAS near!
whip her," he said. l looked him in
the face. '.Do you think I'm brute?"
He caught up the whip and struck
her sharply. She leaped out wildly and
went on faster and faster, gasping now,
every breath.
L turned upon him with set teeth. 1t
must come to that at last; it might as
well come now.
''If you strike her again." 1 said,
Ill He struck her quick and sharp.
l threw down the reinS. "You may drive
yourself"
He threw down the whip. His hand
leaped up to his breast. His face was
deadly white. A gleam of devilish hate
glared out of his keen gray eyes.
Take them up" he said, through his
teeth.
He drew out his hand. 1 saw the
bright steel glitter from the sheath.
Then [ leaped upon him. l grasped
the hand that held the knife, pressed his
head back with my left, with all my
might. l turned the point in toward
him and pricked it sharply into his breast.
LET 60" cried, ''let go, or I'll drive
it through your l dug my nails into
his hand. tore the knife away, flung
it away, behind. Then we grappled close
The mare swerved out one side; the
buggy tipped on stone. We rolled out
locked together, fell heavily ON the
ground. He was underneath, upon him.
He was stunned one instant, got my
hand in his breast and drew his pistol
out. put the barrel close to his face
Yield, or l fire."
He was no coward at least. He glar-
ed up at me fierce as a tiger.
''ShOot and -" he hissed.
l flung the pistol back. 1t struck the
fence and went off. l felt that l could
kill him; but wanted no towards ad- |
l ground his head into the |
sand; gripped my hand in his collar,
and tore out the spotless shirt front. l |
to soil, tear, smash, blacken,
bruise, disfigure his fine, smooth dress,
his hateful, lying face, his glossy hair
and beard.
He twined his arms round my neck,
and checked me down. l got my hand |
III Ills 1dcc, anu pIeSSeu IL l1CO Ine STOunu
I'LL he loOsened his hold. struck at his
mouth; he caught my hand in
MS teeth and bit it through. 1 clutched
my fingers in his silky beard, beat his
head on the ground with all my might,
ore and pounded him 1 knew not how.
heard the tramp of horse close by,
'elt myself grasped behind, lifted and
.hrOwn down heavily. Twas under now,
md there were two of them
l heard the rush of dozen tramping
lOofs; saw cleaning lanterns flash;
leard shouts and curses and oaths and
| pistols report.
Then was lying looking into loving
yes, my head upon Nell's breast.
Chisel is in Lindsey Jail with broken
Irm. The ParsOn has never been seen
IT heard of,