Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-01-27

ing Mrs. Blanks house. Our pickets
he'd already retired. in deepest shad-
ow OF clump of trees my horse STUN
pied and went twenty feet over his
head. landing in lot of underbrush
ny the roadside. 1t was dark, my uni
form was blue, and had been lying
close down on the neck Of a black
horse; consequently, when the animal
recovered himself and bolted ahead.
those following could not determine if
L were still on his back or not, and
they rode on past me in hot chase
[ knew they could not go far without
a clash with our outposts; they must
soon return. To take to the woods, in
the swampy condition of the ground,
was not to be thought Of. So soon as
the last man passed the place where I
fence and rushed into the house of Mrs.
Blank, astonishing and frightening all
by my appearance. L admit of gen.
eral Generalization at that time.
Ladies'" I gasped. "my life is in
your hands. Will you hide me until
tomorrow morning?"
Hastily I explained, then all pro-
posed different modes of secreting me,
until there was a hail at the gate, and
the splashing Of hoofs could be heard
in the hush that followed. 1 saw that
would have to act for myself In the
one general room in which we all were
stood large, very heavy, old-fashioned
wardrobe, with high, open-carved
cornice around it's top; I spied this as
l looked around in desperation and,
placing straight backed chair against
it, mounted to the top and curled up,
the cornice almost completely hiding
me; over me [ threw some old lace
curtains, long since tossed there, and
covered with dust.
Hardly had 1 made these arrange
ments than ten muddy, angry, and
well-armed .Johnnies entered the room.
They were raving over the loss of their
prey. Several swore they caught a
glimpse of me being tossed over my
horses head. others thought was still
J clinging to old Black when he gained
cur lines.
The ladies "fibbed" like good angels,
and denied all knowledge of my where
} abouts. Mrs. Blank, feeling very ner-
vous all the time the party were in the
. same room with me, proposed that they
should adjourn to the kitchen, where
at the fire they could dry their cloth
ing, and she also promised them good
, supper. The invitation was eagerly
accepted; all hands filed out, except
the leader-he waited until the others
had passed through the door, then,
putting his arm about the waist OF Miss
, Josie, he drew her back into the room
and saluted her with hearty kisses.
The girl was we'll aware that through
: the open carving Of the cornice could
l see all that passed, and she struggled
Q 1iercely to free herself.
l "What's the matter Of you tonight? q
t the man demanded, you never acted
so shy before! What ails you?" And
8 he tried again to embrace her, keeping
y guard OF the door all the time to pre-
Il vent her from leaving the room, anc
= haunting her with former love passages
l. between them. / was angry, through
t wounded vanity, but / could not bu
Q pity the distress of poor Josie.
II suppose half an hour passed il
j, this way when the entire party returned
) from the kitchen and began again dis
l cussing their late adventure. They
we'll knew whom they had been chas
4 ing; they loved me not; the leader was
3 particularly strong in his statements o
a what he would do if L were in hi
: power. 1 had caused to be pulled
" down his deserted house in order t.
! obtain lumber for our hospital shanties
q and he cursed me vigorously. still
Il had two shots in the pistol which for
h tunately remained in my boot. Imad
up my mind that if discovered; TO-
a they swore to search everywhere on
venture; would put two bullets int
v this blood-thirsty individual.
"a was becoming terribly crampet
n from being so long in one position.
4 moved so that could obtain the pistol
+ when in my hand the snap made ii
= bringing the hammer to full coc]
=. sounded in my ears like ten-pounder
g Then shifted my whole body; as | di'
SO, involuntarily gave quiet sigh o.
4 relief, but unfortunately the old cur
"a tains covering me, or the dust in them
~ was much disturbed, and l inhaled {
"a more than generous snuff of the irrita
ting particles, and, horror! fount
"a that [ must sneeZe.
4 To sneeze then and there l wei
Il knew meant sure, sudden death to M
il and serious trouble to my kind protec
, tors. l was fighting off the fatal in
~ clination by every means 1 could thinl
"a of, when I heard window at the sid
# of the room open, then 1 saw Mis-
- Jennie cross the floor and come nea
v the wardrobe; soor 1 knew she wa
. standing at one end Of it, for quickl.
70 tipped ppetIi finger sro on the wood. at ono
=, recoonized the Geographic code
n "J-u-m-p for window, h-o-r,s-
= outside" That is what spelle'
n out; several times repeated in less thai
- a minute. I had to do something, tina
20 .. Internal sneeze was bound to come.
- - I braced my shoulders against tn
' n wardrobe cornice, my feet l p'ante:
Il firmly against the wall; I waited unit ii
- the moment the sneeze discharged 1t
q self.
There was single candle in tn
N room; the enemy stood or sat all around
II two OF them were directly in front o
~ INV fortre9S