Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-12-27

the feeling or beng watched was very
unpleasant, and felt that | would not
pass night at Santana on any account.
Mr.. Wybrow appeared relieved when
told him This, and when he brought up
breakfast introduced a man who owned
a wagon, and guaranteed to arrive at
Fort Lincoln before sundown.
can see the fellow now. though it is
ten years since that day. A very thin
man, of middle height, dressed in neat,
brown canvas clothes. His hair was
very smooth, parted in the middle and
carried back behind his ears as tightly
as if it were bound with rope He had
a small, round head, fiat nose, brown
eyes, rather dull and expressionless, very
high cheek bones and thick lips. An
ugly man, yet quiet and modest in man
ner and speech. with soft, well modu-
lated voice He was inclined to be bald,
stopped in his gait, and seemed rather
stupid and altogether insignificant kind
of a person. A doctor of medicine" +"
he called himself, and added with some
dignity that he was a friend of Col
Wynne's."
trusted him. His quiet voice was
relief after the harsh speech of Jlr.
Wybrow, and my one object in life just
then was to get away from those horrible
staring eyes In less than an hour 1 was
by his side ioltinS along the Fort Lincoln
road behind n stout team of mules.
cannot remember now how far we
went before began to feel nervous and
uncomfortable. | know that it was a
long way. for remember congratulating
myself upon having left Santana, be-
cause my companion told me that the
safe postmaster had been murdered by
cowboys week or two ago-and this
was doubtless how my letter miscarried
and that the station was known to be
one of the worst haunts for rowdies in
the county. But the time came at length
when he fell quite silent, and l then
found that whenever | turned my head
to view the prairie about us his eyes
rested upon my face. Oh, how terrible
it was edged away from him to the
farthest corner of the seat, and felt more
and more helpless and unnerved every
moment. The suspense did not last long.
When he perceived my fears he boldly
raised his eyes and looked at me with
smile of the most horrible kind Then
he laughed softly a dry, hard laugh. !
tried to speak now, but my throat was
dry and parched, and my tongue seemed
paralyzed. He laughed again, louder,
and, stopping quickly, pulled up the
mules with jerk. knew what was
coming now, and, before he could touch
me, sprang from the wagon. He fol-
lowed me with the swift, silent move
mcnt Of a snake, and as | turned to meet
him, for | could not run, he laughed for
the third time The sound reused me.
tried to seize his throat with both hands.
/ felt that could kill him for that laugh.
But, oh! the weakness Of woman!
Why are we not as strong as men? He
caught my wrists in his hard, brown
fingers My arms were forced back, pow
erless and helpless, as if held in iron
bands. | screayI led now in good earnest
and struggled against him with all my
strength and soul, and all the time l felt
his grip grow tighter and tighter. His
muscles were Of steel. #t
Suddenly he relaxed his hold and stood
still, and his flushed face became color
less and livid, as if had accomplished
my desire and he was dying. Then he
let me gei starting from me as if Iwere
some poisonous thing; and, dropping on
his knees, he bent his head to the ground
and listened. When he rose to his feet
a moment later he reeled and staggered
like drunken man, looking at me Wild
" with the expression of some hunted
beast of prey. | stared at him dunn
founded for moment, feeling very gid
dy and sick, and then / knew what he
had heard. We were in a hollow be-
tween two rolls of prairie, and could not
see far on either side, but sound carries
q long way in this country, and even
my unaccustomed ears now caught a
low, rumbling thunder, becoming louder
every instant-the flying hoofs of gallop-
ing horses. 1t came from behind; some
one had followed us. Whoever it might
be, the wretched man who had betrayed
his trust was likely to get short shrift.
He knew it WE'LL and now threw himself
on his knees at my feet, muttering in
hoarse whisper:
"Come back to the wagon. They'll
murder me in cold blood else, before
your eyes. l swear l was only fooling.
had not a wrong thought in my heart.
Save me, save me!'
| was willing to do that, much as I
loathed the creature, for he had not hurt
me; but | could not go back to the
wagon. began to feel very faint and
queer; the sensation of safety, after the
horrible tension minute ago, was a
severe reaction, and almost too much
for me. The poor wretch saw this, and
his muttered supplication rose to a Bit
ter cry.
"They are cowboys; they've heard
your call They'll tear me in pieces if
you drop. Don't! Oh, my Godl my
God"
set my teeth hard. would not yield
to my weakness. Bad as his intentions
were, / could not let him be Killed. With
a great effort | managed somehow to
keep my head steady, and then my res
cuers swept over the hill, and the danger
was over.
Twelve mounted men were there, rid
ing at tearing gallop, with free bride