The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-06-21
PURSUED BY vIGILANTES
ATllrilling Incident.

Ihave entertained u good many
callers in my time, but the most
startling visitor / ever entertained
was when l lived in lonely little
Western settlement. / happened to
he alone that evening, for my grand.
father had gone to church and our
only servant was down ut the settle.
mcntstore. did not feel in the
least worried Mt being left alone,
because l had been reared in the
West. and had grown accustomed to
danger ! sat mt the window look.
ing out on the night.
What was an unusual sight even
in this strange place were n number
oflights that seemed moving here
and there across the plain like giant
tirefiics. What could this strange
phenomenon mean" l asked myself
and q sort of u shivery feeling crcpt
over me, tor somehow at the SIGHT
there seemed to he something super
natural in it.
As looked at the bright dots
moving to and fro, heard another
sound near ut hamd-a crunching OF
feet ON the stony road. and looking
toward the gate saw Il man open
il and hurry in and come up to thu
door. was not surprized that he
opened it without knocking, fol
people We're not ceremonious there
but | felt II little startled when l saw
that he was Il stranger.
His face was damp with perspirn.
ton. his clothes. which We're good
otherwise, We're torn us though llt
chad made his way through thorny
bushes, and it was evident that ht
was listening mtently. ], too, heard
something; what. ! hardly knew.
AS soon as he could do so, he spoke
".tre You alone in the house, young
LADY," he said.
"ies," answered.
For Gods sake tell me where
can hi,le!" he said. 1.-THE lynchers
are after me.
knew what he meant. knew
too, that men were only lynchcd for
fearful crimes: but had a woman's
heart. Whatever he had done, liz
asked my help.
Yet where could he hide? Their,
were five rooms in the house; rarl
had small cupboard. There
was no exit to the root--no secret
rlosets-no large furniture, and
heard them coming. A thought
struck mel
$50 into that ROOM" said. "Dc
not shut the door. Get into the tie,
You sec there, and tie the hanlker
chief on the l"dpost over your head
Turn your face To the wall. It's
vouronly chance"
He oleyed me. sat down by The
table, dragged my work-basket to
ward me, and began to sew an.
sing. ! heard many steps upon tho
road. The gate changed. | knew
that men came up the path am
lreped in at the window. Then the
door was opened. a rough face was
thrust in. Onc man cntcrcd-:lnotLel
and another. l knew them all b,
sight.
Excuse me, Miss Becky" said tho
leader, hut we're after IL man.;
stranger in these parts-that has
done Il murder. We rather reckone,l
he'd got you to hide him. Have
you seen him? Where's the dea
con-"
TRY not to wake grandfather.
said. "lIe's not well. You can looL
under his bed if YOU choose. There.
no other place to hide i'll that room
yon see
One of the men went on tiptoe in
to the room and looked under thu
bed, and came out.
"iou may go over the house, j
you like" said |, land seeif you cal
find the fugitive"
''lle can't get away if he's any
where about, said the man. 9TH,
house is surrounded"
They took some candles which
gave them and went through the
house. They went to the stable
fortunately padlockr.l ON tlleoutsi,l,
So that they did not see that il wa.
empty. They beat the bushes, unl
peepc,l into the clicken-coop, IN,
went of together. furious mt theil
disappointment, and Iwnsle alone
with the man they had spoken of II.
that fearful thing, murderer.
shut he shutters, and he came from
his hiding place, pale but calm, ant
stood looking ut NE q moment.
You will hear the whole story to
morrow" he said. "Don't believ,
me guilty. should have been (:
black-hearted brute indeed if | haC
committed the crime they charge mt
with. hut l am innocent. God bless
you Tor your mercy. can save my
self now
lie opened the door and darted
out into the night. A little later
Sally came home later, my grandf;l
ther, who had heard n horrible stoI ,
OF woman brutally murderedi in The
= settlement just beyond.
told neither of them anything.
kept the adventure to myself until,
a few days after. the truth was dis.
covered, and it was known that an.
other woman, and no man ut all.
had committed the murder. Then
told grandfather.
\ year after IL package came to Inc
by express. 1t was from California
little box ofgold and a letter.
The sender, it said, wls the limo.
cent man had saved from Judge
Lynch. lie had become miner,
had prospcred. and was happily
married, and begged me to accept
the little present offered by one who
would he ever grateful. There was
no signature, but was glad to hear
from one had never forgotten, and
never shall.-Philadclphia Item.
lilo Mas Tnn IJnunet