Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1889-12-31

then was to get away from those horrible
staring eyes. In less than an hour was
by his side jolting along the Fort Lincoln
road behind stout team of mules.
cannot remember now how far we
went before began to feel nervous and
uncomfortable. l know that it was a
long way, for remember conrratulating
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
-sud 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 . dry, hard laugh. !
tried to speak now, but my throat was
dry and parchcd, and my tongue seemed
paralyzed. He laughed again, louder,
and, stopping quickly, pulled up the
mules with jerk. 1 knew what was
coming now, and, before he could touch
me, sprang from tho wagon. He fol-
lowed me with the swift, silent move
ment of q snake, and rs turned to meet
him, for could not run. he laughed for
the third time The sound reused mo-
tried to seize his throat with both hands.
felt that I could kill him for that laugh
But, oh. the weakness of q woman!
Why are we not az strong as men? He
caught my wrists III his hard, brown
fingers. Ny arma were forced back, pow
erless and helpless, rs if held in iron
bands. screamed now in good earnest
and struggled against him with all my
strength and soul, and ali the time | felt
his grip grow tighter and tighter. His
muscles were of steel.
Suddenly he relaxed his hold and stood
still, and his flushed face became color
less and livid, as if l had accomplished
my desire and he was dying. Then he
let me go, starting from me as if | were
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 4 drunken man, looking at me Wild
" with the expression of some hunted
beast of prey. l stared at him dunn
founded for moment, feeling very gid
dy and sick, and then l knew what he
had heard. We were in hollow be
tween two rolls Of prairie, and could not
see far on either side, but sound carries
long way in this country, and even
nv unaccustomed ears now caught
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 well, and now threw himself
on his knees at my feet, muttering in
hoarse whisper:
Come back to the wagon. They Il
murder me in cold blood else, before
your eyes. swear was only fooling.
l had not wrong thought in my heart.
Save me, save me-
was willing to do that, much as l
loathed the creature, for he had not hurt
me; but l could not so back to the
wagon. began to feel very faint and
queer; the sensation of safety, after the
horrible tension q minute ago, was
severe reaction, and almost too much
for me. The poor wretch saw this, and
his muttercd supplication rose to bit
ter cry.
"They are cowboys; they've heard
your call. They'll tear me in pieces if
you drop. Don't! Oh, my God! 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 1 managed somehow tic
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 a tearing Gallop, with free bride
rein. They gave tremendous shout
when they saw us, and there was a great
flash of steel and silver, rs twelve revol-
vers sprang from sheath and were cooked
and made ready for use. The poor
wretch at my feet buried his face in his
hands and crouched in terror, and l felt
very nervous indeed, for these cowboys
looked dreadfully fierce. On they came,
silent now; many of them with bare
knives between their teeth. No wonder
this guilty creature was in despair. l
went forward to meet them, and was
about to speak, when hat waved wild
", hearty voice greeted me and saw
a face that !. knew. 1t was Eric's, pale
and stern, as l had seen it in my dream,
but handsomer, very much handsomer;
and in another instant he was off his
horse and shaking both my hands until
my fingers positively ached. was in
safe keeping now indeed!
have little more to tell. 1t took all
Eric's influence and my entreaties to save
the wretched man. But it was done in
the end, and we were soon on our way
to the fort. There I found out that the
very cowboys 1 had dreaded so much at
Santana were instrumental in causing
the timely arrival of the rescue party.
They had their suspicious, and when
l.