The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-03-27

'fohcitt4, play aiik ohetfft] A''i thC fi'AS~
ton of Him who has promised to be our
defense.
I A slight rocking ofthe car now became
perceptible, and theidoor knob was slow
ly turned A moment later a dark face
was pressed close against one of the win
dow panes--,has Of my odious fellow
passenger!
Repressing with difficulty my impulse
to cry out, I crouched stiH lower and re-
mained silent, listening intently, and
coald now hear nluiEied footsteps moving
around the car toward the door on the
other side.
I That knob was tried also. at first softly,
then with sndden force and noise, as il
the sneaking wretch was both disap-
/ pointed and angry.
erawled along the aisle Of the ear to
the stove and graspedt tise iron fire poker,
though had, confess, little faith in my
ability to WELD it successfully in self-de-
fense.
Twice the miscreant outside the door
appeared, from the sounds, to throw his
weight against it, and then with NUT
tered arsesses hastily zea through the
SNOW.
Rising from the floor, ! peered out and
saw his dark form move off in the direc-
ton he had gone on our arrival at the
{ ..at;or Il % T,,,., .a..e. - 49, ,..s,., 4
that he bad gone away to procure an
ak or a bar with which to force the
/ door.
The instinc, to fy instantly took full
/ possession of me. The FIRE poker still
held in my hand. Catching up the con-
! dsctor's lantern-thougn why ! scarcely
can tell rushed to the door ofthe car.
unlocked it, and sprang down the steps.
/ The snow was fully foot deep but
started TO run in the direction l had
head the conductor and brakeman go
away.
The moon was again obscured II was
squally, and the snow flakes filed the
air, but could see far oct on the prairie
some dark object which thought might
be house. ran on toward it, exerting
myself to the utmost in my dread OF pur-
suit.
/ The dark object proved to be much
nearer than had thought it, reached
it after few minutes, and TO my disap-
/ pointment found it to be only an old
freight wagon. drew up in the shelter
of it, and looked back toward the cars.
could barely make them out, but could
hear sounds which indicated that my
| prosecutor was trying to break in the
! door.
Ny tracks in the snow viii betray my
course thought, and yet again start
ed and ran on as fast as could for some
time. was young and healthy and my
fears gave me strength.
/ At last stopped, ous OF breath, and
looked all about me. vaguely hoping
that | was near the conductors house.
But only a white expanse Of snowy prai-
rie spnead out around me. could
not now see the cars or the freight wag-
on.
Anxiety lest should get lost on the
prairie and perish in thesnow next filed
my mind. / went on, trying to keep to a
straight course. The accounts which
had read of persons getting lost and frCez
ing to death on the western plai recur-
red to my mind, and iIied me W h the
grayest apprehension. By this time my
boots and hose were wet through, my
feet were numb with cold, and l was be-
coming very tired.
Then suddenly some large object loom
cd up before me. Going forward a few
steps, l saw that l was close upon a
house. 1t must be the conductors, / felt
sure, Tor must have walked At least two
miles.
The house was a small one, aud all was
dark and still aboutii. approached the
door sad Knocked several times. At
length gruf voice called out, Who be
ye? and what dye WANT"
The tone of the voice rather than he
words sent a thrill Of horror through me
afresh, for it was the voice OF my dr,ai-
Ell fellow passenger, the halfbreed For
moment was stupeiied with as,onish-
ment and dismay. Then it flashed to
my mind that in my wanderings over
the prairie had lost my way, and came
round 10 the house of these disrepatable
people
In paroxysm of fright ran around
the corner OF the house and then away
from it, of into the snow and darkness.
CHANGING back saw the glimmer Of
light at the house and heard the door
open threw myself PROSTATE in the
snow, lest should be discovered 1t was
not till heard the door close that ven
tured tc get up and 20 On.
How far went, or how FAR / continued
walking, cannot say, but after long
time another dark object came into view
upon the white expanse about me lap
preached it tremblingly. Ny feet were
by this time quite numb, and my senses
very dull.
Ii proved to be a small, mound-like
hoyel, such as are called dig outs or
dug outs
Plodding my way round il ] found the
4~.or vrI,i.l. af.s.f 49,, .,,,a ,,,f.-.4 rFb.
place felt ike tomb-damp. cold and
dark. All at once it occurred to me to
light the lantern, which all this time /
had carried, although had ieft the pc
ker in the snow long before.
All, how CHEEKY and good the blessed
light was found stone fireplace and
an old bunk Of boards containinga straw
bed
Having set down my lantern, broke
the crumbling old boards in pieces, and,
with them aud the straw, kindied fire
in the fireplace. When it Was well sblaze
sat down before it, took OFF my sodden
boots and warmed my poor, numbed
feet
There was enough Of the old rubbish
10 keep q fire burning in the fireplace for
an houror more. 1t was now past four
O'Clock in the morning, and glesm Of
daylight was coming in about the door.
New hope came to me now, and not long
after / heard voices. as if persons were