Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-01-18

was seized bv the two men, throne,
violently to the tioor, and bound aud
gagged.
Before Agnes could collect her scat
tered senses enough to understand what
had taken place, a coarse blanket was
thrown over her head and fastened
round her waist With stout cord.
tits too bad to carry you of. my
pretty lass, the night before your we'd
ding day" said Que of the men. with i,
coarse laugh; "but our handsome, gal
liant captain, John Mills, has taken a
shine to you. and you won't be cheated
out of bridegroom. after ALL y
Then, nearly paralyzed with fright !,
SHE felt herself carried ont of the cabin,
placed upon horse, and borne rapidly
away.
After riding for an hour, which
seemed an age to the terrified girl. the
horse was brought to a halt, and she
was placed upon the ground. Then the
blanket was removed from her head.
and. gazing about her, she found her
self upon high cliff which overhuug
the river.
This is the place where your future
bridegroom said he would meet us, Miss
Trevor said one OF the villains, with d
brutal leer; well wait here for him"
II say, Ben," exclaimed the other
villain, "she's the prettiest werch that I
ever sot eyes on! Les desert the cap
tin, an take her along with us"
sNot if know myself, Jim Lawton.
The cant'in's allus used me like man.
an l hain't goin' to turn ag'inst him for
all the gals this side Of the Rocky
Mountains"
Then Ill send you where you won't
bother me, and carry off the gal my
self" cried Jim Lawton, drawing his
knife and rushing upon his companion.
Ben knocked the knife from the hand
of his assailant, and grappled the mur-
derous villain firmly at the throat.
They cliuched, struggled, fell together,
and rolled to the very edge Of the dizzy
precipice.
They rose again. Ben drew his knife
from lis belt. For single instant the
arm Of Jim Lawton. nerved by despair,
held the uplifted hand Of Ben, which
clenched the knife, then, with q sudden
effort, he dragged him again to the
outer verge of the cliff. Again they
struggled for moment-the knife de-
scended; but Jim Lawton, in
his death-grapple, dragged his adj
versary in his iron clutch and
together they dushed over the edge
of the precipice. Down, down they
plunged, clasped in that last, frightful
embrace; and their mangled bodies
struck upon the rough stones below.
Agnes was now free. With an ex.
clamation of joy she started in the
direction of her home, but she had adj
vanced but few steps before man
a stranger to her-had her in his grasp.
"Allow me to introduce myself to
you, Miss Trevor" said he, with leer
on his dark, handsome face. Il am
John Mills, the outlaw-the robber
captain. It is late for you to be out
alone. You need protector. I will
take you home with me-.
@Wretch!" cried Agnes, striking him
full in the face with her clenched hand
"Unhand mo at once
The outlaws eyes blazed with anger.
I "You shall not escape me, you little
tigress. Resign yourself. Your friends
are on your track, but they will moi
rescue you. Dare to utter a cry, and ]
will kill you, he added, brandishing q
cleaning knife before her eyes.
! Terrified by this menace, she allowed
herself to be dragged INCREASINGLY
away.
After dragging the girl ruthlessly
with him until she tainted with fright,
John Mills laid her on the ground for
q moment, in order to arrange
his weapons, so that he might bear her
away in his arms. While doing this he
espied Stephen Harvey, accompanied by
dozen frontiersmen, advancing, and,
taking hasty aim at him with his rife,
fired. The bail missed its mark and
passed harmlessly over the heads Of the
men. AS the outlaw bounded off,
Stephen Harvey raised his rifle and
fired in return, with deadly effect
John Mills, with cry Of agony, fell
dead, pierced through the heart. +.
Agnes soon regained consciousness
and. placing her upon his horse before
him, Stephen Harvey and his compan
) ions returned to the settlement, leaving
the body Of the outlaw to such buria
, as nature might grant.
Great was the Joy of Caleb Trevor
when his daughter was returned to hin
safe and unharmed; and the next day
he had the pleasure of giving her away
in marriage to his friend and the maj
: of her choice-Stephen Harvey.
!, Soon after the above-recorded eyents
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