Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-06-19
lighted two or three matches Mt


ing by the side of the head man un-
til morning l could not entertain for
II moment. l must go on until n
considerable distance, at least. was
placed between it and me. This I
lost no time in doing. As fast as my
feet could carry me, hurried on,
half unmindlul if l was keeping the
trail or not.
For something like half an hour l
pushed onward. and then came sud-
ueElv to a standstill.
On before me light was glimmcr-
ing through the trees; but | was un-
certain whether it came from fire
or Il will-o -the-w;sp fitting through
the tangled mazes of the forest. But
| would not be kept long in suspense.
Any company was better than the
dead man living in the road behind
me. As | came near. the outlines Of
n cabin disclosed itself, and out
through the single window the light
was cleaning.
thanked my stars for this; with
out doubt it was the cabin to which
| had been directed that morning;
and had stumbled as it were upon
it by accident. The thought of find
ing those who had a hand in tho
death of the man 1 had left in the
road did not occur to me. and walk
ing up to the door l gave a long rap
thereon. The light was taken from
the window, and, little later, the
door was thrown open, and a woman
stood before me. She was not very
prepossessng; and there was q scared
look upon her face, as she said:
"Who are you. and what do you
want here??'
81 ANA stranger travelling through
the country on business. This morn.
| ing | was told | should find u cabin
hereabouts, where l could get enter
tainment for the night
"You had better 60 away. This
is no place for an honest man. They
may be back soon and your life will
be in danger"
She would have closed the door
but raised my hand to prevent it.
At that moment she uttered cry
of terror.
"What is it," l said.
Murderer! look at your hands"
she cried.
held them up. They were cover
ed with blood which had got upon
them while feeling in the dark to find
what il was that lay across the road.
The blood of the murdered man.
The next moment he had slammed
the door in my face: and then l heard
her secure it with heavy bars.
A man could hardly find himself in
q more fOrlOrn condition than that
| was now in. No road which n mar
could follow before him; n dead mar
lying in tue forest behind, and a banC
of cut-tl,roats liable ut any moment
to put in their appearance at thu
cabin.
The sound of running water put
me in mind that there was n chance
for me to wash the blood from my
hands. Guided by the sound, Ipass
ed around the cabin at the spo
where, doubtless, Its inmotes got thei
! water. Here, l proceeded to Civ
them good washing, although il
> the darkness l could not tell whethe
); | had removed all the stains. Iva
! about to move away from the spot
when l was startled by the sound c
;, voices hardly a dozen yards away
Listening, caught the words uttere
= as they drew nearer.
y "Let him lie there and rot. A
! above-ground grave is good enoug
7 for a dog of spy"
- Doubtless he was speaking of tn
man over whose body l had stumbled
= But some one may find it. and g
- get us into trouble" said another.
!, "There is little chance of that. N
: one hardly ever comes this way ow.
T "You forget that there is a stran,
err somewhere near here now. "
r have got to see that he don'tget GU
= of here alive"
o My blood ran cold. OF course ]
le could mean no one except mysel
It eyes, he has seen too much alread
It If he came along the road he mus
A have run across the dead man. WI
Ii knows but what he may be in IL
n cabin now? He would want shelf
7 for the night and the light in IL
4. window might bring hi m here"
m They had reached the doorway no,
ID and one OF them demanded admi
,t tance. The door opened, and TIN
Q. went in, closed it behind them. No
8. was the time to make my escape.
ce minute later they might learn
he the woman that l must be som
ID where near at hand. Almost holdil
he my breath. and moving so that n
to dry leaf rustled beneath my feet,
ok crep away into the darkness, going
of knew not whittier.
To my dying day I shall not forg
,e, that night in the forest. Mornil
I'd found me more dead than alive, b
al to my great JOY it was on the edge
m q considerable town.
nd Iato sought out the authoriti
q and told them the story OF my nigh
adventure. They knew of the whe
lid aboute Of the cabin, and had 10