, 1890-01-05

that 1 was aware of their scrutiny; but
the feeling of being watched was very
unpleasant, and l felt that l would not
pass a night at Santana on any account.
MIR. Wybrow appeared relieved when
l told him this, and when he brought up
breakfast introduced a man who owned
a wagon, and guaranteed to arrive at
Fort Lincoln before shutdown.
/ can see the fellow now, though it is
ten years since that day. A very thin
man, of middle height, dressed in neat,
brown canvas clothes. His hair was
very smooth, parted in the middle and
carried back behind his ears as tightly
as if it were bound with rope. He had
a small, round head, a flat lose, brown
eyes, rather dull and expressionless, very
high cheek bones and thick lips. An
ugly man, yet quiet and modest in man
ner n speech, with a soft, well modu-
lated voice. He was inclined to be bald,
stopped in his gait, and seemed a rather
stupid and altogether insignificant kind
of a person. A doctor Of medicine"
he called himself, and added with some
dignity that he was a "friend of Col.
Wynne's."
l trusted him. His quiet voice was a
relief after the harsh speech of Mr..
Wybrow, and my one object in life just
then was to get away from those horrible
staring eyes. In less than an hour was
by his side jolting along the Fort Lincoln
o behind a stout team Of mules.
cannot remember now how far We
went before 1 began to feel nervous and
uncomfortable. L know that it was a
long way, for 1 remember congratulating
myself upon having left Santana, be-
cause my companion told me that the
safe postmaster had been murdered by
cowboys a week or two ago-and this
was doubtless how my letter miscarried
and that the station was known to be
n Of the worst haunts for rowdies in
the county. But the time came at length
when he fell quite silent, and L then
found hat whenever l turned my head
to view the prairie about us his eyes
rested upon my face. oh, how terrible
it was! l 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 a
smile of the most horrible kind. Then
he laughed softly a dry, hard laugh. 1
tried to speak now, but my throat was
dry and parched, and my tongue seemed
paralyzed. He laughed again, louder,
and, stopping quickly, pulled up the
mules with a jerk. 1 knew what was
coming now, and, before he could touch
me, sprang from the wagon. He fol-
lowed me with the swift, silent move
ment of a snake, and as I turned to meet
him, for / could not run, he laughed for
the third time. The sound reused me.
l tried to seize his throat with both hands.
1 felt that I could kill him for that laugh.
But, OIL the weakness of a woman!
Why are we not IS strong as men? He
caught my wrists in his hard, brown
fingers. My arms were forced back, pow
erless and helpless, as if held in iron
bands. l screamed now in good earnest
and struggled against him with all my
strength and soul, and all 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 mead to the ground
and listened. When he rose to his feet
a moment later he reeled and staggered
like q drunken man, looking at me wild
ly with the expression of some hunted
beast of prey. / stared at him dunn
founded for a moment, feeling very gid
dy and sick, and hen l knew what he
had heard. We were in a hollow be-
tween two rolls of prairie, and could not
see far on either side, but sound carries
a long way in this country, and even
my unaccustomed ears now caught a
low, rumbling thunder, becoming louder
every instant-the flying hoofs of gallop-
ing horses. 1t came from behind; some
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 a
hoarse whisper:
"Come back to the wagon. They'll
murder me in cold blood else, before
your eyes. / swear l was only fooling.
1 had not a wrong thought in my heart.
save me, save mel"
i was willing to do that, much as
loathed the creature, for he had not hurt
Nme; but L could not go back to the
Wagon. / began to feel very faint and
queer; the sensation Of safety, after the
horrible tension a minute ago, was a
severe reaction, and almost too much
for me. The poor wretch saw this, and
his muttered supplication rose to a bit
ter cry.
"They are cowboys; they've heard
your call. They'll tear me in pieces if
you drop. Don'tl Oh, my Godl my
GodI'
/ set my teeth hard. l would not yield
to my weakness. Bad as his intentions
were, l could not let him be killed. With
a great effort 1 managed somehow to
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 galop, with free bride
rein. They gave a tremendous shout
when they saw us, and there was a great
fash of steel and silver, as twelve revol-
vers sprang from sheath and were cooked
and made ready for use. The poor
wretch at my feet buried his lac in his
hands and crouched in terror, and / felt
very nervous indeed, for these cowboys
looked dreadfully fierce. On they came,
1 eal4-A H. "a L..