The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-08-06

our companions occupying the front.
/ Only one lamp of the carriage was
burning, and that gave very dim
light, and the farther we went the deep
er seemed to grow the darkness. it
was lonely road at any time to Raw
bury, but now it was particularly
gloomy, and [ was confident that Miss
Axten showed to some degree the yao-
ue forebodings which could not pre-
vent myself from experiencing. for
she drew closer to me, and once she
asked me how long it would be before
we reached MonviIIe-the next village.
We came at last to Hemlock reach
long stretch of timber which inter-
sected the country at that point, and
was some three miles wide. There
was not a house for the whole three
miles, and both sides of the road were
wooded almost to the wheel rut.
AS the horse plunged into the black
ness of the place and painted and strug
gled through the mud under foot was
confident that the two men spoke to-
gether in subdued whispers, and that I
distinctly caught the words, '.D-the
girl" and "Fifty-fve hundred"
grew cold with dismay. Fifty-tive
hundred dollars was just the amount I
had about me, and it seemed very pos
sible that these fellows had got infor-
nation to that effect, and that I WAS to
be robbed-perhaps murdered. If [
had been alone l should have felt no
fear, for / am naturally what is called
a daredevil sort of fellow, and | had
confidence in my courage and strength,
as well as in the pair of trustv revol-
vers | carried in my breast-pocket.
But Miss Axtell? What would be-
come Of her? If they conquered me
she would be wholly in their power,
and if they were what | took them to
be-then God help her!
We had travelled about half the dis
ance through the woods when the hort
ses were stopped abruptly, and one Of
the men rose up in his seat and faced
us.
Miss Axtell grasped my arm, knew
that she was terrified by the quick way
in which her breath came, but she did
not cry out, as most women would
have done.
There is no need of mincing mat
ers." said the man, with admirable
GOODNESS, ''and l will come to the
point at once. You have $500 in your
possession, and my friend here and my
self are in want of it. We planned the
accident to the stage by saving the
axle half in two, and we happened
along expressly to take you down to
Raybury. The lady we did not reckon
upon, but could not well be ungallant
enough to refuse so much beauty in
distress. And now the question is, will
you or will you not give us this mon
eyP"
':Most decidedly I will mott" was the
reply;
'Then we must use force,n said the
man, land l warn you now that will
murder you before | will allow you to
escape with the money! Give it up
peaceably, and pledge you my honor
that both yourself and the lady shall be
left at the next village safe and unmo-
lested."
Il will never give up a cent of the
money y said [, feeling my Indignation
rise at the scoundrel's GOODNESS; mot a
cent of it, unless it is taken from my
dead body!"
As spoke, the man flung off his coat
and seized me by the shoulder. Quick
as thought leaped out of the carriage,
dragging him with me, and then be-
gan the struggle.
Don't use the pistols" p" said the vii
liam who was taking care of the horses;
''they would be heard too far; knife
him if you have got to stop his wind!''
My antagonist was powerfully built
fellow and exceedingly strong, but
was 1.-THE and athletic, and we were
very nearly matched. Once | had him
by the throat and his gurgling cry for
help brought the other man to the spot.
- 4, .E,-1
odds, but | felt no disposition to yield.
They beat me and crushed me with
their weight, but they never once sue.
ceeded in plnioning my hands, and
hatter myself that l gave them some
blows that they felt sensibly, to say the
least.
But after time I felt my strength
giving away and knew that [ could nor
hold out much longer. How Miss AK
tell guessed it l do not know, but Just
as the larger man Of the two had plant
ed his knee on my breast and was rails
ing a knife to strike it to my heart I
saw by the dim light shed by the car
riage lamp that the young lady had
got down from the vehicle and was
hurrying toward us.
tried to shout to her to escape while
she had q chance, but if she heard she
did not heed. She came straight on,
and the next moment I heard cry of
rage and pain, and the man on my
breast tumbled off violently and lay
kicking upon the ground.
She had made a slip moose with her
scarf and flung it over his head while
he was too much occupied to notice her
presence. And now the brave girl was
Juggling away at the scarf with all her
might, and the man was choking and
swearing at a tremendous rate.
Suddenly he twisted the scarf from
her hands, and then. with wild oath,
he sprang upon her and both went
down to the ground.
Breaking loose from the other man,
I rushed to the spot and saw the villain
was tying Miss AXtelrs hands. She
was betweent me and him, and called
out to her:
Miss Axtell, drop your head and do
not move until 1 tell you to-"
She obeyed, and simultaneously l
fired Que of my pistols at the exposed
breast of the man. He dropped in
stantly, and before [ could turn to his
my throat and the cold touch of steel
| upon l11 1OIGuGdO IL NiS uO tlIIAO "
indulge in questions ofright and wrong
if 1 would save my life and hers. and,
without pausing to argue the morality
of the proceedings 1 gave this man the
! contents of the other barrel of my re
| volver.
1t settled his business for him SC
effectually that he caused us no more
trouble; and, having ascertained that
| both the men were dead, | lifted Miss
Axtell into the carriage and drove as
fast I could to the next village, where
1 reused the proper authorities and
placed them in possession of the facts.
Then l took Miss Axtell home, and
was gratified to find that her father
was out of all danger and in a fair way
of a speedy convalescence.
The two robbers were recognized as
old offenders; they had each been a
one time in the state prison, and were
well known as very desperate charac
ters. Considering everything, my
ESCAPE was most prOYidential.