Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-07-25

and strength, as well as in the pair Of trusty
revolvers carried in my breast pocket.
But Miss Axtelll What would become
Of her! II they conquered me she would
be wholly in their power, and If they were
what I took them to be-then God help
herl
We had Travelled about half the distance
through the woods when the horses were
stopped abruptly, and one of the men rose
up in his seat and faced us.
Miss Axtell grasped my arm, and 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 matters"
said the man, with admirable GOODNESS,
land I will come to the point at once.
You have s 500 in your possession, and my
friend here and myself are in want of it
We planned the accident to the stage.by
saving the axle half in two, and we hap
pened along expressly to take you down to
Raybury. The lady we did not reckon
upon, but could not we'll be ungallant
enough to refuse 80 much beauty in dis
tress. And now the question Is, will you
or will you not give US this money!"
Most decidedly will notl" was the
reply; ,
land 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 vii
lage safe and unmolested."
II will never give up cent OF the
money" said I, feeling my indignation rise
at the scoundrel's GOODNESS; mot cent OF
it, unless it is taken from my dead body"
As spoke the man flung of his coat and
seized me by the shoulder. Quick as
thought leaped out Of the carriage, drag
ging him with me, and then began the
struggle.
"Don't use the PISTOLS" said the villain
who was taking care Of the horses; ''they
would be heard too far; knife him if you
have got to stop his windr'
My antagonist was a powerfully built
fellow and exceedingly strong, but was
1.-THE and athletic, and we were very nearly
matched. Over and over we rolled in the
mud, sometimes one gaining an advantage,
sometimes the other, but neither giving up
the struggle. Once had him by the
throat and his gurgling cry for help
brought the other man to the spot.
Two against one was rather fearful odds,
but felt no disposition to yield. They
beat me and crushed me with their weight,
but they never once succeeded in pinioning
my hands, and datter myself that gave
them some blows that they felt sensibly, to
say the least.
But after time felt my strength Civ
ing way and knew that [ could not hold
out much longer. How Miss Axtell guessed
man of the two had planted his knee on
my breast and was raising knife to strike
it to my heart saw by the dim light shed
by the carriage 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 chance, but if she heard she did
not heed. She came straight on, and the
next moment I heard a 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 tugging away at
the scarf with all her might, and the man
was choking and swearing at a tremendous
rate.
Suddenly he twitched 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 1
rushed to the spot and saw the villain was
tying Miss Axtell's hands. She was be-
tween me and him, and called out to her:
Miss Axtell, drop your head and do not
move until tell you to-"
She obeyed, and simultaneously fired
one Of my pistols at the exposed breast Of
the man. He dropped instantly, and be-
fore could turn to his companion felt
his grasp again upon my throat and the
cold touch Of steel upon my forehead. It
was no time to indulgein questions of right
and wrong If l would save my life and
hers, and, without pausing to argue the
morality of the proceeding, gave this man
the contents of the other barrel of my re-
volver.
It settled his business for him so effect
ually 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 as could to the
next village, where I reused the proper
authorities and placed them in possession
Of the facts. Then took Miss Axtell
home, and was gratified to find that her
father was out of all danger and In a fair
way of speedy convalescence.
The two robbers were recognized as old
offenders; they had each been at one time
In the state prison, and were well known
as very desperate characters. Considering
everything, my escape was most providen-
tial.
Perhaps the reader will be interested to
know that during that uncomfortable
night fell desperately in love with Miss
Axtell, and so successfully did we both
plead with her father that, rich old nabob
as he was, he consented to our marriage;
and now am cashier Of the Raybury bank
and Madeline Is my wife, God bless her!-
New York Weekly.