Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-12-18
A RUN FOR LIFE.
BY NEWTON III. WINS.

/
portant business and felt like attending
to it. A heavy growth Of pine timber
lined the road on both sides. It was at
period of time when Michigan could
boast of but few towns or villages, and
these lay widely apart, separated by
dense forests, with here and there a
! smooth place where the trees had been
cut down and formed a clearing. From
one OF these villages to the next SER
pentine road wound through the dense
woods. These roads did very we'll
when the traveller bestrode sure footed
horse, but try the experiment of journey
ing over them in carriage. One mo-
ment slipping to the right as the wheels
on that side roll into deep gutter; now
thrown maliciously to the left by the
righting of the vehicle; again quick
succession of bumps, making one feel
as if struck by lightning in every nerve.
Under such circumstances travellers
often chose to go afoot over these rough
roads.
1t was near the middle of the dav
when the man in the gray overcoat
passed through small village, tarrying
on the out skirts to get bit of lunch.
Alter hastily eating q portion Of this he
deposited the remainder in his pocket
and continued on his way. When about
half mile out of town ne discovered
bill posted up on the fence; he had no.
ticed similar bills in two or three
places, and now for the first time thought
Of reading it. He read:
BURGLARY, WITH ATTEMPT AT MURDER!
lox,
OF Waverly the one he had just passed
: through and put up at the Johnson House.
! He was very quiet, and kept his room all
day. At night he paid his bill and left, The
same night some one broke into the store
of Blake, Ross Il Co.. robbing the safe of a
considerable amount of money, and
knocking down and severely injuring
Mr.. Ross, who sleeps in the store, and
who. on hearing noise, came out of his
room to ascertain the cause. The authori-
ties are prosecuting inquiries; and. in the
meantime, any information leading to the
detection or arrest of the robber will be
gratefully received and literally rewarded.
The stranger of the inn and the burglar are
doubtless the same man.. He is nearly six
feet in height, is heavily built, and wears o.
gray overcoat and black felt hat"
The man, with startled look, read
the bill over again.
by the Eternal! !" he exclaimed, ener-
getically, "this looks bad. Nearly six
feet, heavily built, gray coat and black
felt hat! l swear, I'd answer that de-
scription TO an inch. What would I do
if they should get on my track? I
have large sum of money in my
jacket. If keep the road
no knowing when I shall be
pounced upon by sheriff, and should
go through the woods l might lose
my way, and time is most precious. 1
am stranger in these parts, and no one
would believe in my innocence, no mat
ter how stoutly l might proclaim it.
Well, there's many time in life when
man might as well be guilty as inno-
cent, as far as appearances go; both are
liable, sometimes, to be condemned by
some circumstantial evidence. Gray
coat and felt hat! What the devil am +
to do, anyhow"
He travelled forwsrd, not knowing
what else to do, but keeping sharp
| lookout both before and behind him.
He could not l.ossibly hope to reach
his destination before the next night,
and in the meantime who knew what
might happen? The thought gave him
uneasiness. He hurried forward. If
he but had good horse he would have
sked no odds. But this was out of the
question under the circumstances.
He still continued to glance uneasily
behind him, while an anxious ex-
preston kept fitting across his face.
The short day drew near its close.
The man was flushed and weary. Sud-
denly he paused and faced around. The
wind was stirring, but there was such a
heavy signing of the trees around him
that it drowned out all other noises. A
damrness gathered on his forehead.
On again, with quickened step. Ten
minutes elapsed, when he again faced
, nround.
! An indescribable echo died away in
the distant woods. Forward again.
The sweat now rolled out in big drops
upon his forehead. Once more that
boding, faint, nearing echo.
"Merciful God! I will be caught at
last!" was the mans Mortified exclama-
ton, hurrying ON at half run.
Thoughts of his wife the faithful
sharer of his every toil-rose painfully
before him. His children, too. His
step now changed into run.
At regular intervals that mournful
cry went echoing through the forest.
They had got on his track ut Waverly.
1t was as plain as day. He also knew
that in newly-settled regions justice
was not characterization follows closely
upon outrage.
The boding cry came regularly
nearer. Every muscle was strained to
the flight; but what could he do? His
pursuers doubtless numbered q half
dozen or more.
| The instinct of fight alone remained
in his horror and despair. Night was
now close at hand, and he had a faint
hope that he might elude them in the
darkness and the woods.
Ha! What is that opening ahead in
the woods? A clearing. Il would
never do to pass that, for in SO doing
he would have fresh pursuers on his
trail. He thought rapidly. He did
not like to take to the woods, for fear
of losing his way, but sooner or later
he must do so.
AS he gained the rise Of q slight knoll
in close proximity to tie clearing. he
glanced back over his shoulder,
Through the fast gathering darkness he