River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-06-12

pressly 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 money!
Most decidedly | will notr' was the
reply.
Then we must use force" said the
man, "and | warn you now that I 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 un-
mOlested.~
Il viii never give up cent of the
money" said /, feeling my Indignation
rise at the scoundrels GOODNESS; mot a
cent of il. unless it is taken from my
dead body
As I 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 began
the struggle.
Don't use the pistols" said the viii
lain who was taking caro- of the horses;
they would he heard too far; knife
him if you have got TO stop his windr'
Ny antagonist was a Dowerfully-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 strug-
gle. Once I 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 sue
ceeded in pinioning my hands, and
flatter myself that / gave them some
blows that they felt sensibly. to say the
least.
But after time | felt my strength
giving way, and / knew that / could not
hold out much longer. How Miss
Axtell guessed il | do not know, but
ust as the larger man of the two had
planted his knee on my breast and was
raising a knife to strike it - my heart
! saw by the dim light shed by the car
rage lamp that the young lady had got
down from the vehicle and was hurry
ing toward rs.
| tried to shout to her to escape while
she had a chance. but if she heard she
did not heed. She came straight on.
and the next moment l 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-noose OF her
scarf and lung 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 twitched the scarf from
her hands. and then. with a wild oath.
he sprang upon her and both went down
to the ground.
Breaking loose from the other man,
rushed 10 the spot and saw the villain
was tying Miss Axtell's hands. She was
between me and him. and called out
10 her:
Miss Axtell, drop your head and do
not move until tell you to-"
She Obeyed. and simultaneously
fred one of my pistols at the exposed
breast of the man He dropped instant
IL, and before | could turn TO his COM
paniOn l felt his grasp again upon my
throat and che cold touch of steel upon
my forehead IL was no time 10 indulge
in questions Of right and wrong if l
would save my life and hers. and with
out pausing to argue the morality of
the proceeding | gave this man the con
tents Of the other barrel of my revolver.
IL settled his business for him so eff
fectually that he caused us no more
trouble: and. having ascertained that
both men were dead. lifted Miss Ak
tell into the carriage and drove as fast
as | could 70 the next village whore
reused the proper authorities and placed
them in possession Of the facts. Then
took Miss Axtell home and was graft
fed 70 find that her father was out of
all danger and in fair way of a speedy
cOnvalescence.
The two robbers were recognized as
old offenders; they had each been at one
time in the State prison and were we'll
known as very desperate characters
Considering every thing, my escape was
most providentiaL.
Perhaps the reader will be interested
70 know shat during that uncomfort-
able night I fell desperately in love
with Miss Axtell. and so successfully
did we 18th plead with her father that