Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-06-12


the men, in a hOarse voice.
stage upset." said the landlord
'axle-tree broke, and every thing wen
to thunder"
"Well, you'll get your house filled to-
night, if you're the Landlord of the
place back yonder," said the stranger.
ANY gentleman here that would like
to go on to Raybury? We would take
one down"
1 stepped quickly forward, and said
should be greatly indebted if they
would give me seat. And then 1 in.
troduced myself-Henry Marsh.
And here's young woman as is GO
ing, too, said the landlord; her pas
sick, and she must git there, and
wouldn't think of having Digby out on
account of Mrs. Griggs' uncertain
health. ss-Miss-what's your name,
my dear?'
'Axtell," said the girl, Madeline
Axtell. My father is Howard Axtell,
of the Raybury bank"
The president of the bank for which
worked. / knew Judge Axtell very
we'll, and was able to tell Miss Made
line that his illness was not considered
dangerous. But still she insisted upon
going on, and at last, after some con-
siderable conversation between the two
strangers, inaudible to US, they consent
ed to take US both.
assisted Miss Axtell into the car
riage and took with her the back seat,
our companions occupying the front
Only one lamp of the carriage was
burning, and that gave a very dim light,
and the farther we went the deeper
seemed to grow the darkness. 1t was
lonely road at any time to Raybury,
but now it was particularly gloomy, and
l was confident that Miss Axtell showed
to some degree the vague forebodings
which l could not prevent myself from
experiencing, for she drew closer to me,
and once she asked me how long it
would be before we reached Monville-
the next village.
We came at last to Hemlock reach-a
long stretch of tim Der which interSecJed
the country at that point and was some
three miles wide. There was not 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
together in subdued whispers, and
that l distinctly caught the words:
d the grill" and 'Fifty-fve hun
dred."
l grew cold with dismay. Fifty-five
hundred dollars was just the amount l
had about me, and it seemed very pos
sible that these fellows had got informa-
tion to that effect, and that was to be
murdered. If | had
been alone l should have felt no fear,
for l am naturally what is called a dare
devil sort of fellow, and ] had conf
dence in my courage and strength, as
well as in the pair of trusty revolverS
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
lance through the woods when the
horses were stopped abruptly, and one |
Of the men rose up in his sc at and faced |
us.
Miss Axtell grasped my arm, and 1
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
5erS," said the man, with admirable
''and l will come to the point
At once. You have S., 500 in your pos
session, and my friend here and myself
are in want of it. We planned the &C
,ident to the stage by saving the axle
half in two, and we happened along ex-
DreSSly to take you down to Raybury
rhe lady we did not reckon upon, but
,ould not well be ungallant enough to
'efuse so much beauty in distress. And
now the question is, will you or will you
lot give us this money!"
Most decidedly will notr' was the
cpl
Then we must use force" said the
nan, and | warn you now that l will
murder you before l will allow you to
escape with the money! Give it up
and l pledge you my honor
hat both yourself and the lady shall
'e left at the next village, safe and I'M
81 will never give up a cent of the
money!" said l, feeling my Indignation
Use at the scOundrels GOODNESS; mot a
on Of - -, /
cad body!"
AS spoke, the man flung off his coat ;
nd seized me by the shoulder. Quick
5 thought leaped out of the carriage,
Raging him with me, and then began !
he struggle. !
Don't use the pistols" said the viii |
ain who was taking care of the horses; !
they would be heard too far; knife :
i'm if you have got to stop his wind!'
My antagonist was powerfully-built
elbow and exceedingly strong, but l
as 1.-the and athletic, and we were !
cry nearly matched. Over and over
e rolled in the mud. sometimes one
aiming an advantage, sometimes the t
ther' but neither giving up the st-ug- q
lie. Once had him by the throat, and L
is gurgling cry for help brought the t
Their man to the spot a
Two against one was rather fearful I
Ids, but felt no disposition to yield. g
hey beat me and crushed me with C
lelr weight, but they never once sue b
9eded in pinioning my hands, and l h
after myself that 1 gave them some a
lows that they felt sensibly, to say the n
asst. T
But after time felt my strength tt
wing way, and knew that l could not ii
old out much longer. How Miss o.