Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-08-01
NARROW ESCAPE.
x,,row Escape from an Ignominious
Death.
ny NEWTON II. WINS.

|h;ch / had worked lay IN the South
astern part of Missouri. Although the
Euntrv, generally speaking, is noun
mons in some portions, yet l found it
rerv good field for canvassing for
Drsery stock of all kinds.
Having affected a successful canvass,
4 the season for delivering the stock
WING arrived, 1 now made preparatory
[rangements to further that end by
|euring the services of some man and
! team in each locality to haul and
liver the stock throughout the
cinitv in which he lived.
In a remote part of the territory over
,icb | had canvassed, some fifteen
lies from the railroad, lived a man by
anne of James Pratt. While can
ssing through that section I had
bde arrangement with him to deliver
the stock which l had sold in the
untrv contiguous to him and having
w come to that part of the delivery,
one morning, found myself ready to
/ out from the point on the railroad
here my stock had been shipped to
place of residence, to acquaint him
that fact.
There was a stage running through
E country, which passed within about
0 miles of Pratt's place, but as it did
start until about ten o'clock in the
bming, l determined not to wait for
and accordingly set out afoot.
That l regretted this rash proceeding,
ereader will undoubtedly agree with
if he takes the trouble to peruse
short recital to the end. The
un;ry was rough and hilly. and I
pn became aware that it would be a
g and tedious journey to make on
II. Besides it was a warm day,
|hough in the month of October, and
roads were dry and dusty.
had not made more than four or five
les of my trip, when I found 1 was
ting we'll warmed up, and I began
feel considerably fatigued. I now
what a blunder I had made in not
ting for the stage, and was half
pied to sit down by the roadside
wait for it to overtake me.
was about to seat myself upon a
aiortable looking log which lay
.gside the road, when, glancing back,
deserted in the distance a cloud Of
Et, from amidst which q moment later
sged span Of horses and carriage
bling up the road at a lively pace. [
bed for some moments with curiosity
The approaching vehicle, for such
Tits as that ere rarely seen in
I part of the country. Then it
ldenlv occurred to me that here
ght be a chance to get a ride. With
5 idea l leisurely resumed my Jour-
!, that [ might accept a ride in case
we're proffered.
had but q few moments to wait.
lie team was coming on at a pace that
pwed them to be good travellers, and
fore was fairly ware of it they were
Feast Of me. The next instant they
pc to q stand, and the cheerful voice
the occupant of the carriage called
fHowdy, stranger? Have q ride?"
With grateful thank you," I sprang
the carriage, and q moment
er We were whirling along the
sly road at a break-neck
&c that seemed much more cheerful
me than my fatiguing walk had
en-.
although I was somewhat struck by
nnconth appearance of my new
eaa' l dismissed it from my mind in
moment, for 1 felt so grateful for the
eeedlng good luck that had CHANGED
vVertake me that I was not choice as
Inc source whence it came. He was
hoolly dressed in a suit of clothes Of
%eommonest material, and his pecul-
utaWllng, slangy way of expression
IN ut Keeping with his dress. His
{ seemed to have an unusually anx-
T. expression upon it, and occasionally
Would glance back over his shoulder
,Aough fearful of som ething or some.
ay in pursuit.
ne inquired of me where I was trav.
w. anu asked why I did not hire q
,se or take the stage. l replied by
aug substantially what the reader
eady knows.
rue horses he was driving were high.
n NJ! animals, yet, at short intervals
.m p'lea the whip vigorously, causing
s. a " leap forward each time with in.
ss, M speed. And anon he would
., ma suspicious glance backward.
NJ :. length [ began to feel that some
w. was wrong, and with some anxiety
Why Hi1E do you keep looking back?"
na man, a sinister smile and another
~, backward, he replied:
n lll looking for some friends that ]
"uA be surprised to Q following
Inn iae re is little danger of their over
you II you keep on at this pace
ned 1ora know about that" he re.
al With a dubious shake of the
pw .Served that the horses began tc
Nm Slsns OF fatigue, and still he urged
On ), ,,yyfward as though life depended
Iced 1Aelr utmost exertions. And such
lse 11' proved to be the incentive that
an;m r'n to SO cruelty urge the will