Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-02-07
in such deep trouble that could not for

the life of me do it.
Now it was too late, and the situation
was getting desperate. A manaic is
dangerous person at any time, but when
he is in possession Of loaded rifle and
lookG upon you as an aggressor, then you
are in deadly peril of your life.
Ny uneasiness increased, and it was
with avery faint heart that asked him
in q sympathetic tone if 1 could help
him in his search.
"Help," he grimly replied; ''yes, 70
kin help, an it won't be long before We
find her, or I'll kill We like fetted dog.
Come along O mel''
Motioning me to lead the way he
placed the muzzle of his rifle against my
back, and then we started.
The moon had risen and her silvery
light penetrated through the overhang-
ing branches, lending weird and grue-
some aspect to the scene. Afar # the
! plaintive boot of an owl sounded to nv
overweight nerves like an augury of
| death.
We had proceeded about two miles in
this highly disagreeable manner when l
noticed that the ground was getting
tirmer aud the trees more scattered.
Suddenly we stepped into small clear
ing, in the centre of which stood an old
log cabin; it was evidently inhabited, for
faint trail of smoke lowered around
the top of the old plastered chimney and
| on a line stretched near the house hung
several well-worn hickory shirts.
had only time for one hasty glance
when my captor grasped me by the
shoulder and rushed up to the open door
As we stepped inside 1 stumbled over
some soft, yielding object and almost
fell. the interior was but dlmly illumi.
hated by few smoldering logs on the
hearth.
Releasing his grip the old man shouted
in my ear:
"Stand whar yer air while I light the
dip. Don't try to skin, cause hev the
gun a-pintin', and will shoot quicker'n
lightnin' if We move fingerl"
heard a fumbling in the gloom and
the sound of foot kicking against
some piece of furniture. The idea
struck me that now would be a good
chance to escape.
If Icould only get through the door
and across the clearing in safety Il would
be comparatively easy matter to secure
shelter in the friendly depths of the for
est.
Moving silently toward the square
patch of light near the door, braced
myself for sudden dash, and tripping
fell full length on the door.
Bang! spat! bullet struck just above
my head, sending cloud of dust into
my face. For the space of minute all
was still. l was afraid tomove after the
warning. 1t was too close a shave to run
any more risks.
Suddenly faint CLEAN lighted up the
room and saw him standing few feet
away holding tallow dip above his head
and peering in my direction.
He held the gun in one hand, and had
evidently reloaded it. Stumbling over
towards me he viciously poked the muzzle
into my side, muttered some incoherent
words in singsong voice. l lay still as
death, not daring to move muscle; and
the cold perspirrtion started at every
pore.
1 Apparently satisfied, he moved away
and stood his gun in a corner; then, with
tears running down his cheeks, he burst
into a paroxysm of grief awful to behold.
Striding up aud down the little room,
his arms raised in an attitude of prayer,
he moaned:
go Martha, why hev We left your oil
MANI Hain't allus been kind an faith
full, an hain't love ye from the time |
first saw yer purity facet Won't yer come
back dear an hven up the oil house
againl 1t is so lonesome now. The fire
is burnin' in the chimney, an done
got everything reddy, jest as ye allus
like it."
His voice was as little child's in its
pleading monotone.
/ Seeing that his attention was still at
tracted, cautiously regained my feet
/ and, glancing to one side, looked down
upon the body of the dead woman lying
/ in pool of bloodl
A dark stream yelling from hideous
wound in her breast showed how she
had met her death.
1t flashed upon me that this must be
the lost Martha, probably killed by
! chance bullet from the battlefield.
1t was all plain now. The old man,
crazed by his terrible loss, had, with the
vagary of sudden insanity, refused to
recognize his cd helpmate in the disiig-
ured remains, and had gone to seek her
in the trackless swamp. 1t was pitiful
indeed, but had to look after my own
safety, and not waste any time about it
either.
There was something ridiculous in the
idea of being shot by lunatic after
passing unscathed through the fiery or
deal of several pitched battles The
thought nerved me to action.
Creeping quietly over the hard clay
floor to where the maniac stood looking
into the fire. gave a sudden leap and
lighted squarely on his back. The vio-
lent shock knocked him down almost on
the burning logs.
Instead of stunning him it only acted
I like spur on an untamed horse, and we
rolled over in confused heap, struggling
with the ferceness of wild animals. At
first had the upper hand, then my ad.
versary, with almost superhuman power,
wrested himself free and grasped me
around the neck with death grip l
could feel myself growing weaker and
weaker, and knew I must conquer soon
or give up.
Resolving tc make one more effort, and,
having noticed that in our furious strug-
gle we had neared an old iron pot, |
! grasped his hair with both hands and
dashed his head with violent force
against the iron; His arms relaxed, aad
rose to my feet trembling in every
limb!
1t was enough. There only remained
one idea, and that was to leave such dan
gerous quarters without loss of time. In
a second l was at the door, and, not
looking backward, passed out into the
free air, thanking God for my escape.
Dashing rapidly across the clearing to
where an opening showed the presence
| of road, / hurried from the fatal spot
expecting to hear the sharp ping of a
bullet at every step.
After running a mile or so had the
great good fortune to stumble on the
bridge, and feeling myself safe at last,
passed over and rejoined my company
just as the first gray streaks of dawn gave
the signal for recommending hostilities
The next day told my story to the