The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-09-24

HeelS, nOuuNeilllS over SllppeEy leQgeS,
and wading breast deep through holes
between the rocks.
The man soon clambered out on
shore, and could see him dimly as
he went at rapid pace up the cinder-
ed bank that sloped from the railroad
to the river shore.
Since his dastardly attempt to
shoot me, my feelings had undergone
a change, and as | splashed through
the water l emptied the pistol as fast
as could pull the trigger. 1t made
the thief run faster, that was all, and
| was chagrined to see him vanish in
the gloom.
But was not prepared to give up
yet. Instead of climbing straight up
the bank I ran down the river shore,
making no noise in the soft sand, and
reloading my pistol as I ran, l soon
discovered what was searching for
a spot where the bank OF the railroad
was not so steep, and with the impe-
tus gained by the speed at which was
running, dashed right up over the
yielding bed of cinders to the level OF
the railroad track. .....-... .....
My little ruse had succeeded. Ten
yards ahead was the thief swinging
gracefully over the ties. He must
have discovered me at the same time
for his pace quickened very percepti-
bly,. At that I believe I could have
shot him, and pointed the revolver
several times. It was no use-I could
not bring myself to pull the trigger.
drop the gun OF I'll fire!'' I shout
ed several times, and as this had no
effect whatever Istrained every muscle
in the race, determined to overtake
him and recover my property at the
revolver. I had always been account
ed a good runner, and concluded to
make this a test of my powers. l
had no doubt that should eventu-
ally overhaul the rascal, but I little
knew what was in store for me.
The road curved just ahead, and as
we rounded the bend barely half
dozen yards apart. I saw a switch
mans red lantern shining at the side
OF the track. AS 1 darted past this I
heard a shout, apparently in the rear,
and then a great black mass doomed
up directly in front OF me. The thief
had disappeared, and for a moment I
thought the earth had opened and
swallowed him.
Then the situation flashed suddenly
upon me. The blackness before me
was the big Vosburg tunnel-a recent
ly completed feat OF engineering, which
| recollected was somewhere in that
vicinity.
l wonder, now, how I could have
been SO reckless; I certainly should
have known better-but I hated to
lose that gun, and, with bitter anger
against the thief, I plunged right into
the tunnel. Perhaps I expected to
find some dim light in that sitting
hole to guide the pursuit. But the
gloom was intense, and after running
on for a few yards, hearing indistinct-
ly the rapid footsteps of the fugitive,
l came to q dead stop.
It knew it was useless to 20 any
farther. The thiefh no doubt found
a safe hiding-place by this time, and
my gun was irretrievably lost. Sup
pose he should turn and assault mein
the darkness! It was by no means
unlikely, and the thought sent a cold
chill down my back.
l resolved to get out of the tunnel
just as quickly as possible, and at
once turned back toward the entrance,
tramping rapidly over the ties, for l
was in the center of the railway track.
1t was fatal blunder to betray my
whereabouts so plainly. 1 had gone
less than half a dozen yards, when I
detected a slight sound behind me.
This frightened me terribly and I
broke into a wild run, but unluckily
my foot caught between the ties, and
down came, full length, bruising my
hands and face severely.
l rose unsteadily to my feet, but
before l could resume the interrupted
fight was struck heavily from behind,
and went down with even more force
than before. This collision, am con-
WINGED, was accidental. The rascal
had been in close but silent pursuit,
and my enforced delay had brought
him closer than he supposed.
But when, an instant later, a
brawny hand clutched my throat and
a savage voice Kissed in my ear.
I'Hand over your valuables, young
fellow" [ realized that the accident
had assumed a very serious nature. I
was downright mad, fol my
hands and face were smarting
with pain, and besides I had
on my person good silver watch and
a pocEet-book containing the entire
assets of our Canoe Club, OF which l was
Treasurer. Should I tamely submit
to insult, injury and robbery?
My mind framed a negative answer
before | could have spoken the word,
and twisting in my adversary's grasp
[ managed to get a good hold upon
his throat. felt his grasp tighten on
mine, as he muttered an angry curse,
and then the struggle began.
We rolled over and over the ties,
bruising our limbs on the stony
road and humping up against the
rails. Twice we fell clear outside into
the little ditch that bordered the
track and struck violently against
the rocky wall of the tun-
mel. We were pretty evenly
matched-I soon. discovered that.
but, if anything, my opponent was a
little the stronger.
The struggle continued in silence, for
neither of us had any breath to waste
The grip on each others throat had