The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1891-03-18


in. Detected and reckless, scarcely
knowing what was about, clambered
on board at the last moment and went
whirling away toward the Governors,
bent on wild. mad purpose. which l
well knew could only prove entirely
fruitless-
When the station next to my destina-
ton was reached, a woman came on
board, who instantly pounced on me
and kissed me.
1t was my niece.
What under the sun is the matter
with you?" she demanded.
When told her of poor Dukes pre-
dicament her face became very grave,
but the moment she discovered my
business with the Governor it bright
ened.
How very fortunate!" she exclaimed,
clapping her hands gleefully.
'.What?" demanded, nearly stupe-
fed with amazement.
Leave it all to me-" she said, ''and
will save your friend. No-Im not
crazy. Listen: Last night the Gov
ernor proposed to me. OF course love
cheaply won, and so refused to give
him an answer. He dimes with us to-
night. After dinner, when his stomach
is full and his heart easy to get at. I'll
promise to marry him on the condition
that he pardons poor old Duke"
Then and there, on a public train
though we were, l both Rugged and
kissed her.
She was as good as her word, and six
hours later l was on board another
train, homeward bound. and in my
pocket was a reprieve for Duke-the
case against him being so strong that
the Governor deemed full pardon inn
polite then.
The reprieve granted him another
three months, though, and by that
time popular sentiment was likely to
cool down sufficiently to make pardon
feasible.
On the way home was fairly
happy and tried to picture to myself
Dukes face when he knew he was
safe.
This made me so comfortable that l
fell asleep.
Nothing disturbed my slumbers until
the trainmen called out the name of the
junction where l had to change cars for
the branch road which ran through my
town.
And there, to my CONSERVATION, l
found myself unable to move. Mentally
l was awake. Physically. was asleep.
1 was fully conscious of the stir and
hustle made by those who were getting
on and off the train; but could not
move a muscle.
With all my might I eudeavored to
throw off the trance-like spell whic''
held me. but all to no purpose. The
train moved on and tooL.me with it.
Cold perspiration Oozed out through
every pore, and 1 think 1 would have
gone mad, then and there. had not utter
Inconsistencies mercifully come to my
rescue.
1t was more than an hour before re-
gained possession of my senses.
By that time it was impossible to get
back to the junction in time to catch
the home bound train on the branch
line.
Springing up. the moment l was con-
scious, explained things to the con-
ductor, offering him any price he chose
to demand if he would run his train
back to the junction and take me home.
That was out of the question. He
could only do such thing on the order
of the general superintendent, and that
parsonage could not be reached. be-
cause storm the day before had blown
so many wires down that all tele
graphic communication was cut off.
All l could do. then, was to remain
on board the train seven hours more,
when by tramping twelve or fifteen
miles over craggy. roadless mountain,
l could probably get home by noon.
Though the probably" discouraged
me. l thanked the conductor for his add
vice. shut my teeth hard on my misery
and tried to make the best of it.
That was the longest night of my
| life. 1t seemed to me that it would
never end.
Day was just breaking when we
| reached the station where l was to
leave the train and begin my foot jour
ney over the mountain.
Hard as was the ascent of that track
less. precipitous mountain side. it was
a vast improvement on the train. was
in motion myself now, doing something
whether it would avail me any thing or
| not.
Soon the sun was up. Altogether too
soon it had accomplished half its jour
new from horizon to zenith.
1t was then that l reached the noun
| tain top, with good seven miles of
rough walking still before me.
Duke was to be hanged at noon. I'M
less l was on time.
At ten o'clock l was but two miles
away from him, and with all the hor-
rors of my journey presumably behind
me, l smiled self-congratulativel at
the thought of how easy the rest would
! be, and of how would disappoint those
who were even then gathering to see
my client hanged
A vine caught my foot and threw me.
Falling. l sprained my ankle, and the
pain was so intense that had to exert
every atom of my will to keep from