The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-02
How a Lads Life Was Saved In
the Depths Of q
Forest.
Two Brave Women, Led by an I'M
material Guide, Effect
Rescue.
etorv Of Life ON . Louisiana Farm-No
Gu 10 the Would.Do
Murderer.

place to live. Lonely and dreary At all
times, but more 70 in winter, when it was
usually all rain and no sunshine.
II was tho first Of the month and Mrs.
Barton had sent the hired man and her
brother into town for household supplies.
They left at sunrise and we're expected back
in the early afternoon, but they did not
come. The rain began Ut six in the morn
ing and fell in a steady drizzle for twelve
hours, 80 tho day was decidedly tiresome.
Instead of having tea at six o'clock. a.
was the usual hour, we sat down with o
book with the intention Of reading until
old Martin and Willie returned. They
were unusually late, but We attributed that
TO the rain, and expected them every mo
ment to drive up. As time vent on Mrs.
Martin became uneasy, and, closing her
book, she stood by the window peering out
in the night. I saw that she was nervous,
10. drawing her away from the window, !
related the contents OF q humorous chapter
which ] had Just finished reading. l think
she tried to listen, but ! do not believe she
heard one word that ] said. l Linked my
arm in hers and led her to the front 1907 Sr
road than she could from the window. The
atmosphers was dreadfully damp and hay.
Init the moon shone family through the
thin cray clouds, which were going slowly
northward.
We had been standing In the door an
hour, for the clock had just nn1eneo stIlk,
ing 9, and yet there was no sign OF old
Martin. / became uneasy, too, partIcu-
larlv for the reason that there was no man
in The house to protect us if anything hap
pened. Not that anything ever had oc-
CURED at Maple Grove to alarm any one.
To the contrary it had always oeen = very
quiet place untainted by the presence OF all
eyil-hearted people. But at the same time
] would have felt drawer if old Martin or
Willie had been with us. But l had no
fears for their safety. ! Thought them
much better of than We were IN case OF
danger. The road was a long one, IL was
true. and a good part Of it ran through tho
woods, But that was nothing to old Mar
tin. He knew the road and all its tuins
and crooks; Was 4 giant in size and strength
and afraid Of nothing. He had lived with
Mrs. Barton's family for years and was
fond of Willie, as if he was his " son.
Besides Willie was q bright boy and brave.
They had a strong wagon. and were drIv-
ing two large, strong and gentle horses.
Worrying on their account was surely time
thrown away. But Mrs. Barton did not
seem to think 30. She looked perfectly
miserable.
Il had crowna little chilly, and that with
buc uhluDACb6 W00 AASe OAA
there was danger Of taking cold. l advised
Mrs. Barton to 20 in for a while, but she
would have gone to the moon az readily.
Seeing her determination to stsy cut in the
night air, l resolved to stay with her. She
walked out on the steps. and shading her
eyes with one hand, looked most searching
" down tho road, but there WAS nothing OF
Martin in sight. She then began to walk
up and down the gallery, and ! could see
that she was painfully uneasy. l laid my
arm lightly around he's waist and walked at
her side. I chatted all the while, trying my
best to cheer her or lessen her anxiety, but
nothing / said had any effect: l did not
stop talking when / noticed this, knowing
full we'll that stiffness only adds depth to
gloom. Ere We. had taken many more turns
up and down the gallery Mrs. Barton, IN
able to control the depression OF her spirits,
began weeping and said that she knew
something terrible had befallen Willie, and
then she added:
"Father wal devoted to him. / don't be-
lieve he loved any of his children as hs did
Willie. He always said he would watch
over the little fellow and see that he never
so he couldn't keep his word. Ipromised
him that I'd watch over my brother as
faithfully a. he could, and | think he died
easier for that promise. But l haven't
kept my word. l shouldn't have allowed
him to go so far without me-. That wasn't
taxing care Oh ulm.
Mrs. Barton continued to cry and l to
feel uncomfortable. think it was nearly
~ when Mrs. Barton threw a shawl over
her shoulders, and, requesting me to take
care of the house, started out to look fol
Willie. But / had no idea of doing any
but she wouldn't be at that hour of the
night on that long. dreary road. In n mo-
ment / threw a scarf over my head and fol
lowed her down the walk 70 the gate.
just as We were about to open it we bott
saw the outlines of a man in tho distance
We returned to the house and there awaited
the movements of the man. He was walk.
at the yard gate. We idn't see him oper
it, it was done so quickly, and in one sec
ond it seemed to me he was standing in
front of us ON the gallery. He looked tc
be a little past middle age, tall and slender
with n mass Of dark brown hair pushed
back from his brow. fine features, which
bore q striking resemblance to Mrs. Bar
ton.
When he turned SO that the light fell full
on his face, Mrs. Barton gave a piercing
shrek and fell on the floor in a faint,
While I was busy trying to bring her to the
man stood restlessly looking on. His face
was colorless and his eyes expressing the
greatest alarm. but he said nothing nor of
fered any assistance. Perhaps he knew
that at ouch times men were q nuisance and
proited by his knowledge.
As soon as Mrs. Barton became herself
she ran in her room. calling her brothers
name all the while, and returned almost
Immediately, bringing her revolver. !
thought it was her intention to shoot the
man, but holding it firmly in her hand she
walked along by his side out of the gate
and down the road and into the woods.
Her face was as white as his, but on she
went without saying a word. Three times
she fired OFF her pistol. and the balls went
cutting through the leaves in the distance
ahead. The man walked so rapidly OF
glided-I never saw any one walk like him
that he was ahead of her most of the time,
turning and reckoning her to hasten hel
steps every moment. But trying to keeI
pace with him was not an easy undertak-
ing; still Mrs. Barton managed to keep
within a yard of his heels.
When she left the house she did not ask
ME to follow. but you may be sure l trotted
along behind them at a~slively n gait and rs
breathlcss as either of them. We had Gone
about three miles when the man glided to
tho right down a crook in the road. then
stopped, and there was Willie sitting uE
against a tree with blood trickling down his
face.
l wiped off his face with my handkerchief
and saw that he had two ugly slashes from
4 knife, one on his brow and tho other on
his throat. He WAS IL little faint from tkt
loss of blood. but seemed in no danger.
With him leaning on me for . support
in case his strength gave way. We turned
homeward Just as Martin drove up. Hs