Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-07-21

keeping the Knire still nrm1y cIutcneu.
Heavensl was TO be murdered in my
bed, with revolver and knife under
my pillow But he did not give me
much time for elaboration. with a
cat-like tread, my visitor neared my
bed He was now bending over me
with the knife appraised ready TO strike
the blow which would deprive me Of life.
l could feel his hot breath scorch my
cheek, but l feigned 70 sleep soundly.
Suddenly puff Of wind snapped a
limb of one Of the trees outside the
cabin and hurled II against the door.
He lowered the appraised hand and
turned quickly about to ascertain the
cause Of the noise.
Now was my chance. Far better TO
die fighting than be murdered without
raising a hand in my own defense.
With a weapon in my hand would
have n chance for life, otherwise I
would have none. Quick us thought /
plunged my hand under the pillow. I
had no time TO make choice Of the
weapons, but took the FIRST one | got
my hand on, long, glittcring knife, as
large II not larger than the one he held
In his hand.
Startled by the noise, the villain
turned quickly about. With yell OF
defiance jumped out of the bed and
rushed upon him knife in hand. Nut
tering curse, he dropped the lantern
and rushed forward to meet me.
The knives FLASHED together with ter
rife force, each of us straining every
nerve to break the others guard and
drive his knife into the others bosom.
II was fight for life now. Each of us
knew that one or the other must die.
My antagonist was tall, muscular fell
low, while was mere boy; but what
/ lacked In strength l made up in
agility.
After several vain efforts to force
my knife from my hand he began to
lose all control of himself. by quick
movement on my part succeeded in
turning his knife aside and inflicting a
deep wound in his shoulder.
With a yell of rage he sprang upon
me, and before / had time 10 leap aside
and evade him he had struck my knife
from my grasp and hurled IL to the
other side Of the cabin, far beyond my
reach.
With almost herculean strength he
bore me TO the floor, and, placing his
knee upon my breast, he held me down
so that | was powerlcss. His rcpulsive
face glowed with devilish cxultation as
he bent over me, knife in hand
81 guess yer hain't forgot Wolfang,
have ycr?" he said, tauntingly. "Im
goin' TO serve yer the same way.
Won't yer partner ramp and tear when
he finds yer hero dead, with this yer
knife In yer carcass and all his dust
gone. Dead men tell no tales"
'shuddered as he raised the knife
high above his head, ready to plunge it
into my breast, and began to think Of
the past / tried to utter the prayers
my mother taught me when boy, but
| could not.
The knife began to descend, and shut
my eyes to hide from sight the horrible
spectacle.
Ali what was that? The doorway
was darkened for a moment. Then
there was flash, a report, and the
man with the knife appraised above me
fell lifelcss to the floor and tainted.
When / returned to consciousness
Bill sutton and half dozen sturdy
miners were bending over me. Bill
was bathing my forehead. When re-
covered sufficiently he related to me
the circumstances Of my narrow escape.
When about fifteen miles from the
cabin he had met the supply wagon on
the way to the mines, and, as ho had
no other business in Stubville but TO ob-
tain supplies, he returned with the
wagon to the miners headquarters,
about'a quarter of mile distant. After
leaving 1t he at once fastened to the
cabin and arrived just as the villains
knife was about to pierce my breast.
Without a moments hesitation he
brought his rifle TO his shoulder and
fired, with the results already known
to the reader.-Thomas Charles Levy,
In N. Y. Weekly.