Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1892-12-21
MOMENTS OF AWFUL SUSPENSE.
When It Seemed that the Choice Lay Be-
tween Killing and Being Killed.

stories. This stranger with the broad
brimmed hat had been admitted to this
circle early in the night and had lis
tened attentiyely, but had not talked.
1t was near midnight when one of the
circle demanded story of him.
Really, boys" said the stranger. 81
am not much of story teller, but |
can tell YOU an experience | had. 1t
was the time | came nearest to being
scared to death. My friend George
Wood and had been out in the noun
tains of Tennessee prospecting for coal
mines all day, and it was coming on
dusk.
I'VE hadn't seen a living soul or hab-
itation of any kind in the whole jour-
ney till we came to this hut. A While
haired old darkey sat by the door,
humming salvation hymn. An old
woman. evidently his wife, sat fixing
hoe cakes, and the smell that came
from her kitchen was most delightful.
We hailed the old man, aud he babe
us welcome. The old woman came
out and greeted us as only the old
mammies eau, and then she hustled
around and increased the supply of
hoe cakes.
at was dark when supper was ready,
and then there came an addition to the
family in the shape of the most vii
misunderstanding negro that | ever saw
in my life. He looked the brdte if
ever man looked il. He was fully
six feet three inches in height, with
coarse features, coarse tongue. and
u surly manner. We felt instinctively
the moment we laid eyes on him that
he was probably the wickedest man in
the whole mountain region, and it
made us feel uncomfortable, especially
as we had arranged to spend the night
in the cabin. The aged couple had
assured us that the next house was
ten miles away. beyond little noun
tain pass hard to travel over at night.
This big brute of negro had
rifle, which, as he came in, he flung
age exclamation rs he did SO. We
realized that we were in for it, as it
was impossible for us to reach the next
house in the darkness, strangers that
we were. We we're hungry, but some
how we couldn't eat. This fellow at
all times glared at us out of the corner
of his eyes. We were glad enough
when the meal was over. We all sat
around the big open fire for while
and then the old couple went to bed,
leaving us alone with the big negro.
He had never word to say to us, but
every time we looked at him we could
see that he was watching our every
movement, and he had his foot on the
rifle, which lay by the hearth George
and ], of. course had revolvers, and
after whispered consultation we de-
cided that the only thing to do was to
go to bed with these weapons held in
our hands, under the bed clothes,
cooked and ready for use, and we
agreed that at the first sign of an at
tack we would shoot.
at was about ten o'clock when we
lay down. We had hoped that this
fellow would 60 off to bed himself
But he still sat by the fire, and showed
no signs of moving. We were in no
condition to sleep. I'm not often afraid
of a man, but l.ere the continued sus-
pense was fearful. | felt that every
individual hair on my head was stand
ing straight up, and was very rapidly
buIh eidJs lCdCHti lily Hduu
over and touched the fingers of George.
They were as cold as ice. He re-
sponded to the touch with squeeze
knew he was as bad off as | was.
Half an hour passed. 1t seemed an
age. felt that | couldn't stand the
thing much longer. | was getting
weak. My head was partially buried
in the pillow, but with one eye half
opened | could see the figure of the
savage watcher, and caught his furtive
glances toward me. Finally decided
to draw him on. | was certain he
meant murder, but anything, thought,
to get the thing over. began breath.
ing heavily, as II man does in a sound
sleep. One-two-three- minutes
passed. All the while the eyes of the
villainous wretch were glued on me.
wanted to jump up and make run
for it, but dared not. Six-seyen-
eight minutes, and then, apparently, the
fellow was satisfied there was no sham
ming. Slowly he reached down and
got his rifle.
Now thought, comes the end,'
and | clutched my revolver so hard
that there was danger that it would
explode.
Rifle in hand, the fellow crept up to
us. The dull light of the fire threw
CHASTITY glare on his brutal face.
Whether or not it was my magma
ton do not know. bnt his eyes looked
a shining red. Stoop shouldered and
almost creeping as he was, he seemed
to me like great wild beast crouch
ing for spring. l would have given
all that | possessed or all that ever
expected to possess had l been out of
there. Twas paralyzed. | could not
have moved the hand that held the re-
volver had l tried. | was positively
helpless. felt that death was not
minute away.
Now he was by the bedside, lean
ing over and listening. broke out in
cold perspiration. A moments in
spection and he Strengthened up and
began moving noiselessly toward the
door, near which there was another
bed.
ale is going to lock the door and
I.,. IL Al