The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1892-10-15
bury, but now 1t was particularly
gloomy, and | was confident that kfiis

gloomy, and was confident that Mi5!
Axtcll showed to some degree the vag
ue forebodings which l could not pre-
vent myself from experiencing, TO,
She drew closer to me, and once she
asked me how long it would be before
we reached Mouville-the next village
We came at last to Hemlock reach
q long stretch of timber which inter.
sected the country at that point, anG
was some three miles wide. Their,
was not a house for the whole thre.
miles. and both sides of the road wer,
wooded almost to the wheel rut.
AS the horse plunged into the black
gled throagh the mud under foot I I wai a
confident that the two men spoke to
gethcr in subdued whispers, and that
distinctly caught the words, 'D-the
girl!n and "Fifty-iive hundred.'
grew cold with dismay. Fifty-tivs
hundred dollars was just the amount
had about me, and it seemed very pos
sihle that these fellows had got infor
nation to that effect, and that | was K
be robbed-perhaps murdered. If
had been alone l should have felt NJ
fear, for | am naturally what is called
daredevil sort of q fellow, and I hat
confidence in my courage aud strength
as we'll as in the pair Of trustv reVol
Ners | carried in my breast-pocket.
But Miss Axtellp What would be
come of herP If they conquered M,
she would be wholly in their power
and if they were what l took them tt
be-then God help her!
We had travelled about half the dis
ance through the woods when the hort
sss were stopped abruptly, and one o
the men rose up in his seat and faceC
us.
Miss AXtell grasped my arm, | knew
that she was terrified by the quick wa,
in which her breath came, but she die
not cry out, as most women woulc
have done.
There is no need of mincing mat
ers." said the man, with admirable
GOODNESS, land l will come to The
point at once. You have $500 in YOU
possession, and my friend here and my
self are in want of it. We planned the
accident to the stage by saving the
axle half in two. and we happened
along expressly to take you down te
Raybury. The lady we did not reckon
upon, but could not well be ungallan
enough to refuse so much beauty il
distress. And now the question is, will
You or will you not give us this mon
ey?n
Most decidedly 1 will not" was the
reply.
Then we must use force.'' said the
man, ''and | warn You now that | viii
murder you before will allow you to
escape with the money! Give 1t up
peaceably, and | pledge you my honor
that both yourself and the lady shall ba
left at the next village safe and unmo.
lcsted.h
Il will never give up cent of the
money" said l, feeling my Indignation
rise at the scoundrel's GOODNESS; mot n
cent of it, unless it is taken from my
dead body!'
AS spoke. the man flung off his coat
and seized me by the shoulder. Quick
as thought leaped out of the carriage,
dragging him with me, and then Be.
gan the struggle.
Don't use the pistols" said the vii.
lian who was taking care of the horses
"they would be heard too far; knifd
him if you have got to stop his wind,'
My antagonist was powerfully built
fellow aud exceedingly strong, but
was 1.-THE and athletic, and wc were
very nearly matched. Once had him
by the throat and his gurgling cry for
help brought the other man to the spot.
Two against one was rather fearful
odds, but ! felt no disposition to yield.
They beat me and crushed me with
their weight, but they never once sue
ceeded in plnioning my hands, and |
flatter myself that l gave them some
blows that they felt sensibly, to say the
least.
But after Il time l felt my strength
giving away and knew that I could not
hold out much longer. How Miss AK.
tell guessed it do not know, but lust
as the larger man of the two had plant.
ed his knee on my breast and was rails
ing knife to strike it to my heart /
saw by the dim light shed by the car.
riage lamp that the young lady had
got down from the vehicle and was
| tried to shout to her to escape while
she had a chance, but if she heard she
did not heed. She camo straight on,
and tho next moment l heard 4 cry Of
rage and pain, and the man on my
breast tumbled off violently and lay
kicking upon tho ground.
She had made slip moose with her
scarf and flung it over his head while
he was too much occupied to notice her
presence. And now the brave girl was
tugging away ut the scarf with all her
might, and the man was choking and
swearing at tremendous rate.
Suddenly he twisted the scarf from
her hands, and then, with u wild oath,
he sprang upon her and both went
down to the ground.
Breaking loose from the other man,
| rushed to the spot and saw the villaip
was tying Miss AXtell's hands. She
was betwecnt me and him, and l called
out TO her:
Miss Axtell, drop your head and dc
not move until l tell you to-
She obeyed, and simultaneously
fired Que of my pistols at the exposed
breast of the man. He dropped in.
stantly, and before / could turn to hil
companion | felt his grasp again upol
my throat and the cold touch of steet
upon my forehead. 1t was no time to
indulge in questions ofright and wrong
if ! would save my life and hers, aud
without pausing to argue the morality
of the proceedings, l gave this man tn.
contents of the other barrel OF my re
yolyer.
1t settled his business for him So
effectually that he caused us no mort
trouble; and, having ascertained tha
both the men were dead, lifted Mis-
Axtell into the carriage and drove a.
fast | could to the next village. where
] reused the proper authorities ani
placed them in possession of the facts
Then l took Miss Axtell home, and
was gratified to find that her fathe,
was out Of all danger and in fair way
OF speedy convalescence.
The two robbers were recognized AZ
old offenders; they had each been a,
one time in the state prison. and wer'
well known as very desperate charao
ters. Considering everything, my
escape was most proyidential.
Perhaps the reader will be interested
to know that during that uncomfort.
able night l fell desperately in love
with Miss Axtell and SO successfull,