The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-08-26
A MIDNIGHT STRUGGLE.
How I Was Saved from an Assas-
sins Knife.

y
event happened, but / never sha Il for
get it. Bill sutton and | had been
working as partners on a mining claim
on the banks of Lake Owen, IA small
lake in the eastern part of California
near the Sierra Nevada mountain ;. We
had been very successful, and by dill
gent labor had anassed quite a respect
able fortune in gold dust. Other
miners. working not a quarter of
mile from our claim. had labored equal
ly as hard, but luck was against them.
and their earnings had amounted TO al
most nothing.
There were stragglers about the
mines who would not hesitate II muir
der a miner for his gold, If it was known
that he had any in his possession. Only
the night before, George WoItang, a
German miner. had been found weller
ing in his blood, which was still en-
crusted around bullet hole in his
breast. No clew to the perpetrator of
shrouded in mystery.
On the day of which / am about to
make particular mention, was in our
cabin, after a hard days work under
scorching sun, weighing our gold dust.
for water, preparatory to getting sup
per. l had finished weighing the gold,
and was about to deposit it in the Sc
,cret hole IN the door of the cabin, hich
served us as a bank, when my atten-
tien was attracted by slight noise at
the only window in the cabin.
dropped the bag of gold dust, and
raising my eyes in the direction of the
n pal
close to the glass. with his villainous-
looking eyes fixed greedily on the bag
of gold dust which now lay on the floor.
/ snatched my revolver from my belt
and cooked it, but when looked again
the face had disappeared.
Immediately rushed to the door and
opened it, but was only in time to
catch a glimpse of the mans form as
he disappeared in the thick foliage
which surrounded the cabin.
knew pursuit was useless, as dark
ness was fast approaching. With evil
forebodings as to the result of the dis
covery of the villain, which believed
him TO be, returned to the cabin, and
foapd Bill Sutton there before me.
..@Wsat is the meaning of this?" he
asked, as J entered, pointing to the
opened bag of gold dust on the floor.
j explained 70 pim what had tran
spired duriag his absence.
Tom" he said. grayely, when had
finished. 1.-THE end of this has not come
vet. While that villain knows that we
have such 0 large amount OF gold in
our possession Our lives are not safe.
It's my opinion that t'.e- fellow who
murdered and robbed George NolfanT,
and the man you detected spying upon
you tonight, are one and the same fer-
son"
..That is nv belief" ] said. Il did
not like the look of his face. II had n
murdcrous look about it, and 1 think
the owner of it would be capable of
committing any crime. D"
"It he comes here we will give him q
warm reception" said BIZ, as he care
fully reloaded his revolvers.
That night we retired with our revol-
vers under our pillows, but we'were not
molested, and everything passed off
TRANQUILITY. The next night passed off
in the same manner, as did the whole
week following, and we soon began TO
forget the event of the week previous.
Bill said it was only imagination. that
had seen no face against the window
at all; but ne could not make me be-
lieve that it was imagination. 1 was
sure saw that face At the window,
with its devilish eyes peering greedily
at the bag of gold dust. In the midst
OF nv sleep l would awake with u
nervous start, imagining that he stood
over my bed with knife upraised
ready to plunge it into my heart.
One day Bill had occasion 20 go To
the neighboring town of Stubville, sit;
mated about twenty miles distant. after
supplies, and WAS TO be absent over
night
.-If the owner of that mysterious face
should happen to pay you a visit
though don't think he will-don't be
afraid, but give him an ounce of cold
lead, or "A couple of inches of steel, and
solve the mystery of the murder OF
George Wolfang." said Bill, as he shoui'
dered his rifle and started off Tor Stub
vile.
watched him till his form was hid
den from view in the forest, and then
entered the cabin.
Darkness soon came on, and, after
having securely barred the door and
window, ] retired 10 bed, but i could
not sleep. The moon, which had here
tofore been hidden from view 10y the
clouds, now shone out with unusual
brilliancy, lighting up the whole cabin
A feverish unrest WAS upon me
Thoughts of the event of the week
previous began to fiit across my brain
After tossing about uneasily upon my
bed for a couple of hours at last fel
asleep. How long ] slept could no
tell, but was awakened by a creak
ing noise in the direction of the door.
opened my eyes, and the sight tina
met my gaze sent thrill through IN,
body. There in the doorway stood th'
owner of the identical face had seel
at the window. In one hand he car
ried a dark lantern. while in the othe
was long, murderous looking knife.