The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-05-18

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then thrusting his arm out tried the
handle. but found the door was locked
He uttered an inarticulate curse be-
twixt his teeth and pulled up the win.
dow with vehemence.
Lets try the door tt your end,
guv'no-," said he. coming along the
compartment. j hastily rose as he ap-
preached and backed away step or
two while he lowered The window and
leaned out to turn the handle The
door proved to be unlocked. People
to whom j have told this story assure
me that il ought not to have been un-
locked, rs the OFF doors Of train are
always locked. believe thisis so. but
the fact remains. He drew in his head
again with the exclamation of featisfac-
tion. leaving the door unfastened,
though the rush OF wind created 10y the
passage of the train prevented Il from
swinging open.
''Now, mister" said he. cruffly,
measuring me from head 60 loot with
his little dcep-set eyes az II spoke,
you've got TO change clothes with me,
dye see? / must have them togs OF
yourn"
'You will do nothing Of the kind"
| answered, resolutCiy, though with my
heart starting to beat trife quicker.
Come, now" said he, ''don't make
no fuss. Ye'd best chop quietly"
Az that instant the locomotive gave
g long screaming whistle, and the train
| plunged with roa- into funnel.
Look here. nov," exclaimed the
, Follow, putting on q most menacing
ni-. and leaning toward me with his
fists clenched, 'if you don't do what ]
want then out you so through that
/ door"
Without answering again sat down
in the middle seat of the carriage On
this the man stood looking at me for n
moment rs though undecided how 20
act. Then, perceivinS my silk hat
resting on the rack overhead, he took
1t down and put il on. This impudent
net OF the dirty villain so incensed me
that, scarcely thinking what / was
about, | jumped up and snatched il off
his head. In second he whipped
round and struck me blow full in the
chest with his heavy fist; grappled
with him, and then began fierce and
desperate conflict.
As soon rs 1 closed with the ruffian /
felt that his whole effort was to get me
close TO the door and thrust me through
it. He was an immensely strong fell
low, but as clumsy as bear. /, on
the other hand, was light and nimble,
with some small knowledge of boxing.
For all that | felt myself greatly out
matched in that hand to hand fight.
No sooner had | grappled with the vii
lain than he gave me blow in the face
savage enough To have broken my nose
had he delivered with as much judg-
ment rs he did violence. But / had
taken him by the throat with both
hands, and / continued clutching his
windpipe with the tenscity of bull
terrier. We twisted and wriggled and
Jumped from side to side.of~t4it~eon-
fined space, and oil the while felt him
drawing me in the direction of the
open door. At last ] twined my foot
about his leg and threw him; he fell
heavily, striking his head against the
cushioned seat, and down / came with
him, still clinging to his iron hard,
muscular throat, upon which my grip
seemed IL make scarcely any impress
sion. We rolled about for awile, each |
cndcayoring to Keep upperInost, and !
wnCn with his superior strength he got !
above me and knelt upon my chest, | !
thought he would murder me ns / lay
N that almost helpless posture. But |
instead he EGsped out, "Will You
change clothes now?" and whilst he |
waited for my answer got my fist free |
and struck him upwards under the chin. |
knocking his teeth together with click |
like the snap OF a rifle trigger and /.
nearly dislocating his neck and then |
gave heave up which threw him off |
ne, and moment later we were both |
uuon our feet again and pounding |
away rs before.
| was beginning to feel that | could |
not continue tine struggle much longer,
and that, exhausted as / was, he would |
be able to drag me to the door and |
pitch me through it on to the line. |
Ny opponent breathed hard and fast,
but showed no signs of giving IN. On |
"A sudden the t-ain gave violent Jolt, |
that flung us both against the bulkhead |
os the compartment the fame of the |
lamp leapt mp, then fiickered a moment |
and went out. We continued fighting
in II darkness as deep as that of the |
grave. Now that we were both com
pletely in the dark, felt myself more |
on an equality with my antagonist.
My sole dread was that should find |
myself tumbling backwards through |
the open door He had hissed out,
amid horrid blasphemies. his intention |
Of leaving me dead in that tunnel,
where my body might lie undiscovered |
for weeks. Dead men, he said, told |
no tales, and he wasn't going TO lose
the liberty be had that night regained.
But all AT once felt him relax his grip
of my body, and he called to me TO let |
so. Glad Of moments respite, re-
leaSCl my hoh of tha FELLOW thouob i