The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1893-12-14

quiet was what
sought, and
there would have it, far from the
maddening crowds ignoble strife.
Being bachelor, with few wants,
took with me only my man Henry,
who was an excellent housekeeper
and cook
! don't think ever enjoyed myself
more than the first four weeks / spent
on the island In the morning l took
to the water or took walk for an
hour or so; then / wrote for three
hours, and the afternoons read and
oafed, and at night l slept Some
days would row over to the main
land, and every day Henry went over
after the mail, unless it was stormy.
Sometimes | had a friend or two to
drive with me, but no woman was
allowed to come ashore there
was rigid in my determination on
this point, for had not one Isabella
Ventnor told me two weeks before l |
bought the island that she did not |
think was the kind of man any
woman ought to marry?
She had, and for that l had for.
sworn all women.
As l say, | was supremely happy
all by myself, excepting, of course,
the hurt Isabella had done me, and
think that was healing slowly, when
one night the entire scheme was over
thrown.
That night was dark one, but
uui tie STILL and ] went to bed feeling
fairly comfortable, a couple of my
| f-.u 10 will
o'clock and were to return early in
the morning with a sail boat for fish
ing trip out to deep water. About l
o'clock, or perhaps later, was
awakened by hearing disturbance
Of some sort down stairs, and before
my eyes were fully opened Henry
rushed into the room, slammed the
door and locked it.
"What's the matter?" / exclaimed.
"For Gods sake, major" get up and
help me. There's burglars in the
house and I'm done for"
Then Henry went down on the floor
In heap, and I lit a lamp, as there
came terrific banging on the door.
The light showed me Henry covered
with blood, his throat slashed, lying
there dead ordying, as supposed.
What to do did not know, for the
only arms in the house were across
the hall and the burglars had me shut
off from that direction and were
rapidly demolishing my door.
They swore and pounded, entirely
regardless of the ordinary rules of
burglary, for they knew that so far
away from the shore they were per-
fectly safe.
go down stairs and get that AK"
heard one of them say, land well
: have this id door out of the way
in minute We've done up one OF
EN- and now we've got to do up the
other, SO there won't be any tellin
tales out of school,"
a Then he laughed and ! heard 1oob
i, steps down the hall and stairs.
d | knew there was no help for mi
a there and only q chance anywhere
q and took that. One window of m.
T. room opened out on back roof ant
from that it was only short distanc
4 to the ground. Once out of the hous
II | had one chance in a million OF es
cane. In minute l was out OF tn
81 window, over the shed and on til
ground. / had on only my paJamas
and the sharp stones cut my feet crue
". but | did not think of that ltwa
life. and life is very sweet to US, eve
though some fair Isabella may hav
slipped drop of bitter into it.
over the rocks and stones l neV
going knew not where, thinking
nothing but escape
What brought me to my sense
into
water. and at first | thought of SWIM
0. ming out and trying to reach II
- mainland, but was only poorswin
, mer and knew | should be drown
or caught and knocked on the mead
the water by the burglars as hunt
might knock muslzrat on the hea
and the horror OF it drove me bac
Then | thought of my boat, put D
"a fore started that way | remember
D that my friends had moved 1t over
the mainland to return at dayllg
NJ with the sailboat, leaving me only Il
rockets to signal the shore in case
need and what were signals no'
for ONLY a means whereby the murdere
TO might discover me.
,s se One thinks rapidly at such momen
as as fancy, and all this took place
dc much less time than it requires to t.
80 1t; but there was time enough ior !
- BURGLARS to learn | was not IN I
Of COON. and with their quick eyes see
as; window through which had escape
MI and heard some of them coml
~ along the course had taken, and Q
me going down toward my boat landi
eff. to cut me off there.
eS, frl.o., a;,,,1acS1yr md utterly UaZe(
,at began to circle the little island, n
a. ming on the beach. They could
81 see me and my bare feet made
laa noise in the sand and ! rushed ma
gan ahead, when all at once went do
with terrible crash over someth
10, on the beach. They were near enor
st@ to hear my fall and one OF tn
shouted:
o. him for givin' us so much trou'
and we'll fix him now"
rest thought about as the burglar
issSnd hut MS tried to get l found
In n boat drawn half way up on
cent ss sand.
eater l almost shouted with JOY whe,
q made this discovery. 1t was u
- boat and ouce in it and on the wat
was safe. BY this time l could !
Volln. their footsteps along the shore, WI
cav, was quite rocky and rough hefe'
Men, cent the little bit of beach where
rr ths boat Law, and they could not m
calei such Roadway as did as they did
\ know the way through the rocks
IN Knit they were coming fast emo
Dill ord cursinr at every step, and