Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-07-12

oronzed earth. which seemed TO hush
nto dreamy repose the sounds OF life
n the foothills, ere the busy house,
wife began TO look for the coming of
her mate. lie seldom varied the time
Of his arrival, being regularly on hand
TO draw up his chair as soon as supper
was placed upon the table. But on
this occasion he failed TO appear, and
the expectant woman felt a strange
foreboding, and she could hardly re-
train from running up TO the store TO
see that all was right. She went often
to the door, casting anxious glances to-
ward the store, but he came not.
Before taking the evening meal from
the stove she stepped once again to the
door, and as she paused on the threshold
there came To her straining ears a noise
resembling hoarse cry in the dis
lance. Instantly she felt the fears of
the past months returning with re-
newed force, and for a moment her
heart was faint with apprehension.
With her, however, action followed
quickly in the wake of thought, and
her next move was TO secure q large re-
volver, kept always within easy reach,
Dart out into the road and hurry toward
the store. In a moment she stood upon
the threshold, and there, before her,
was a sight that sent the blood in a
torrent back into her heart, paralyzing
for a moment her entire being. In the
back part of the store her husband
crouched, borne over by the weight of
the Mexican, who, while clinging TO
his hack, was striving to saw his head
from his body with a huge pruning
knife, such as are used in the vineyards
of that land of the grape. With one
swift bound she was beside the strug-
Cling men, and placing the muzzle of
her revolver against the Mexican's
back, essayed TO discharge II. She
tugged at the trigger with all her
strength, but in her haste To rescue
her husband she had only partially
raised the hammer, and thus was I'M
able to bring II down. Casting the
weapon aside she seized the wretch
about the neck, and with a mans
strength hurled him across the store.
Unfortunately for her, he went in the
direction taken by the discarded
weapon. He sprang for it, and turn
ing, began firing at her as he reiterated
backwards from the store. One of the
cruel bullets pierced her through from
back to breast, and laid her low beside
her bleeding and half unconscious hus'
band.
They had lain thus but few
moments when n wagon stopped before
the door, and from IL descended a
neighboring rancher, who leisurely
secured his team and entered the store.
There being but few apcrtures for the
admission of light, and the sun having
by this time sunken almost from sight
beyond the world of waters to the
west. objects were growing dim, and
the man did not notice the two nearly
lifeless forms lying just beyond some
barrels and boxes near the further end
of the store. Finding no one within
he was about to 60 out in search OF
somebody to supply his wants, when a
low moan reached his ears. Swinging
quickly around he started in the direc-
ton of the sound and had taken but n
step when he recoiled with loud cry.
"Great guns, Billy, what ais yep
This was addressed to the first victim,
who, with neck and hands streaming
with blood sought to raise himself to
his feet. Taking in the whole situa.
tion at glance, the rancher assisted
the wounded man to his wagon and
then in his sturdy arms bore the APP
parently lifeless body of the woman
TO his side. Closing the store doors he
turned the key, and placing 1t In his
pocket, seized his horses by the bits
and swiftly led them TO the house.
Drawing the wagon close up to the
doorstep his first care was the woman,
whom he tenderly carried within, and
returning, was about to help the man
out when another neighbor drove up,
and seeing something was wrong
descended and bore hand in the labor
of caring for the wounded. Together
the men bandaged them up as best they
could, making sure to stem the flow OF
the life current, after which the new.
conner, taking out one of his horses,
rode like mad for the nearest physician,
several miles away in the direction OF
FL Monte.
With the close of day came several
other ranchers to the store and, finding
it closed, repaired to the proprie
tors house, thinking to get him 70
come and supply their various wants,
but upon entering the house they were
Mortified at the sight there presented.