San Saba County news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1874-19??, 1893-03-08

The first sensation was exactly that
Of falling. I remember roaring in
my cars and fireworks dancing before
my eyes, and was perfectly conscious
that my throat was in the clutch OF
human fingers. What saved ne was
the tree and the position in which /
sat. did not realize that l strug-
{ gled to break the clutch, but did
I put forth a mighty effort. My right
shoulder and arm were a lever against
the strangler's right wrist, and IS |
heaved ! broke his clutch and leaped
to my feet
1t was Peter, a You have suspected.
He had gone only a few rods away
and then turned and crept bacS on
me like a serpent His route was
through bushes and vines, but when
came to 90 over it could not lind
that he had broken twig. Ny
springing up threw him down. but he
was on his fee. like cat, and With =
cry like th It of an cnragcd bcas' he
sprang fo my throat again. His eyes
were fair blazing, his face distorted
with passion. and | realized in an IN
slant that it was his life or mine.
He clutched for my throat with his
right hand as we rolled about and |
caught the ends OF his first two fingers
in my teeth and bit to the bore. That
one bite gave me the victory still
grippi'45 his fingers struggled 10 M
knees, reacEed for my revolver. and
| had the muzzle against his bod
when the thought flashed across my
mind that he was the professional
stranger wanted by the police. Up
to that instant had no thought as 20
why he attacked me. When | dropped
his fingers and covered him with the
revolver he made no further rcsjst-
anos- The native of India, like he
Arab believes in fate.
..Sahib, you have won, he said ~
! stood over him. 1T was to b.,
and so it is. De as you viii with
me,
Peter, why should You seek my
life?" ] asked even yet hoping there
might he some mistake about it,
"Why did l strangle the others.
ssHib? A voice commanded me and
osoyed.
Good heavens, but You are no, The
murderer Of the farmer. the clerk end
the soldier-you who have been con-
sidered so faithful to the English?"
"Even so, sahib. It was to he, snd
il Is. Take me to the police and
will admit everything, and die like
Usan."
] drove him before me until we cr-
rountered a troop OF cavalry which
was then returning to town with no
less than twenty-six prisoners. Had
Peter denied his admissions to me
nothing could have been proved. and
he only would have been punished FOR
assault
But he felt that fate had delivered
him into the hands OF his enem les.
and he was willing to help convict
He gave the particulars Of
each murder with such detail that M
doubt could exist. II was the ser
geant Who had lacerated his hands.
He was keeping shady while he waited
for them to heal. He would not have
accompanied me that day but for the
fear that he might be suspected.
though as a matter OF fact he would
have been among the very la: =, fall
under the ban.
Il had no thought Of strangling YOU
when we started out he said to me
after his trial 1T was only after
you had noticed my hands. While
you appeared Indifferent. was afraid
that you suspected. l could have
;natched away your pistol ana shot
-ou dead. or ! could have beaten ron
% death with club, but my creed
would not permit. ! must either
'trangle you or let you live on. Had
)een successful l should have made
ny way north as soon as possible
He did not hesitate to tell the 90
ice that he was a professional stran-
yler, and it was with considerable
pride that he exhibited the fattened
humbs and illustrated the manner in
which the deadly clutch was made.
lie had been a professional for up
wards of twenty years. He spent one
whole day making out a list OF dates.
ocalities and victims. and the num-
Ter Of murders was appalling. The
igmes ran up to forty-two or forty
hrec, and there were seYen Europ-
ans among them He begged no
mes forgiveness no apology TO
make.
Peter went to the gallows with tho
Utmost Indifference. He did not even
'etray the anxiety of a man walking
bout the street. He was. | believe.
he last professional stranger exc
uted in that province, although his
lass fourished everywhere, and were
licked up one by one for many years
fter.-Chicago Time.