Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1894-08-30

"Manln he exclaimed, clenching his
fist in a fronzy. Say, rather, fendl
lie rode away--never stopped to pick
up the woman he had lSillcd-hus
never since been seen. lie was
dressed in uniform, as you arc. but
beyond THAT nobody coud give a
description of him-nob5dy could pos
sibly identify him.
"And swore II solemn vow. BY
heaven, l said somebody must pay
for thisl The first cyclist who falls
into my hands, be it twenty years
hence, shall die and avenge her
loved And you are that mani"
One look at his face satisfied me
that he meant to take my life-that
he was mad. His great grief had I'M
hinged his mind in his solitudc What
should do? Escape seemed impos-
sible, glanced at the door and he
read my thoughts.
'Yes, it is locked" he said, land
the key is in my pocket. You can
not escape me-"
crcpt backwards toward the fire
place and made sudden dive down
wards for the poker In an instant
he sprang on me lilis tiger, and got
one hand on my throat. In the strug-
glo the poker was hurled across the
room and rolled out OF Sight under an
old bureau. Then we closed in ter
riblc wrestlc for Supremacy, and in.
Keeling along the floor both stumbled
over chair and fell heavily to the
ground. ~ ta.it.t
We managed after while 60 regain
our feet and disengaging myself
from his grasp, contrived to get the
table between us. We stool for
moment gasping for breath and glar-
ing at each other. fff 0f
Them saw he was fumbling with
his hand az tho table drawer. He
suddenly drew out long bladed
carving knife, and for some minutes
we lodged one another around the
table. But l was too alert for him,
and after several unsuccessful at
tempts to close with me he savagcly
hurled the terrible 'welpong at my
head The knife whizzed past my
ear, making n very slight cut, and
stuck quivering in the wooden vain
scot.
A plan now occurred to me. seiz-
ing favorable opportunity, l threw
all my strength on the table, and
pushing it along tho door, iammed
him against the wall bchind him
Here held him pnionod and groan-
ing with pain. My shouts, mean
while, for help had been futile, for he
had taken the precaution on my ar
rival, to send his only servant to the
| village.
! It was impossible to hold my position
long. My strength was giving out,
and saw that my pssailant was grad
ually freeing himself / therefore had
recourse to new stratagem. 1
waited until he was exerting con-
siderable force ON the table, and then,
with sudden jerk, drew it away.
He fell forward and his head struck
the table violently. half stunning him.
In moment dashed to the win
dow, threw it open. and vaulted into
the garden. Jumping over the low
wall. 1 seized my bicycle. But the
mailman was close Mt my heels, and
as mounted my machine he dragged
a loose brick from the top of the wall
and threw it at me with such ppe-
cision that if had not seen his move
ment, and dipped my head in time, 1t
must infallibly have dashed out my
brains. AS it was it just grazed my
scalp.
Once mounted l was soon whirling
down the lane at u high speed, with
the madnan chasing me us fast as his
legs would carry him. 1 was Just
congratulating myself on my escape,
when / saw to my dismay that
the lane ended short distance ahend
with closed gate. Putting on the
brake and slaclkening speed, ] man
aged, with great care, to avoid a
smash-up and alight at the gate,
which led into wide meadow.
On the opposite side of the meadow
was gate leading into another field
rather smaller, and apparently slsirtcd
by lane. This gate vaulted, but,
unluckily, in doing SO sprained my
left ankle. This was ttrIfble mis-
fortune, for every step l took caused
me excruciating pain, and l could
barely limp along.
The man behind had not failed tc
notice my accident and rs he rapidly
gained on me, short laugh or gruni
OF delight reached my ears. saw
there was no hope, and that soon we
should be in the grip OF death.
was within twenty yards Of a stil'
leading into the lane and shouted foi
help as well az. / was able with m,
scant breath, but all was quiet am
deserted. No help was at hand II
desperation and agony l struggle'
forward, with the short gasps OF m.
pursuer becoming momentarily NOR
audible. He was now within fey