The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1894-10-09
A LAST RESORT.

A dark night. and the sky hidden
by mass of hurrying clouds. A
raw, chilly wind, the ground all mud.
the tall grass and trees dripping from
heavy rains. Just emerging into a
dark cornfeld from still darker
woods a young man, his clothing
.drenched and mud stained, his face
.haggard and desperate, and his whole
attitude as he leaned heavily against
the rail fence telling of utter exhaus-
ton. He was worn out. For more
than two hours he had been flying
for life over country imperfectly
known to him, though familiar to
his pursuers.
More than once he had been COM
PEELED to retrace his steps when
every moment was precious and
every step through the yielding mud
required an effort Worse yet, there
was no possibility of throwing the
followers off the trail Every step
left its plain impression, to be fol-
lowed as fast as horse could trot, and
capture meant sure and swift death.
No wonder he was desperate.
Turn which way he would, Gilbert
Hazelton could see nothing before
him but speedy and disgraceful
death. Never to see the sun again,
may, not even friendly face! Was
this the end of the bright hopes with
which he had kissed his mother
.goodby only two short months be-
fore9 1t seemed like a faraway
dream now. He had lived ages of
fear and agony since then, gone
through unspeakable humiliation
and dread.
He had been accused of murder,
tried for his life, found guilty and
sentenced to death. His letter to his
friends must have miscarried. for
they had not come to his relief. Poor
and alone among strangers, who per-
sisted in believing him identical with
the tramp who had murdered poor
David Westford, Gilbert had yet
fought bravely for his life. Some
few had been convinced of his inno-
cence, and his lawyer had succeeded
in obtaining new trial, in which
new witnesses might at least prove
an alibi.
But when this word went abroad
The townspeople were furious. They
had seen more than one undoubt-
ed criminal escape through some
technicality. We're they now to see
the murderer of poor David West
ford escape through the easily bought
perjury of some worthless COM
-panions in orime2 They vowed it
should not be. Last night at dusk
groups of stern looking men stood be-
fore the Jail talking grimly together,
and whisper in the air warned the
sheriff what was coming
The Jail was old and rickety. He
could not defend it, and his resolve
Vas quickly taken. In the early dusk
the prisoner was sent out by a side
edoor, under charge of the sheriffs
son, while the sheriff himself re-
manned to make sure that mob vio-
Tlence did not make a mistake and
seize some other victim. But treach-
cry carried the word to the mob and
they were soon in hot pursuit of the
fugitives. In this emergency the
boy, who was firmly convinced of the
prisoners innocence, released him,
demanding only promise to reJoin
him at a place appointed, and him.
self turned back to throw the pursu-
ers off the trail if possible. Gilbert
fully intended to keep his promise,
but lin the darkness he missed his
way, and the bloodhounds in the
grear caught his trail.
Now for two hours, which seemed
two eternities, he had been running
for life, and the unknown country
md horrible mud had completely ex-
'hausted the little strength that two
months of confinement and terrible
anxiety had left him. Nothing but
utter desperation could have driven
him another rod. But when a shout
came family from the rear he pushed
forward with great effort across the
strip of cornfeld, through the fence,
and out on we'll travelled road.
To one less utterly worn out this
xwould have given glimmer of hope,
n r here at least the mud had be-
come liquid ooze, which retained no
tfootprint The pursuers would not
know which way to turn and must
watch both roadsides to see that he
did not turn aside. But he was too
tired to use the advantage, and when,
after running few rods, he slipped
\ and fell, he lay there a minute, too
n atterly exhausted to rise. What was
the use when his utmost endeavors
could only put off death for few
momegts9 Why not take one mo-
menMfor rest and thought before the
end camel
IA farmhouse stood quarter OF
lille farther on, and as he lay there
anting, exhausted, waiting only for
Heath to overtake him, his hopeless