Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-03-15

the deadly llitlH lnhchine rs llghtly anu
carefully Us possible.
Moments wore growing precious.
Every sp-,nd secined an hour, and She
trcrnbled and shook az size tried to es-
innate how long IL would probably bc
before the explosion might be expected.
Death or escape could only be n matter
Of moments.
She began with quick, trembling
fingers t. feel tho knots Of the cord
which bjuui her feet. r. her ngita-
ton she began to pray for strength;
but IN the midst of the prayers She
stopped as now thought occurred to
her.
Why not attempt to escape alone?
" she left GIDEON she would prob
ably be able 10 crawl away to u
sufficiently safe distance.
All that lie had don, 10 harm Tom,
and all that Gjtcon had threatened to
do. occurred to her mind to Justify her
IN leaving him. But she reflected
how he nad endcavorcn 60 save her
from the fate which she believed the
other men had planned, aud IL was for
making that attempt lac had been left
IN share with her the fate.
This decided her. She could not
play the traitor in such way.
She stopped toward him and shook
him as violently as she could. She
pulled his hair, pinchcd him aud rolled
his head sharply from side to side, her
efforts growing more and moro violent
IN her agitation, as she thought of the
precious moments that were passing.
hut she cunld make no impression upon
him.
There was no time, however, for
anything but action, and She tried to
think of fresh course. Probably the
man had u knife In his pockets which
would enable her ~ cut the cords
which bound her. Hastily she felt IN
his pockets, aud 20 her intense relief
found In one Of them Il large clasp
knife. She drew IL out. and after
some little difficulty cut the cords
which had bound her feet, and tried to
jump mp.
With cry Of fear and pain she fell
to the ground Immediately. The rush
OF released blood when the cords had
been looscEcd seemed to numb her,
giving her much pain aud robbing her
OF the usu Of her limbs. The feeling
passed, however. In short time, and
then she cut the cords with which
Gideon rrawlc hal bcch bound. She
tried once more to rouse him; but all
To no purpose. She could not restore
him to consciousness. She was at her
wits end what to do. The time was
flying 80 fast. Both their live, were
set on the cast Of few iuom"nt,; and
"a horrible death must ovcrtntc them
both unless he could he reused.
There seemed to be nothing TO do cX-
ccpt to try and carry the deadly ma
chine tn u distance sufficiently great
from the shed - render It's explosion
comparatively harmless. SHE tried TO
nerve herself to- do this; and wished
she had done 1t the moment she had
been able t. get free from the
cords that hue huunl her How far
must she try t. carry IL? How far
dared she carry It! It was indeed Il
ease of daring. II might explode
while she was carrying II; aud she
shuddcrcd rs th, thought struck her.
II Was not bright night, and she
might trip; she might let tn" horrible
lHlIE lhlls VI u lltll'NAfA iIlHhN a'At III
Happen TO- prevent her carrying Il far
away In safety.
still, II had 10 he done; there was no
other course, except that Of running
away and leaving Gibpou rrawlc to
his fate, She went to the SPOT where
shc had placed the Internal machine,
picked it up rs gently rs possible, and
prepared to hurry AWAY from the shed.
Al she did 80 a sound came from her
companion. lie sighed and moved and
muttcrcd some inarticulatc sound, De-
spite the fcarsomc burden she hold IN
her hand, Mary stopped and bent over
~ him. Then She called to him. ana
was clad when he muttcrcd some sort
OF reply,
Nest, she ran qujclliy from the shed,
aud placing the deadly machine on the
ground some little distance away, ran
back a. omar to r,commcncc her cifortG
to rouse hir, nnd get him away from
the place, When ,hc got back he wa,
sitting up, da2cd and giddy, and pee.
plcxcd ut his condition aud surround
ings
"Gibcou, Gibcon!" shc called, I'VE
must get away from here at once"
WHO'S tbnt2 Who are you?" muir
INJURED the man.
lin Mary Mary Ashworth," an.
swcrcd the girl.
whats happened? Where am ~" he
said, passing his hand across his eyes.
Your life * in danger; and II you
don't make haste and get away from
here, you'll be blown to pieccs!"
cried the girl, choosing what She
thought the best appeal, that to his
fears.
/ II had the effect she intendeg, and
In n moment he was on his feet,
"Comc with me, instantly" said
Mary, leading the way,
The man staggered u few steps after
her, and then tried to clutch ut the
posts of the she'd he missed them and
fell with heavy thud to the ground.
"lt's no use, lass" he murmurcd,
with half groan. I'm all muddlcd
and qaceri cant walk"
Lean ON me; there's not a moment
TO spare" cried Mary, turning 10 him,
hcr beDrt sinking. III you don't want
us both TO be killed where we are,
/ you must get away at once"
She said this In tone that reused
him again, and with violent effort he
struggled TO his feet, and, leaning
henvily on the girl, and stumbling and
dragging Of every step, he crawled
slowly out into the night.
"SItiuk uuiclIr cried Mary nEyerv