Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-09-05

tired. l fell into doze, from which
was aroused with a start by what
seemed to be the ticking of the sound
er. 1t said as clear as il some one had
spoken, Beware; danger threatens l
sat up in bed The moon was shining
brightly through the window. l gazed
intently at the sounder. 1t made not
the slightest motion, yet the message
came again, this time even more start
hngly distinct than before. What
could it possibly mean? | thought l
was dreaming at first; but when the
mysterious message was repeated for
the third time l came to a different
conclusion. / don't believe in spirit
ualism, yet l am at loss now to as
cribe that inexplicable communication
to any other source.
SAT any rate, upon hearing the third
message my mind instantly reverted
to the huge box in the freight corner.
The partitioning of my little apart
ment did not extend as high as the
roof, but merely to distance of about
five feet above the level of my bed,
and by standing on the bed l could
peer over the top and see all parts or
the interior OF the station. rose
stealthily TO an erect position and look
ed over the edge of the partition. The
first thing / saw was the box, stand
ing on end near window in the ex-
IRENE end Of the station; and as look
ed / saw its top slowly rise and a
mans head protrude itself.
1t was a thick, brutalized face, with
griZzleled whiskers. Instantly IL
flashed across my mind that 1t be-
longed to Grizzly Bill
1.-THE sight sent my heart into my
throat with bound, for | realized only
too well that the outlaw would stop at
nothing to get the money which he
knew was in my possession. To him
murder was child's play. But, after
the first emotion of fear. felt perfect
~ calm. In truth, felt as though fate
had thrown this desperate in my way.
so that l might conquer him. | don't
know why felt thus; probably ex-
perienced the same emotions that a
soldier does who goes into battle with
fear and trembling, yet who, when act
ually III the midst of danger, feels as
cool and collected as though he were
out of reach of all possibility of harm.
II got out of bed, picked up the coal
shovel and scuttle ard made as much
noise as possible. As the night had
been an unusually cool one. a fire was
burning, and as 1 passed the stove
grabbed my revolver and thrust it into
my right coat pocket Into my left
| pocket / thrust some nails and ham
mer. Then, whistling as loudly as pos
| sible TO mislead the desperate in the
| box, I left the little Office and walked
across the floor of the freight Part Of
/ the station. When Immediately In
| front of the box I sprang at it with
| tie fury of mau fighting for his life
| and overturned it. 1t fell to the fool
top up. with a resounding crssh. In
I stantly I was astride the box driving
nails into 1t as hard and fast as man
! in terror for his life could do. And all
I the while was yelling at the i,npris
oned outlaw at the top of my voice
telling thai If he so much ss breathed
I would instantly kill him.
But my threats did not appear &c
| Tighten him much. From the interior
! of the box came a vOlley Of muffied
/ oaths that would have astonished Q
| Ligger Indian. / never heard sucf
I horrible profanity. / fired my pisto
! twice in the air, to let him know
meant business. After a willie he be
I came quiet. / carefully examined tht
box and found there was 10 danger o.
suffocating, for at the upper cd wert
a numbe: of tiny perforatiOns which
freely admitted air.
Il sat astride that box until my as
sistant came, at o'clock 1t was {
long and trying vigil, but the n,agni
tude OF my victory bucyed me up. M!