Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-07-10


happened, he placed his rifle beside
the door and walked to the first OF
the two windows the cabin contain
ed. It was fastencd-nailed secure
" from the inside. A look inside,
and wonderful change came over
him. He rushed trantically to the
one remaining window, only to find
that it, too, resisted his best efforts
to open it. At this moment tie
fathers eyes rested upon the form
of his son, and tears of gratitude
wet his rough cheeks. There was
not moment to lose-a less ob.er.
want man than the son could have
seen that. In the frsction of
minute he had gained possession OF
his trusty rifle, showed the muzzle
through the window pane-and fred.
His nerve was not the steadiest, nor
the light the best, but simultaneous.
~ with the discharge of the weapon,
the pickering flame of the candle
went out and the whole weight of the
pinioned mans form tested the
strength of the bonds. He had
tainted. With muLtered curse,
knowing not but his father was
dead, he picked up log of wood
and with three giant sweeps battered
the door in. In another moment
he had cut the bonds which held the
limp form of his father and placed
him tenderly upon his cot in the
corner.
"Then with his father safe for tie
present, the thought Of personal
danger came to him. Rushing to
the window overlooking the road,
he saw in the gathering twilight the
forms of two men, as they approach
ed, with uncertain steps. The true
condition of affairs dawned upon
him in an instant. These men,
temporarily content with the sue
cess Of their plans, had left, imbib.
ed freely Of moonshine, and having
heard the report of rifle from the
cabin were now returning to loot the
premises, thinking it was all over.
They were soon to realize their er.
ror, however, for before they had
proceeded half a dozen more steps
the report of rifle again broke the
stiffness and the foremost of the
two went down without a cry.'
The narrator paused a moment at
this juncture, and wiped the pres
piration from his brow, while his
three auditors awaited the resump-
ton Of this story with eagerness.
''The other william took to tree,n
he went on, "but rs the son iDjudi-
ciously showed his form at the
window, rife ball came crashing in
and tore his good right hand almost
to pieces. His teeth we're set now
apd look of intense hatred glowed
in his eyes. His opportunity came
before long, for the desperate moon
sinner was imprisoned behind the
tree. Knowing escape to be well
nigh impossible, he hastily reloaded
his weapon, and getting down up.
on his knees, cautiously peered
from his covering, unable to resist
the chance of taking another shot at
the man in the cabin. 1t is needless
to tell you what followed, except to
say that the single look caused his
death, which might otherwise have
been averted for some time, perhaps
indefinitely, as darkness was fast
coming on.
"There is little more to relate.
The older man, he upon whom the
torture had been inflicted, lived for
many years after the tragedy,
and the son-well, he is living to-
day."
"And the son was never brought
TO trial, | presume spoke the treas
nry official, with rising infection
10 his voice.
mo, sir" was the emphatic re-
spouse. shat is not the way things
are done, in our section Of the coun.
ty at least. Why, sir, he was one
OF the most talked of men in the
whole state, and, strange as it may
seem, was elevated to a position Of
some prominence. In fact, some of
you may have heard of him."
He arose as he spoke, took deep
breath of cool air at the open win
dow, slung his oYercoat over his
arm and extended his hand to his
host with hearty ''good night"
"But his name-who was he ~ I
asked. But the colonel, more used
to such revelations than the treas.
ury official and myself, made an
swer for him. There was no word
spoken, but raising the hand he
held in his own, so that it was fully
exposed to the electric light, we saw
with feelings of awe, that it bore
ragged unsightly scar extending
from the second joint of the forefn-
ger clear to the wrist.-Washington
Star.
Strong Witnesses
Among the thousands OF testimon
ials OF cures by DIR. Miles, New
Heart Cure, is that of Nathan ALI