The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-16

My bedroom opened upon the Hai
which was used as scrt OF living room
being the coolest place In the house. In
the hall were desk. sowing table and
several chairs, also usually the baby car
riage.
On the third day after my encounter
with Yo-pah-ta-or rather the third night
for it was about IL o'clock, and had just
put out the lights and was about 10 go 10
bed-I heard knock at the back hail
door. It was unusual i'm any house but
that, but was we'll used TO investigating
noises and unusual things, because L hau
lived In that house now for year. 4
put on my trousers and slippers, ana,
without misgiving. l walked down
through the center OF the dark hali. un-
locked and threw back the door, ana In an
instant was struggling In tho maduest
contest of my not uneventful life
As threw back the door was seized
by some unknown antagonist. a power
full arm was thrown about my shoulders.
and what | felt To be "A murderous mana
clutched me by the throat. 1t was dark
and | could not see my antagonist Dut
/ felt him to be "a powerful follow taller
than /. The instinct of self-preservatlon
operated without thought. ana wrencheu
the clutching hand from my throat ana
held my assailant's wrist In my grasp
No word was spoken; no sound was mace
save such as was involved In the move
Inents we made in endeavoring each TO
got wrestler's advantage. We strained
and struggled and gripped like athletes
matched in the arena. 1 was nghting
for my life, and knew It, My assaliant
was an Indian; l soon knew that by MS
naked body, by his long hair and by the
smell Of wood smoke on him, ana our
wrestling soon convinced me that no was
n strong man. We were not unevenly
matched, however, for was myself very
powerful man, though shorter than my
antagonist, and was in good condition,
too from much exercise. Ihe nght was
with natures weapons only. nad soon
found that my assailant had no other ana
had not even a stick.
My wife called from the bedroom at
the first sound Of a struggle to know what
was the matter, but l was too much
occupied to answer.
Down the hall we whirled, overturning
the baby carriage, crushing chair De-
tween us and the wall. sliding table
over the uncarpeted floor, and making
no end OF racket.
My wife who knew when l did not
grabbed the baby and fled across the
front OF the hall and back through the
rooms on that side, calling loudly Tor
help.
My right arm was held down by the
hug of his left. l struggled To free IT,
Now that / was certain | was lightning
an Indian, | wanted to stop the wrest-
ling, and IL l could get room tn use my
right hard would DO It, At last l had
my right arm 80 that could use it, Now.
| had him. Indiars know nothing OF
flsticuffs 1t was as d ,rk as pocket, but
when you have wress.ed with man Tor
the better part Of five minutes you know
about where his chin IL, and 1 clenched
my fist and uppercut my man with all
may NJ 9TH Tharp a Urunt Quick
breath, drawing away OF the heavlng
chest, and knew had hurt him. Again
| hit i'm savagely ard then heard Foley
come running through the house. Foley
was awake, still dressed ana reading
when hc heard my wife CAL for help. he
took up hts light, heavy -ifeii-iaiap
which might have done admirable service
as weapon, and came on run. As he
came into the hall with che light he
stopped short and /, still clasping my
savage antagonist, with arm drawn down
and muscles tense in readiness for another
blow, almost tainted. l felt the goose
flesh rise on me. IL any mans hair ever
erected itself with terror mine did
/ tell You, had hold of that substantial
struggling savage, ana be held me In no
gentle grip. His hot breath was on my
face, HIS chest against mine, and yet,
when the light shone through the hall
could see not one thing in front OF or near
me, save the overturned and broken fur-
niture My eyes told me that my hand
grasped empty air. and that thore was
nothing To account for the pressure OF
the arm about my waist. IL was horrible,
and | was almost overcome by it. Almost,
but not quite. | saw Foley standing
lamp in hand. and i'm his eyes tho terror
and solicitude he felt. lie told me after
ward that bo thought l had gone sud-
denly and violently insane perhaps from
the heat.
L was young hot blooded and very
angry had been struggling with that
Thing" for tho mastery and l was get
ting the better os it too when the light
camo. Should 10 beaten nowy
do not say thought all this. l didn't
but something very like 1t came ovor my
mind as the thing drew longer breath
and tightcned its clasp ms II for renewed
efforts | SAW Foley's frightened face /
saw the pale face Of my dear wife over
FOleys shoulder. 1 heard the terrified
wall Of my baby anu my strength came
back on Hood Of anger, horror and hate;
came back fourfold and l struck the
ching" again with my fist Its clasp on
mo Ioosened and IL staggered back. L
can hear yet Its labored breath and the
shuflling sound of its uncertain feet
saw in "a corner small iron urowbar
that had been used for opening some
boxes: | sprang back and seized 1t for
ward again and struck. The blow met In
midair something which did not alto
gether stop the bar but gave way before IL.
Again | struck; further forward this time
TO the lott and downward and tho bnr
stopped with sickoning grinding crunch
"a little bove the height OF my own head.
There was sigh, n sort of rustle tho fall
of a heavy body ut my feet ana touching
them the bar swung of its own weight To
my side and stoou with it In my hand
while at my feet aud touching them was
nothing absolutely
nothing so far as could see In that now
brightly lighted hall.
As the bar dropped To my side and /
stood quietly | saw a Look of relief upon
tho faces of my wife and Foley and yet ny
appearance could not have been very reas-
suring My shirt was in ribbons, my sus-
pondcrs were broken, my slippers were
of, my chest. arms and face bore the marks
of clawing nails ana must have pro-
sented wildly dishovelcd aspect l could
not yet believe the evidences of three
senses when so plainly controverted by
fourth. | almost doubted my own sanity
but test occurred TO me and stepped
back two or three paces leaving the
thing" lying across tho hall. h
Put down that lamp and como here,
said | to Foley.