Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-10-07

the rifle was almost attull COCK. IL
would be difficult for any man, ac-
customed though he might be to dan
ger and death, to imagine the feelings
of the prisoner as he realized that the
severing of the cord meant instant
death He was not left long in sus-
pense as to the nature Of the death
dealing means his enemies had pre-
pared for him, for in shorter time
than it takes to relate it, they had
taken candle from the window sill,
lighted it, placed it conveniently upon
small box they had placed upon the
table in such manner that the flame
had but to burn a half hour until it
should reach the cord and burn it in
two. And in another moment, with
few taunting remarks, they were
gone.
"How the helpless man must have
longed for the return of his son! How
he must have watched with bulglng
eyes and fainting heart the fame OF
doom burn closer and closer 1t was
a situation to drive the strongest man
to madness. But | will not dwell at
any length upon that portion of the
story. A few moments more, shortly
before sunset, the son came down the
lonely mountain road, whistling
merry tune. Wholly unconscious Of
what he should find, he approached
his cabin home, tried the door and
found it securely locked. Not sound
came from within. Still unaware that
anything unusual had happened, he
placed his rife beside the door and
walked to the first of the two windows
the cabin contained. 1t was fastened
nailed securely from the inside. A
look inside, and a wonderful change
came over him. He rushed frantically
to the one remaining window, only to
find that it, too, resisted his best ef-
forts to open it. At this moment the
fathers eyes rested upon the form of
his son, and tears of gratitude wet his
rough cheeks. There was not mo-
ment to lose-a less observant man
than the son could have seen that. In
the fraction of minute he had gained
possession of his tru,ty rifle, showed
the muzzle through the window pane
and fired. His nerve was not the
steadiest, nor the light the best, but
simultaneously with the discharge of
the weapon, the Aickering fame of the
candle went out and the whole weight
of the pinioned mans form tested the
strength of the bonds. He had tainted.
With muttered curse, knowing not
but his father was dead, he picked up
a log of wood and with three giant
sweeps battered the door in. In an
other moment be 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 the
present, the thought of personal dan
ger came to him. Rushing to the win
dow overlooking the road, he saw In
the gathering twilight the forms of two
men, as they approached, with uncer-
tain steps. The true condition of af-
fairs dawned upon him in an instant.
These men, temporarily content with
the success of their plans, had left, I'M
bibed freely of moonshine, and having
heard the report Of a rifle from the
cabin were now returning to loot the
premises, thinking it was all over
They were soon to realize their error,
however, for before they had proceed
ed half dozen more steps the report
of rife again broke the stiffness and
the foremost of the two went down
without cry.
The narrator paused a moment at
this juncture, and wiped the perspira-
ton from his brow, while his three au-
ditors awaited the resumption Of this
story with eagerness. -.
"The other villain took to tree,
he went on, "but as the son injudici-
ously showed his form at the window,
rife ball came crashing in and tore
his good right hand almost to pieces.
His teeth were set now and look of
intense hatred glowed in his eyes. His
opportunity came before long, for the
desperate moonsbiner was imprisoned
behind the tree. Knowing escape to
be wellnigh impossible, he hastily re-
loaded his weapon, and getting down
upon 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
IL.