The record-union., 1897-12-01

iAA0, L hilOW you WALL iiic,
but you won't get me-
Well, let US get into the house and
talk it over I said, stepping up the
path. In an instant he barred the
way. Not until you hand over hat
revolver and he held out his hand for
my Colt. / had to give it to him.
There was no other way out of it. I
handed over the gun and walked in
front of him into the house. Cold meat,
bread, and boiled beets We're on the
table, and a plate laid for one. He
marched into his own room and stood
his Winchester in the corner. My re-
Volver he stuck into his boot-top; he
carried his own in his hand. I fell to
eating, and he sat at the opposite side
OF the table occasionally taking bite
OF food, but playing necessarily first
with my revolver and then with his
own. His shifting eyes We're off me
scarcely a second. / was nervous, and
would have given almost anything to
be safely out of it all. Several times
tried to get him in conversation, but
he answered me only with crazy
laugh, and kept up the incessant play
ing with the two revolvers. Meantime
the storm had broken in all it's fury
and the sharp, streaky lightning, and
heavy falls of thunder, did not tend
to compose my nerves, although at
every heavy peal my friend would
laugh in apparent answer and frowned
when he caught me looking at him.
GUARDED BY A MADMAN.
Finally he said: You can sleep on
that cot in the front room. You have
slept on it before. You won't need any
candle plenty of light will come from
this fire. Besides, l will watch you
And again he laughed.
Aren't you going to turn in?' l
ventured
Not when I have company like
you And then followed another laugh.
Slowly and deliberately 1 undressed,
trying to turn over in my mind some
plan by which l could bring things to a
climax. AS l stretched myself on the
couch Boyle picked up a big armchair
and placed it where he could sit and
watch every move l might make. A
f1ickering light from the burning logs
shone across the room, but flashes Of
green lightning made the scene, in my
anxious state of mind, most uncanny.
ton. If he fell asleep my work was
simple enough. It was on this chance l
had counted If l did not show up with
my prisoner by o'clock next morning
two deputies We're to await outside just
within calling distance. But my crazy
companion did not seem at all inclined
to slumber. He simply removed his
boots and seated himself in the chair
where he could watch me. My revolver
seemed particularly to interest him. He
amused himself by pointing it at every
thing within range, including my un-
comfortable form on the couch. Hour
after hour passed and sleep came to
neither of US.
Toward morning / sank from pure
exhaustion into a momentary slumber.
The thunder had ceased but the light
ming still continued. The creaking of a
board caused me to open my eyes just a
trifie- The fire had nearly die6 out;
Boyle was approaching - in his stock
ing feet. His presence meant no good
to me, but | dared not move Closer he
came. l could hear him breathe He
stopped and listened to determine
whether l slept or not / was on the
point of jumping from the bed when a
sudden flash revealed him within three
feet of me. He had me covered with
my own revolver. To move meant GER
tain death. 1t took all my nerve 10
breathe full and steadily as one in
slumber, with the cold sweat pouring
off me. | awaited the result. Every
second seemed an age
A PERILOUS MOMENT.
4 have faced the muzzle of a gun
many times, but never before in bed.
with maniac leaning over me. Then
for awhile he bent down and listened.
He seemed satisfied, and moved away
TO his seat in the armchair. Soon after
this much to my relief daylight came.
Boyle had not once closed his eyes. |
felt ten years older. l did not stir.
While ne placed the coffee over the fire,
stopping ever and anon to look at me
through the open door. l called him,
and he started as If shot. covered me
with the revolver, and then slowly low
cred it with a laugh. / made some iok-
ing remark about his eccentricity and
has determination to look upon me as y
dangerous character who must he
watched. He made no response only
pointing to the table, and said that +
had better eat and get out, as the storm
was over and he wanted to be left
alone
Seating myself. I at once made m
my mind that the time for action had
come. His revolver was in it's holster
but mine he had laid carefully beside his
Plate and commenced to eat voraciouslv
never taking his eye off me, however
Picking up cold potato, l apparently
by accident let it slip and roll to the
fioor, past Boyles chair Rising from
my seat L crossed behind him as if to
pick up the potato, but suddenly turn
ing, seized him with both arms around
the waist With a bound and a cry of
1 knew it, he jumped from his chair
lifting me off my feet We both swayed
and fell TO the floor. my shoulder sus-
tanning The full shock of the fall. With
twist he wrenched from me. faced and
ciinched, and then commenced the
fercest struggle in my life l had to
overpower that mad man Or die in his
grasp.
A FIGHT FOR LIFE.
"He had the case knife with which he
''"'N DS'H edtllS sun III MS I1SHl ndflu
with an oath he plunged it into my
back. The round pointed blade struck
squarely on a rib and broke off. With
the broken half blade he jabbed my
shoulders, neck and face, until / man.
aged to catch his wrist in my right
hand. Then we had rough and tum-
ble all over the floor, sometimes on our
knees, sometimes one on top, sometimes
the other. We were pretty equally
matched. He had the strength Of a
maniac, and / was fighting for my life
had rendered the knife hand power