Mower County transcript., 1898-09-21
No aasws:.

Again the plaintive cry was repeated.
A woman's slender form sped swiftly
by, turned the corner Of the huge stack,
and then, as though recoiling at sight
of danger, darted back, shuddering,
stumbled over his prostrate body, and
only with difficulty saved itself from
falling. Quick as thought the woman
wbirled upon him, one half stifled,
ner~ Gus cry escaping from her lips
"Scully, you beast! Why are you ly-
ing there? You are not drunk. The
liquor he gave you wouldn't do this
Where's he gone? Answer, say.
Ab-hp' And the cold hands that had
seized and shaken him fell away in
fright at touch of the gag. Quickly she
recovered herself, fumbled in her pock-
et found pair of scissors and slashed
the bands that were stranglinR him.
"What fool work is this?'' she whim.
pered. "Sure Dan shouldn' t have gag.
ged you, Scully. Who was with him?
Who did it? Answer she implored,
shaking him vehemently. "Get up,
Soully, quick For the love of God find
him. They've been to the house already
the guard. Somebody's peached.
Somebody Who tied this lariat? It's
knotted like Wait till get knife.
Lie still, Scully." And away she sped.
leaving him to wonder, bound as he
was, how he could lie otherwise. She
was back in moment, painting, breath
less. She sawed at the thick cordage
until it snapped, then stared wildly one
instant as the tall figure straightened
up, then with cry of horror started
back. "Scully- No! What-you? Hun
ter? Oh, blessed saints, have mercy"
But the instant he was released and
had gained his feet, unarmed though
he was and half numbed, the tall, ath-
letic soldier sprang away into the dark
ness and ran like deer across the open
space and on past the stables toward
the stream, shouting as he ran at the
full strength of his powerful lungs:
Corporal Of the guard, No. 6! Cor
poral of the guard, No. 6p'
Out on the low bank across the mar
row stream he could see, outlined
against the sky, two dark, shadowy fig
ures go scurrying swiftly by, running
from the direction of the old magazine.
1t stood only a few yards beyond the
crest. Again he set up his powerful
shout, corporal Of the guard, No. 6!''
and away off to the northeast, although
farther than himself from the guard
house, Duffy on No. at the east gate,
sure that something was dreadfully
amiss, was repeating the cry. Hardly
knowing what he should do if he over
took them, Hunter dashed into the shall
low stream, in hopes of reaching the
opposite bank and overhauling the ma
rauders, but the broken, slippery ice
trapped and threw him again. Down he
went splash into the chilling waters !;
up he scrambled, only to slip and 20
down second time; then staggered to
his feet, breathless, almost exhausted
now; tumbled up the opposite bank
clambered on all fours to the crest !;
gazed hurriedly about in search of
friend or foe; peered into the darkness
to the south and southwest, but the
runners had disappeared; then gazed to
the east and sprang to his feet, startled.
Not 20 yards away loomed the black
bulk of the old brick magazine, and,
Kissing and sppttering, fiery serpent
seemed dancing in front. It bounded to
the doorway. NOW in the ruddy light
dimly seen to be open, disappeared
within a little cloud of sulphur smoke,
and then the heavens lit up with an
awful glare. He felt himself hurled vio-
lently backward. For one instant he
seemed to see a million stars orisscross-
ing through the skies. His ears were
stunned and deafened by thunderous
roar. The air was filled with flying
bricks and beams and sheets of fame
that scorched and scared and blinded
him. Then something crashed upon bis
skull, and he toppled over the bank and
went plunging down to the icy food be-
meath