The Opelousas courier., 1898-07-09
strangeness Of the request, but re-

to dictate the instructions herself"
Herd q slight exclamation broke
from the lips of the occupant of the
bed, as if about to frame a word O,
sentence; but she was checked by
Jackson. who, with a threatening
scowl, evidently not meant for my OBJ.
s~ervation, said:
"Do not exert yourself, my dea,
niece; I will do all that is necessary
andthen, as I drew the writing materi'
ais before me, he quickly leanedove,
toward her, and Kissed in her ear,
"Remember-be CAREFUL" with such
emphasis as to cause her to sink, pale
and trembling, back among the pillows
of the bed.
A half-hour elapsed, and the will
had been completed. All Blanche
Pickering's property, personal and
real, was to be divided between the
man Jackson and his son Henry, with
the exception of a few small legacies.
Then I read it, and after p%ropounding
the few necessary in.errogatories tc
the legator, which were answered in q
low, trembling affirmative requested
her to sign it.
Drawing my chair up to her sMfuss r
with the paper and pen lh' my hand,
waited for her to obey my request
intimating to Jackson that it would be
as well to have Cooper as o witness.
The latter individual had, evidently,
fallen asleep, for, a call not bringing
him to the bedside, Jackson arose and
walked to where his confrere lay.
At this moment, and with the rapid.
ity of light, the girls hand caught my
own, and leaning my head downward,
so that I could listen to what she
might desire to say, I heard her whis-
per, in passionate, beseeching words:
II en- forced to this! They intend
to kill me! For heavens sake, help
mel"
Then she sank back, and before
Jackson had been able to observe Us,
we had both resumed our former rela-
tive positions.
At last the will had been signed,
witnessed and sealed, and, hat in
hand, I stood at the table awaiting
my clients further pleasure, as if /
had not the idea in my mind of return
ing before morning, and that, too,
with an officer of justice.
I followed my servitor down the
stairs, listened to bis untruthful re-
grets that the carriage must have re-
turned to the house, as agreed upon,
and then gone to the city; declined
his offer to remain for the night, and
having been directed to the station,
stood once more in the open air.
Suddenly q wild scream Of terror
assailed my ears. In a moment I was
again up the steps, and turning the
knob of the door in an Intellectual at
tempt to gain admittance.
I was about to attempt to force an
entrance through the window, when
the door was flung suddenly open, and
the man Cooper stood before me.
He discovered me at once and
struck at me with his clenched fist.
Evading the blow. I whipped out my
revolver, and, striking him with the
but end, knocked him senseless upon
the steps.
4 was again about to turn and en-
ter, when the form of Jackson dashed
down the staircase through the open
door, and I felt myself in his grasp.
I saw at once that he was unarmed,
and elevating mypistol, fired; but the
shot was turned aside and the weapon
knocked from my hand to the ground.
Then ensued a fearful struggle be-
tween US. in which we both were pre-
,ipitated down the steps upon the
gravel walk below uppermost.
It was, perhaps, for two minutes
that I held him by the throat, dealing
1im blows with my d~isengaged hand
he having the other in his strong
with Q dexterous twist
II his powerful arm, he turned me
aside, and I 10y PROSTATE upon the
ground with the vicelike grip of his
strong fingers grasping me- by the
throat until my eyes were staring
rom their sockets and every muscle
became inactive.
Selling a large stone which lay near
hin, he raised it in his left hand and
was about to strike me on the head
when a sharp, loud report rang on the
sir. The form of the rufian fell back
his fingers relaxed their grasp.
Aform in white passed before my
Uncertain vision; and then. for the
space of five minutes, I was utterly
unconscious.
When at length the mind awoke
rom it's stupor Miss Pickering was
pending over me, chafng my temples
md attempting to perform what ma
;ure had done-restore me to sensi.
From her I learned that she had
'isen from her bed at the exit Of the
;wo rufians from her. room, and, oh.
my dangerous situation, had
ired at Jackson just as he was about
strike me with the stone, with my
'evolver, which she had picked up Oh
he steps.
I also learned that her scream was
'aused by the resolution of the muir.
ferrous twain to start after and murder
ne, fearing that she had commando.
ed something to me which might up.
let their well-laid plans.
Having securely bound the still IN.
Cooper and removed the
Of Jackson into the house, we
waited the coming morn-Miss Pick
ring meanwhile informing me of her
Imprisonment by Jackson for over a
ear, and his resolve to force her to
aake q will. and then make way with
Ter. Her parents having died and left
'er sole heiress to a large property,