The Afro-American advance., 1899-08-12

dtDiiEs htHtitiAFF Aa4f AA a. ~
had not care in the world.
Course him, would give all / am
worth to see him dead at my feet for
robbing my life of It's joy. said Tom
with clenchcd fists and blazing eyes.
Voices sounded at the side door, and
we turned TO see two sturdy farmers
holding frisky colt and eyeing Tom
suspicious1y. They left the animal &c
be shod. and with a handelasp of sym
pathy. left him TO his work.
This was upon Saturday. Gpon Mon.
day morning the village was startieo
by thc terrible neWs of the dentists
murder lie had been found less than
dozen rods from ais home with his
skull crushed by blow from some
heavy instrument.
The news spread like prairie fire.
Bonnetle woruen came to the post
office. and their ehatter WIS like that ci
an army of binekbirds I'm budding
spring. Coatless men surged about the
town pump who had not seen each 9th
er for months. From all country sides
they cHme, and the tavern bar engaged
the two yillngc loafers and men still
clamored to be served.
Walking from group to group. en-
countercd The marshal in company
with the two farmers who had visited
Toms shop on Saturday. They were
going toward the shop. They stopped
at the shop. Ny boyhood friend was
hnndcufied and lodged in the calaboose
near by. Hardly had the door been
closed when farm hand brought in n
bloody blncksmith's hammer. lie had
picked il up in a ditch near the scene
Of the murder. Upon its grimy handle
were the initials T. X.
Those who had known Tom Kelly
from "a boy never lost faith in him; but
there was the story Of the farmers whe
had heard his fated words. and there
the mute evidence Of the bloody ham.
mer, and lac was held for several days.
However, he proved u complete alibi
and WIS released.
Meanwhile the bereaved wife had
gone raving mad and up and down .4eI
little home she paced. calling day and
night her dead husbands name. Pite.
ously she prayed Heaven To restore
him TO her arms. Frantically she
vowed vengeance upon his murderer.
Again and again she shrieked. TON
Kelly. your blood shall atone for this"
For she could not release him from the
dreadful accusation, though the law
was compelled by the evidence To do so.
In maddsned accents she plead with
God 10 strengthen her arm and nerve
her heart 10 kill the one who had bereft
her life.
One day whcn she WAS thought 10 be
sleeping. exhausted from her rawlings,
she was left alone for few moments
by her watchers. Guided by the Gun.
ming of IA crazed mind, she arose quick.
~, donned her bicycle costume. and
securing silyermounted revolver
from the bureau drawer. slipped it in.
aide her jacket mounted her wheel and
rode toward the village.
| had that morning ridden from my
fathers farm into the village. stop.
ping for my usual chat with Tom and
" u RtttfAN NhhA ht't wv wv Htftit NAAti
journey when | encountered her rid
ing toward the smithy. Her once fair
features were conyilscd with hate and
madness aud she was mumbiing ineo-
horcntly,
As We passed she glanced up. and
the next instant shrek OF rage and
pistol note amotc the air simultanr-
ously. Her aim was Wild, but realizing
in a flash that she mistook me for Tom
Kelly. | bent over the handle. bars and
rode with all my might.
was beginner on the wheel aud
rode uWkwardly and none too straight
or swift
FOR the gricf-craked creature 10 turn
her wheel about. remount and take up
the chase. Glaucing back, could see
the distance rapidly lcssening. for
could scarcely keep my balance, while
my strange pursUgr was mistress of
her stccd and possessed OF the strength
Of madness.
Again she fired and the bullet whiERed
past my head lending every muscle.
Ntrove To control my machine. calm
sny excited nerves aud escape from pur-
suing death. Her third bullet flew be
tween nay arm and side and glanced
downward from the handle bar. She
was gaining AZ every turn of the ped.
ais, What should | doe | dared not
stop or attempt TO convince her of her
mistake. could not hold out much
longer. | could hear the whirr of her
chain close behlnd me. trrmhlcd at
the thought ~ backward glance. Her
fourth bullet sung 80 close Ia my chrek
that It's ashcn pallor could not have
been distinguished from the gray dust
upon my clothes. l was losing hope,
The only salvation | could hope Tor
Was that she would empty the cham,
hcrs he fore her aim became true enough
to hit tue,
Suddenly. glancing ahead. saw
long freight train slowly pulling to-
ward the road nearly quarter Of
mile distant In an instant nay plan
was formed bending ever energy and
leaning luw over the haadle.hars, |
sped on like ths Wind. AMI terror lent
wings. | vas surprised a., my fearful
speed for the earth beneata was blur,
nnd in agony lFst prActursd tire
should plunge me headloag ta the
earth. At last. with ever, muscle qui,.
erlng. | shot over the rats bare two
rods ahead of the putting eaginr aud
rode up the hill beyond. saved by