The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-07-27


the boys. While we're doing SO, you
can withdraw Stay with the women
No doubt they II find Your company
agreeable, Bill, go along and keep an
eye on him all the time, remembering
that, if he hasn't any weapons except
his sword, the fact won't hinder him
from running, if he gets the chance. /"
The soldier addressed as "Bin' mo-
toned to Oakman to follow him into
the hail. The prisoner did so, the two
joining the three women, who We're
seated near the stand or table upon
which was the CANDLE with their arms
folded, grim, silent and waiting, They
turned their eyes toward the couple, but
not word was spoken by any one. (.
All the chairs were occupied, and the
men kept their feet. Bill wished to fol-
low the debate that was going on in the
next room and placed himself near the
door that he might catch the words
spoken, an easy thing to do, since there
was little or no attempt at secrecy by
the others.
While posted thus the soldier motion
ed for Oakman to take his place in
front, that he might observe his every
movement, the guard meanwhile keep
ing his hand on the revolver at his hip.
Less than five minutes later a, scream
rang out from Miss Hartman and the
startled company in the adjoining room
dashed into the hall to learn it's cause.
She was in her chair, gasping and strug-
Cling, with frightful attack of hys-
terics Mrs. Benware and her sister, as
white as death, sat silent, upright and
evidently on the point of swooning ;;
Bill the cavalryman, was stretched on
his back, to all appearances as dead as
dead could be. The open front door left
no doubt whittier the prisoner had gone,
and with fierce imprecations the raiders
streamed outside and made for their
horses.
Not minute was to be lost, for in
the vivid moonlight he was seen in the
act Of swinging himself into the saddle
of one of the animals that had been
tied at the side of the lane, fully alive
to the fact that his life depended upon
using every second at his command.
Not doubling what the verdict of the
men would be, Lieutenant Oakman,
while in the hall with his jailer, deter
mined to discount it. The fact that his
guard did not suspect any such wild
purpose increased the chances Of the
officer. Without his motive being dis
trusted by the man whose attention
was centered upon the discussion in the
adjoining room the lieutenant stepped
up near him. The'nex instant he was
throttled with such lightninglike
quickness that he sank to the floor and
collapsed without being able to make
an outcry
Lieutenant Oakman would have
strangled the life out Of him without
any conjunction had he dared to ingel
for that purpose, but the door at his
side was likely to open any moment
when it would be all over with him
AS it was he came near shutting off thu
wind of the fellow for good, but, seeing
him senseless, he snatched away his re
volver, rose from his feet and tiptoe(
hurriedly out Of the door.
The whole thing was begun and end
ed so quickly that the daring fellow
seemed to be gone ere the women I'm
derstood what it all meant. Then mo
ment passed before they did any thing
and the form on the floor had begun t.
show signs Of returning animation
when Miss Hartman uttered her pene
trating scream, the party crowded int
the hall, and, without pausing to as]
,, questions, made for the fleeing prisoner
Lieutenant Oakman was as cool as h
i, was active. There was no time in whic]
to select the best horse and he unite
the one nearest at hand. They wer
, partly in moonlight and partly in shad
ow, but he saw the old building dis
! gorging its terrible contents, as h
turned the head Of his animal down tn
lane toward the highway, and he kne1
the battle for life was en- There woul
- be no surrender or quarter shown i
' this business %
The instant the animal broke into hi
= gallop in the middle of the lane Oal