The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-08-05

ny the terrible news Of the dentists
murder. He had been found less than
a dozen rods from his home with his
skull crushed by Il blow from some
heavy instrument.
The news spread like a prairie fire.
iionnetless came 10 the post
flee. and their chatter was like thai of
III army Of blackDirds in budding
spring. Coatless men surged about the
town pump who had not seen each 9TH
er for months. From all country sides
they came. and the tavern bar engaged
the two village loafers and men still
clamored to be served.
Walking from group TO group. l en-
countcred 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. My boyhood friend was
handc-ffed and lodged in the calaboose
near by. Hardly had the door been
closed when a farm hand brought in a
bloody blacksmith's hammer. lie had
picked it up in a ditch near the scene
of the murder. Upon its grimy handle
were the initials +. X.
Those who had known Tom Kelly
from a boy never lost faith in him; but
there was the story of the farmers who
the mute evidence of the bloody ham.
mer. and he was held for several days.
However. he proved Il complete abb
and was released.
Meanwhile the bereaved wife had
gone raying mad and up andNown her
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 tha
dreadful accusation, though the law
was compelled by the evidence to do 50.
In maddened accents She plead with
God to strengthen her arm and nerve
her neart to kill the one who had bereft
her life.
'lt tdN Nlltl Sllc NdS tlOueHl I u Ut
sleeping. exhausted from her rawlings,
she was left alone for Il few moments
by her watchers. Guided by the Gun
ming Of a craZed mind, she arose quick
ly. donned her bicycle costume. and
securing Il Silver-mountcd revolver
from the bureau drawer. Slipped it in
side 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
was barely started on my homeward
ing toward the smithy. Her once fair
features were convulsed with hate and
madness and she was mumbiing inco-
herently.
As we passed she glanced up. and
the next instant a shrek of rage and
a pistol note Smote the air simultane-
ously. Her aim was wild. but realizin"
in a flash hat she mist0ok me for Ton
Kelly. | bent over the handle-barS and
rode with all my might.
was a beginner on the wheel and
rode awkwardly and none too straight
or swift.
1t was but the work of an instant
for the gricf-crazed creature to turn
her wheel about. remount and TAXI up
the chase. CHANGING back. could see
the distance rapidly lessening, for l
could scarcely keep my balance. while
my strange pursuer was mistress N
her steed and possessed of the strength
of madness.
Again she fired and the bullet whizzcd
past my head. Bending every muscle,
| strove to control my machine, calm
nv excited nerves and escape from pur-
suing death. Her third bullet flew be-
tween my arm and side and glanced
downward from the handle-bar. She
was gaining at every turn OF the ped
ais. What should | DO? | 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 behind me. | trcmbled AT
the thought of IA backward glance. Her
fourth bullet sung so close TO my cheek
that its ashen pallor could not have
been distinguished from the gray dust
upon my clothes. l was losing hope.
The only salvation | could hope for
was thai she would empty the cham
brrsbefore her aim became true enough
to hit ne.
Suddenly. glancing ahead. | saw q
long freight train slowly pulling to-
ward the road nearly Il quarter of a
mile distant. In an instant my plan
was formed. Bending every energy and
leaning low over the handle-bars. |
sped on like the wind. and terror lent
wings. | was surprised mt my fearful
speed for the earth beneath was a blur,
and in agony lest Il punctured tire
should plunge me hcadlon@ To the
earth. At last. with every muscle quiv-
erinp. | shot over the rails a bare two
rods ahead of the pulling engine aEd
rode up the hill beyond. saved by q
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of Gold.
Possible Contingencies.
Uncle .Jedediah-I'm in favor of arbi-
tration as a means OF settlin' these here
international disputes: but yet real