Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1899-01-14

not suggest it through fear Of awalling
suspicion of my motives.
As if the room was not already suf1i
cicntly stuffy, Cy Walters brought out
a corncob pipe, which he proceeded to
fill, light and smoke with the delibera-
tion Of an old soldier who knows how
to enjoy his nicotine. His son did not
seem to use tobacco in any form, which
was unusual
After the words that | have recorded
neither nor my captors exchanged a
word as the slow hours wore away, but
if there were ever three wide awake in
dividuals they We're ourselves on that
memorable October night in Mississippi.
When Jim DUNCAN announced that /
was granted respite until morning and
| had surrendered my pistol, my inten-
tion was To remain quietly in the hotel
without "A move toward escape, unless
it should prove too tempting to bc re-
sisted. / had scarcely doubt that after
what he said he would become convinc-
ed Of his mistake or at least his doubts
would be increased to that extent that
he would investigate further, with my
quick freedom as the inevitable result.
But his last remark crushed that
hope. He had no doubt at all that |
was Hank Boyer, and the hours of grace
that he had granted were simply to give
me time to make preparation for death.
There was thought which at first
gave some consolation. 1t seemed that
among the ID or more men who had de-
manded my life there must bo one or
two into whose minds a doubt had
thrust itself, but reflection made it
clear that if such were the fact they
would have declared themselves at the
time of Dungan's dispute with his
friends. But all remained mute, and the
only one besides myself who knew the
whole truth was the real criminal, and
little fear, after what had occurred, of
his coming to my assistance.
So far as could figure out after two
hours thought there was no earthly
hope for me unless it should come with
some whim of the mob ON the morrow.
During the interval named neither of
my captOrs made the slightest change
of position or showed the first inclina.
tion to sleepiness Cy Walters finished
his pipe and showed it into the pocket
of his ragged coat. The rank fumes of
the tobacco lay i'll u thin stratum about
midway between the floor and ceiling,
absolutely mOtionless and Just far
enough above my head to relieve me of
the sickening Odor. Not once did he un-
cross his legs or move one of his huge
faat His hnll
ture with the same iron rigidity.
1t was impossible for mo to do like
wise. l fidgeted in my chair until it be-
came too irksome to be endured. Final
ly rose to my feet.
''If you will permit me, " l remarked,
walking across the room, picking up
another chair and placing it in front of
me, so as to allow mo to extend and rest
my feet upon it.
Those two pairs of eyes followed my
movement, and [ fancied that each man
grasped his weapon little closer, but
neither spoke or moved.
The repoSe to my feet was most well
como. l sat sideways i'll ono chair, with
its back under my shoulder, and l felt
for time that | could remain thus
without Inconvenience for several hours
That night was one which will re-
main vivid to the end of my life. The
air outside continued crisp and cool.
Most of the men who had swarmed into
the dining room after my life remained
drinking Mt the bar, whence their voices
came to Inc, mutfled by the intervening
walls and doors. l heard singing, eX-
clamations and the shuffling of feet
then partial silence, with the racket
gradually dying out, until somewhat
past midnight it ceased. Probably it
was the heavy tread of Landlord Bul.
finch which shutfled through the hall
without pausing in front of the door
In the stiffness could hear him climb
ing the stairs; then came the slamming
of door and stiffness again. a half
hour later the only persons in the old
inn who were awake were myself and
my two guards.
From my position on the two chairs !
could look at the window without
either of the sentinels observing any