The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-08-11

suspiciously. They left the animal 10
be shod. and with handclasp OF syn.
pathy, l left him TO his work.
This WAS upon Saturday. Upon Mon
day morning the village was startled
by the terrible news Of the dentists
murder. He had been found less than
dozen rods from his home vii IA his
skull crushed by blow from some
heavy instrument.
The news spread like "a prairie fire.
s3onnetlcss women came 10 the post
ilice. and their chatter was like that OF
an army OF backbirds in budding
spring. Coatless men surged about the
town pump who had not seen each 9th
or for months. From all country sides
they came. and the tavern bar engaged
the two village loa fcrs and men still
clamored To be served.
Walking from group 10 group. ! 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 = fled and lodged in the Gala boose
near by. Hardly had the door been
closed when a farm hand brought in
bloody blacksmith's hammer. lie had
picked il up in ditch near the scene
of the murder. Upon its grimy handle
were the initials L. IL.
Those who had known Tom Kelly
from boy never lost faith in him; but
there was the story of the farmers who
had heard his fated words. and there
the mute evidence of the bloody ham
mer, and he was held for several days
However, he proved a complete abb
and was released.
Meanwhile the bereaved wife had
gone raying mad and up andsloSvn 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 shrieksd: Tom
Kelly. Your blood shall atone for this"
For she couid not release him from the
dreadful accusation. though the law
was compelled by the evidence to do so.
In maddcned accents She plead with
God to strengthen her arm and nerve
her heart to kill the one who had bereit
her life.
One day when She was thought TO be
sleeping. exhausted from her rawlings,
she was left alone for few moments
by her watchers. Guided by the Gun
ming OF crazed mind. she arose quick
w., donned her bicycle costume. and
securing a silyer-mounted revolver
from the bureau drawer. slipped II 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
Journey when encountered her rid
ing toward the smithy. Her once fair
features were convulsed with hate and
madness and she was mumbling inco-
herently.
As we passed she glanced up. and
the next instant a shriek Of rage and
/ pistol note smote the air sing uitane-
ouslv. Her MIN was wild. but realizing
in n flash that she mistook me for Tom
Kelly. bent over the handle-bssrs and
rode with an my might.
| Was beginner on the wheel and
rode awkwardly and none too straight
or swift
II was but the work OF an instant
for the grief-crazcd creature 70 turn
her wheel about. rcmount and take up
the chase. CHANGING back. could see
the distance rapidly lesseninr. for
could scarcely keep my balance while
my strange pursuer was mistress ~
, her steed and possessed Of the strength
Of madness
Again She fired and the bullet whizzed
past my head. bending every muscle,
| strove to control my machine. calm
nv excited nerves and escape from pur-
sning death Her third bullet flew be-
| tween my arm and side and glanced
downward from the handit-bar. She
was gaining at every turn OF the ped
: ais. What should | do2 | dared not
/ stop or attempt 10 convince her Of her
mistake ] could not hold out much
. longer. could hear the whirr Of her
, chain close behind me. ! irembled at
the thought OF q 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. ! was losing hope
: The only salvation ! could hope foI
! was that she would empty the cham
/ bers before her aim became true enough
TO hit me.
4 Suddenly. gancing ahead. ! saw
long freight train slowly putting TO
I ward the road nearly quarter OF q
: mile distant. In an instant my plan
was formed. Bending every energy and
leaning loy. over the handlc-bars,
: sped on like the wind and terror lent
: | wings. | was surprised M my fearful
speed for the earth beneath was blur
and in agony lest punctured tire
: should plunge me headlung 20 th'
earth. At last. with every muscle quv
(, erinr. ! shot over The rails bare two
!. rods ahead Of the putting engine ant
rode up the Hill beyond. saNcd hy I