Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-14
CHAPTER XVIII.
RETAKEN,
Up WAS awakened by the kick of
h heavy boot and. opening my eyes,
M looked into the face of Tom Jay

M lOOheu lace Oh IUlu Jay
cox. The expression of fiendish
joy that shone through anxious caution
froze the very marrow of my bones.
The muzzle Of his revolver was within
a few inches Of my forehead, and his
look told me that word Of alarm or
motion for self defense would be sig
nal for bullet to go crashing through
my brain.
"Git up" he whispered
Istood on my feet.
'Move on"
| 1t was the dawn Of beautiful spring
morning. The perfume Of young YER
dure, the twitter of birds, an occa-
me the thought that it is delightful to
live. But they threw over me as well
a contrasting gloom, for it seemed GER
tain that this fair scene was the last
Of those pictures drawn by the dlvinely
artistic hand Of the Creator that l
should ever look upon. My companions
/ were all wrapt in a heavy slumber,
! induced by long period Of unrest.
babe mute farewell to each as I
| passed, breathing a blessing on little
/ Buck, whose arms were clasped about
his sister, his young face and figure
relaxed; on Jaqueline, her white face
resting in profusion of tumbled black
hair; on Helen, her features strong
even in sleep. There was line be-
tween the lids of Helen's eyes, but 1
thought little of that. for it is not I'M
usual for people to show this line when
sleeping. / thanked God that my pres
ence would no longer be menace to
these dear ones who had suffered SO
much for me.
JaycoX marched me out Of the camp
toward the road, across it and into a
was picketed to a tree. He was con-
stantly looking about and listening,
and I inferred this was for others Of
the gang, who had doubtless separated
in order to cover more ground in their
search for us. Finally the brute stood
still and, pointing his revolver straight
at me. fred two shots in rapid success
sion, the bullets singing close to my
ears. He did not intend to kill me,
though he was Indifferent whether he
did or not. He wished to serve dou-
BILE purpose of signaling the band and
| intinlidating me. Two similar shots
were fired far to the north, and then
my captor started off with me in that
direction.
Entering the road, we proceeded, jay
cox, some ten yards behind me, anus
ing himself by firing occasional shots
at me, evidently trying to see how
near he could come to me without hit
ting me. One of his bullets grazed my
ear. and felt blood trickling on my
collar, good evidence that he had miss
ed his imaginary mark on the wrong
side. He was doubtless firing for his
double purpose Of letting his compan-
ions know of his whereabouts and Of
torturing me. His signals and those Of
my other enemies were drawing nearer
and nearer together. did not doubt
that the guerrillas would prevent any
further opportunity for escape by MUIR
dering me at once. though they might
delay long enough to force me to sign
for ransom which would have no
effect in saving me. lost all care
whether Jaycox bit me or whether l
was spared for more horrible death
by the gang. At last I was face to face
with the inevitable.
I was trudging on mechanically, my
eyes bent on the ground, Jaycox close
behind swearing and shooting at me.
when suddenly shot rang out from
behind US both. turned and saw Jay
cox tumble from the saddle. Running
to where he lay, bent over him and
knew at once that l looked into the
face of dying man. He gave me one
malignant look, a SILVER passed over
him, and his eyes were set in death.
I looked up and saw Helen standing
In the road short distance back with
carbine in her hands. There was
something in the expression of her
face, holding as she did the weapon. a
light smoke curling from Its muzzle,
that brought wildly before me my enc
my with his smoking pistol on the
night Of the massacre. A signal shot
came from around the trees SO near
that we knew the rest of the band
would soon be upon us. Quick as
thought sprang into the saddle left
vacant by Jaycox and spurred toward
Helen, she darting into the wood, l fol-
lowing and. after penetrating fur
enough, both hiding behind rock GOV.
cred with brush.
A horseman came dashing down the
road, pulled up beside Jaycox's body,
looked around anxiously as though
fearing an ambush, then hurried back
whence he came.
With one impulse Helen and sprang
into each others arms. Oh, the rap
ture Of that embrace! essayed to
speak to her, to utter even a word. an
exclamation expressive of what felt.
could only draw her cheek down
against mine and mutely hold 1t there.
Then showered kisses on her lips, her
cheeks, her forehead, her eyes. For
the moment forgot all but the rever-
ence, the gratitude, the burning pas
sion, that thrilled me-a passion such