The Portland daily press., 1901-01-14

rssd this story win Be ready to admit @
plncky and cool headed woman as well.
she saw the uprlised stick ana quick AZ
q flash u dawneu upon her that she must
some how extinguish the light 20 save
HERSELF and also to help Clifford who was
struggling on the floor. VITA one arm
ahe
STRUCK THIS LAMP
blow which sent It rolling across the
floor towards where the two men were
lighting and there It was broken and the
flame extinguished.
Down came the negro's stick aimed for
Mrs. Moshar's head with savage force,
but the woman had time to turn her
head little and the stick struck her
shoulder q glancing blow. She cried ont;
"what, do you mean to XIII mes" as this
blow fell and then rolled over under the
stand and crawlsd and rolled acrsos the
floor to the door OF her bed room through
which she jumped and boited the door on
the inside.
In the darkness which she had caused
she sscapse temporarily. The kitchen
was In darkness for the time being, Mrs.
Moshier being hard OF hearing, and very
much excited as well, could not hear
what was said By the two robbers.
Nsitherscould she hear the cries or groans
OF her son II there were any cries or
groans from him, nature fortunately
sparing her this addition to the horrors
OF this terrible night. She found that she
was bleeding very much from her wounds
and wrapped her apron about her head to
staunch the flow Of blood. Then she put
her eye to the crack In the old fashioned
door TO witness what was going on in the
kitchen. Through this narrow crack she
could see only q portion OF the kitchen,
but when the lantern was lighted she
found that the place where her son and
THE MAN on ToP OF HIM
had been struggling was within the range
of her vision. This lantern was hanging
from nail at the end of the sink. 1t
had always been kept there from time
immemorial and every one familiar with
the Mosher household knew this. The
light OF the lantern showed to the dis
tracted mother that Clifford was not ly-
ing on the floor where she had last seen
him. A dark pool OF blood was under
the table showing where his head had
rested, but Clifford had disappeared.
Never again was she TO see the form OF
her son excepting In the clasp Of death,
but sne did not know this at the time.
She thought that Clifford had managed
to escaps up stairs where he had a re-
volver and q rife, and she rejoiced ct the
thought that he would soon be able to
defend himself In this unequal contest.
She knew that Clifford would never de-
sert her and for q time she took heart.
But even a woman hard OF hearing as
is Mrs. Moshe can hear the report OF a
rifle or OF a revolver when fired near at
hand and though she waited for this re-
port to come and prayed for 1t and ex-
pected It, she did not hear 1t. or course
she
WAS TERRIBLY FRIGH TENED
and suffering much pain as well, but she
kept quiet and remained In the room.
Though she did not hear the report of
the rifle or of the revolver she did hear q
terrific noise in the parlor near at hand.
This noise was deadened to her because
of her inIlrmity, but she was aware that
something was going on in there never
theless She thought 1t was the noise OF
the burglars smashing open come boxes
somewhere, but 1t was really life and
death struggle between an unarmed and
badly wounded man and two desperate
and
BLOOD MADDENED BRUTES.
Clifford Mosher had struggled to his
feet when the light went out, throwing
from him his assailant ana had made a
dash for the par or. lie left track OF
blood across the kitchen floor on the way,
but he managed to reach this room Here
was considerable furniture. Mrs. Mosher
had used this room rs sort of store
room among other things and had kept
some food here on a table near the door.
Or course there were quite a number of
chairs, table, a sofa at one side of the
room, book case in one corner and at
the other end of the room a melodeon.
There were many pictures on tina walls
and white paper also showing as plainly
as II 1t were In print the story OF this
struggle for life, Clifford had reached
this room undoubtedly faint and weak
from the wound in his head. He got to
the back part Of the room and was trying
to reach the door opening into the front
hall. Once through that door ann up to
his own room he could defend himself,
for there he had a forty-four calibre re-
volver and rifle. But he never reached
the door for the two fiends were after
him with a lighted lantern to show them
where their victim was. The heavy sled
stake fell again and this time crushed in
tins top of Mosher's head. The brains
we're scattered all over the floor mt the
place where he stood when the blow fell.
He was In an upright position, probably
on his knees anyway. for the marks ON
the wall show this. lie sank slowly TO
the floor, sliding along the wall as he fell
and leaving bloody mark upon the
NJ