The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-05-16

Rremost shouted:
"Halt, or we shoot"
The buggy halted with n jerk, ana
b two occupants nerved themselves
pr what they knew was coming. Al
aost instantly lanterns were flashing
their faces, other faces peering ut
hem. The road was such that the
lorsemen could not surround the bug
y, and several, half drunk and hold
ng pistols, had dismounted to make
nspectlon Of the buggy's occupants.
What name?" asked the leader, his
one itself showing surprised disap-
lointment.
Horace lilly and mother" the man
answered whats the trouble?"
Trouble be hanged! We are after
Cd Tompkins, the murderer, blast
limr swore the fellow, satisfied that
neither Of the parties before him could
be that much hunted person. With less
pf whisky in him he might have been
harder to satisfy. Lowering his
lantern, he started to the rear of the
vehicle, calling out, mo so, boys!
Lets pass emp
Yelling and cursing the men managed
to remount their horses, and the small
man in the buggy trembled more VIC
lently than his mother did when shouts,
lof, pass 'em! Jump the buggy" split
the air.
I Tho two 7,o..tioc x,-o,,o ~, a most 5o,,
gerous piece of road, one side skirting
an abrupt hill the other side but a foot
or two from a poorly guarded cliff
edge, rocks and river far below.
"They are just drunk enough to
try to jump u.s." quavered the small
man, peering back of the buggy.
His companion quietly took the reins
in her large hands, and turning the
horse as close to the hill as possible,
held him there With yells that seemed
to some from demons rather than men,
the horsemen made a mad rush on
the backward track to gain space the
leader whirling about first, and making
a rush directly at the buggy. In a
moment there was fine tanning of air
about that vehicle, and then a noble
horse scrambled wildly, close to the
right forwheel of the buggy, balanced
himself, and dashed on. Another
splendid animal Immediately followed
suit, and a third, their riders cursing
and cheering by turns, the lady in the
buggy holding her astonished steed
as best she could, her son fairly cover
ing from fright.
The two remaining horsemen de-
clined to make the leap.
"Drive on there, you road blOckers,
and be quick about itp' they shouted.
And the road blockers drove on, their
horse not refusing to be quick, the
lines managed by the woman, while
her son, no doubt, thanked God for the
shielding darkness.
Some two hours later Mr.. Horace
lilly purchased a railroad ticket for
his mother at q country station, saw
her comfortably seated in a coach,
kissed her with a really manly effort
to conceal his tears, and again sought
his buggy. The same terrible piece of
road was to be re-traveled, this time
alone and a fear almost beyond con-
troll set his body to trembling But
the entire drive was accomplished in
safety, and at about three o'clock in
the morning the horse was laboriously
embarrassed and put in stall. Then
mud spattered, tear spattered, and ut
terly weary, the alleged Horace lilly
climbed none other than the back steps
of Mr.. Ed Tompkins' home, let him
self in with a latch key, and in five
minutes became Miss Tomplins
maiden lady, and ow the only occu
pant of the house.
Where her brother had hidden the three
days and nights since the murder, mo-
even Miss Tompkins knew. He hat
stealthily let himself in the very nigh
that the officers grew careless in watch
ing his house. and had made good hii
escape as described Had the buggy
and horse belonged to him he woulC
doubtless have been captured. The!
belonged, however, to an old farme
who had for years been allowed Il
put them in the Tomplzins' barn whel
lie stayed overnight in town.
That Miss Tompkins would or coult
sustain her part Of the escape woulc
have been almost impossible of be
lief to the townspeople, to all Of whom
she was well known. She was a teach
er and had taught the alphabet to tn
parents of many of her present pupils
Possibly there was not man, woman
or child in the place who did not sin
cerely admire the timid, exceedingly
dressy. faithful little woman who q