The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1902-05-09
|IVE hilarious hOrsemen came
H charging through the darkness
until within n few feet of an
0n.ooinO Illory yrhnn the

until within Il few feet of an
q on-going buggy. Then the
foremost shouted:
Halt. or We shoot"
The buggy halted with n jerk. and
It's two occupants nerved themselves
for what they knew was coming. AL
most instantly lanterns We're flashing
in their faces, other faces peering at
them. The road was such that the
horsemen could not surround the bug
gy. and several. half drunk, and hold
ing pistols. had dismounted to make
inspection of the buggy's occupants.
What Nance" asked the leader his
tone itself showing surprised disap-
pOintment.
Horace lilly and mother" the man
answered. whats the trouble?'
Trouble be hanged. We are after
Ed Tompkins, the murderer, blast
him. swore the fellow. satisfied that
neither of the parties before him could
he that much hunted person. With less
of whisky in him he might have been
harder to satisfy. Lowering his
lantern, he started to the rear of the
vehicle, calling out. no go. boys!
Let's pass 'em"
to remount their horses, and the small
man in the buggy trembled more VIC
1ently than his mother did when shouts,
of, Pass 'em. Jump the buggy" split
the air.
The two parties We're on y most dam
gerous piece of road one side skirting
an abrupt hill. the other side hut Il foot
or two from a poorly guarded cliff
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 rs possible.
held him there. With yells that seemed
to some from demons rather than men.
the horSemen made mad rush on
the backward track to gain space the
leader whirlng about first. and making
n rush directly at the buggy. In Il
moment there was Il fine tanning of air
about that vehicle. and then Il noble
horse scrambled wildly, close to the
right forW heel OF the buggy. balanced
himself. and dashed on. Another
splendid animal Immediately followed
suit. and third. their riders curSinT
and cheering by turns the lady i'll the
buggy holding her assonished 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 blOclerS.
and he quick about it, 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 Il railroad ticket for
his mother at Il country station. saw
her comfortably seated i'll Il coach,
kissed her with Il really manly effort
to conceal his tears. and again sought
his buggy. The same terrible piece of
road was to be re-traveled. tsliS time
alone. and u fear almost beyond con
troll set his body 10 trembling. But
the entire drive was accomplished n
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
of Mr.. Ed Tompkins' home let him
self in with IL latch key, and in five
minutes became Miss Tompkins,
maiden lady, and ow the only occu-
pant of the house.
HWhere her brother had hidden the three
days and nights since the murder, not
even Miss TOmpkins knew. He had
stealthily let himself in the very night
that the officers grew careless in watch
ing his house, and had made good his
escape as described. Had the buggy
and horse belonged 70 him he would
doubtless have been captured. They
belonged. however. to an old farmer
who had for years been allowed to
put them in the Tompkins' barn when
Lie stayed overnight i'll town.
That Miss Tomp!iins would or could
sustain her part of tile escape would
have been almost impossible Of be
lief to the townSpeopie. to Ill of whom
she was we'll known, She was Il teach
or and had taught the alphabet to the
parents of many of her present pupils.
Possibly there was not II man. woman
or child in the place who did not sin
cereiy admire tho timid. exceedingly
dreSSy faithful little woman who ut
fifty was as patient rs she had been
at twenty. Some pGopl" said that her
heart had been broken and thrown
away in her youth. If 50. she had re-
covered thc largest fragment and ii had
never failed her. 1t cam" nearest to
doing SO when she sat in the quiet
nd pn. ti.It ROT ,p,-