Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-09-23

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Ned sprang forward TO meet him.
some one reeling to the floor. But the
weight of numbers soon told, and III
few moments he was lying securely
bound.
There WINS little delay in the proceed
ings thereafter. He was blindfolded,
placed on high box several feet from
the floor, the moose was adjusted about
his neck, and then ut signal the box
was pushed from under him. Millions
of stars seemed to flash before his
darkened eyes, a thousand great bells
seemed to be changing in his ears. his
chest felt as If 1t would burst open,
and then oblivion.
About a O'Clock on this same otter
noon huge fellow drove two heavily
laden donkeys up before a cabin about
two miles down the gulch.
7 "Hello, Ned, my ladp he shouted in
q CHEEKY voice. "What-not INF" he
continued as no reply came to him
from within. 1.-THE boy must be fish
ing"
Then he pushed the door open and
walked in. The piece Of paper upon
the table instantly caught his eye, and,
going up to 1t, he read the note which
Ned had left for him. With hoarse
cry Of mingled grief and rage he
turned and rushed for. the door, pick
ing up as he went his Winchester.
Then he dashed out and started up.
the trail for the camp OF q pace too
terrific to be maintained for any con-
siderable distance
II any one had CHANGED to meet that
man on that occasion. he would sure
ly have given him the right of way,
for supplementtng the powerful figure
was look In that set face and in
those gray eyes which boded infinite
trouble for some one. On and on he
went with no apparent slackening of
his pace. The great lungs worked
faster and faster. When he had COW
cred another half mile. his pace had
slackened to slow, staggering trot.
The look upon that haggard face had
become something terrible, and 1t
seemed as though each succeeding mo-
ment must witness his total collapse.
But on he Went, staggering at times,
but holding to his course with de-
termination as grim and unyielding as
fate.
As he ran into camp he saw crowd
assembled about the storehouse which
at that moment broke into a cheer.
Spurred on by the awful fear at his
heart, Tom summoned his exhausted
energies for one supreme effort. In an
other moment he was on the edge of
the crowd, which parted with wonder
before him, and then he was ut the
door of the storehouse. He hurled his
great body against 1t, and rs 1t burst
open he saw the figure suspended In
midair. With q hoarse, despairtng cry,
such as those who heard 1t will never
forget, he rushed toward the hanging
body, and as he mounted box and
drew his knife preparatory to cutting
the rope he shouted In tones Of mad
dened rage and grief: Course your cow
arlly, numbering souls! If you have
killed that boy, YOU will have to settle
with met'
No one attempted to stop him, for
they all realized then that terrible
mistake had been mnde, and when a
moment later the white. limp figure
was cut down and laid gently on the
floor many there were who sought to
help Tom in the work Of resuscitation.
With fierce oaths he pushed them aside,
and then as he sprtnkled water in the
white, upturned face and gently chafed
the nerveless hands he called out in the
most piteous tones: tits Tom lad! It's
me, Ned Don't you know me2 I'm
with We. lad, nowl Have no fear!.
But as minute after minute passed
without any signs of returning con-
sciousness 1t seemed as though the
work Of resuscitation was to fail. Tom,
however, redouhled his efforts, and ut
length. to his infinite JOY, he discerned
q faint sign of returning life There
was just faint trenlor of an eyelid.
and then a minute later "a low, deep
Sigh escaped the boy. In another mo.
ment his eyes slowly opened. and Tom
knew that the battle was won. Then
came the reaction from the strain and
excitement under which the noble fell
low had labored, and before any one
l