Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-01-15

half aloud What madnessp Then
passionatcly: at all seems madness, and
| can DO nothing but drift with fate"
Fighting down the strange hestancy
which kept assailing him in various
forms, especially now in that OF conjur
ing up difficulties in the way OF escape,
hc plunged sturdily into the forest path,
and as fast MS the darkness allowed,
went on straight for the old temple, a
grim place Of refuge, with its CHASTITY
relies Of Abel Dell lying, as it WERE in
state, and the horrible, haunting rec
objections of the cavern where the would
/ be assassin had met his fate and the
I other had been consigned as to his tomb.
/ A sudden turn brought him close to the
| fork, whore one path went winding to
| the left toward the mems and the cap
! tain's quarters, the other to the temple.
As he approached he became conscious
Of a rustling sound as Of a wild creature
| passing through the forest and he snatch
ed his knife from his waist, ready to
strike for life If attacked, but, firmly
convinced that there were no dcnizcns
of the wild there but such as were more
likely to avoid him, he kept on again, to
reach the dividing path just as he be-
came aware that it was no creature pass
ing through the wilderness Of trees, but
someone, like himself. hurrying along the
track for the mems quarters so rapidly
that they came in contact. and hand
seized him by the throat and the point
Of some weapon seemed to be pressed
against his breast, as a voice exclaimed
in a hOarsc whisper:
make the slightest sound, and it is
your last"
And as these words seemed to be hiss
ed into his face a shout arose from some
distance along the path and the tramping
of feet and rustling of branches intimat-
ed that people were rapidly coming in
pursuit.
Your exclaimed Humphrey, hoarsey,
as he stood with hand upifted to strike,
but suspended in the act as if every mus
Gle had suddenly become stone.
"Humphrcy Armstrong"
The hand that had graspcd his throat
dropped ncrvcless, and the weapon fell
from his breast as the shouting of men
increased
well" said Humphrey, bitterly, as if
he were forcing himself to say words
that he did not mean why do you not
strike? was escaping. Call up your
gang of cutthroats and end it all
"Hushl For heavens sake, hush! You
will be heard"
well" said Humphrey, aloud, and as
if in defiance; but warm, soft hand was
placed over his lips, and its owner whis-
pered:
"You were trying to escape, or did you
knowT y
Know said Humphrey Involuntary
speaking lower. "Know what2 l was
escaping"
ITO the old temple! No, no, they are
going there
"Your houndsw
Silence, man, for your life" was wits
| pered close to his ear, and the hand once
. more sought his lips.
> Come on, my ladsv came out of tn,
: darkness ahead. II know where to fin,
, him, sniveling yonder among the old i'm
a ages. Come on"
There was a shout, and 1t seemed a
If the leader of a body of men, beneat
), whose feet the rotten branches that he
strewed the path cracked, had suddenl
;, halted for his companions to close up bC
fore saying a few final words Of encoul
agement."
Now, then" the voice said in thicl
s. husky tones, "stand by me, lads. He
gone on there. and there's no gettin
, back. One good bold blow, and we
i scotch him like snake. Then fair shar
and share alike of all there is hidde
away. and start straight He's no goo
now, and the others'll join in when he
4 gone. ReadyW
" "Ay, ayr came in hOarse tones; and q
Humphrey felt himself pressed back int
. the pathway by which he had come ther
), was staggering of feet, and du
II tramplng, as about a dozen men passe
on
e Now" as the steps passed on. "Now
{ was whispered in Humphreys ear; 9TH
.e way"
y "Ahw arose in fierce growl. as SON
: one Of the party who had not gone q
y with the rest made dash at and seize
j." the bucCaneer captain. Prisoner! wv
/ is it? Here, hi, mates. I've"
4 He said no more. Without pause
y thought why he did this-why he sougl
~ to save his. ompanion-Humphrey Arm
- strong made a spring in the direction
- the voice, his hands came in contact wit
=, coarse bull throat and its owner WI
'u driven backward, to fall with his hes
striking a projecting piece Of stone, dra
" ging the buccaneer in the fall.
!. (To be contnuedJ
'N
Irish Politics.