The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-08-31

several summers and lnnumcrable
hard frosts. l was very tired, and,
though l intended to rise when all
was quiet and take a view of the
premises, fell asleep.
81 wcs awakened by the pressure
of something cold against my fore
head and, opening my eyes, looked
into the muzzle of revolver, while
the voice of my host said:
"sEf you un moves hand, of
goes yer topknot!'
"FWhat does this mean?' I de-
mandcd in my sterncst tones.
1T means that we uns are onter
you un. That's ALL
"Several other figures now stood
over my couch, and my genial host
said:
'Waal, shall we uns finish him
now or waltz
"Lct's take him outside one
suggested.
'After they had bound me hand
and foot | was carried into the open
air. a short consultation was held,
and | caught the words, down ter
the hut
"'Naw,' said one brawny fellow,
The amt bad cz that. Besides Pete
may be mistaken
ellis objections were received
with murmurs of disapproval.
"1t amt too much,' asserted my
host. It's jest what he deserves,
an it'll prove an example to the
others
''There was some more discussion.
Then I was informed that on nv
arrival Pete Sanford, a member OF
the gang, whose still I had aided in
destroying some time previously, but
who had escaped from the officers,
had recognized me as detective
who had come under the glise OF
friendship to land them all in pris-
on and that I was to be left in the
hut.
"This failed to strike terror to
my soul, however, as supposed they
would merely leave me there over
night, and I should then have a
possible chance Of escape. Had ]
known the true nature of my pun
ishment I would have begged my
captors to mercifully put a bullet
through my brain.
"They carried me to the hut, and
one of the men carefully opened the
door and peered in. He took torch
and thoroughly inspected every
nook before entering. Finally,
bound hand and foot, I was laid on
pile of husks in one corner. Then
the men departed without even clos
ing the door. I was highly elated at
this oversight and lay endeavoring
to muster strength to break my
bonds when I heard rustling,
gliding sound in one corner of the
room. Could it be that some other
human creature was imprisoned
with me? No, it must be the wind
outside. Then from the long, dark
opening used as a fireplace came a
similar sound, another and another.
What was it? What could this
mean?
Suddenly I felt something glide
across my legs as they lay bound
on the foot Of the bed, and the aw-
full horror Of the situation that my
prosecutors had devised dawned on
me. I was in a den Of snakes. IF
I moved, I was a dead man. Sick
with terror I became unconscious.
81 awoke lying beside the road.
The moon was shining full in my
face, and bending over me was the
| girl I had met in the afternoon.
"Twar a clus call for you un,'
she said. 'Iheered pap an the fellers
a-talkin' ez haeow they left yer here,
an when l got er chance I come to
you un.'
How did you do it p gasped.
Huh I'm used to snakes, but
| but
"The girl began to sob.
"'What is it!' I asked, moved by
her distress.
"T-I dassent go hum, fur dad
will kill me-
"That's how my hair got white,'
said the major.
| xBut the girl 2" said Z.
ooh, she is in the next room with
the childrenl She's my wife,
A Cheerful Wow.
ia SSRnf vox, ,Joa,. HT,, 6S..1....N.