The Monte Vista journal., 1906-07-07
THE LAST RESORT.
BY RALPH RECORD.


my last, but kept on-running, run
ming, runn!ng-till my legs felt like TWO
brit lie sticks likely to snap under the
weight of ny weary body. | tried 70
throttle, with my hand. the sharp pain
in ny side and wondered. half-con-
sciously how long my heart could stand
the fearful strain.
II was not my crime that sent me
stumbling. breathelessly. along that
stony road at two o'clock in the MORN
ing, with crowd of angry farmers fol-
lowing a quarter mile behind. was
not guilty. but might as well have
been.
Thank Heaven! had good start,
but of what good is a start when man
is almost dead from fatigue? II could
find n way out, trick to deceive them.
My brain worked madly as plunged
ahead. with my lips wide apart and
painful breath kissing between my set
teeth. AS rounded a curve in the
road. | saw dark shadow ahead, and
| knew 1t was the little wayside sta
ton. l prayed to God for freigh;
train. | looked up and down the track
for some friendly headlight. but all was
darkness.
Automatically | looked for hiding
place. A long, narrow pine box on the
platform caught my eye and shud-
dercd. thinking that tomorrow perhaps
that box might enclose corpse. Sud
denly an idea flashed across my mind.
made light by fear.
| touched the handscrews on the
cover; they turned very easily.
pulled of the top and looked in. Heav-
ems! II already held coffin. slid the
lid from the black CONN and stood.
shutdering at sight Of n still. white face.
| drew back hastily. Up the road saw
the lanterns OF my pursuers and desper-
alton scattered all compunctions, all re-
spect for the dead.
Dazedly. scarcely knowing what did.
reached down and pulled that cold.
shrouded form from Its CONN. He was
heavy, that dead man, and | was tired
and weak. but a false strength seemed
come to me. With u tremendous enort.
| dragged him across the track and
threw Kim into the lake.
The lanterns were bobbing up and
down. nearer and nearer. but ! smiled
as I moved the box cover half way up
that ! might manipulate 1t from the in
side. crawled into the coffin. drew up
the cover and lay on my back my clasp
knife In my hand. Some insane In
stinct caused me to draw the coffin lid
over me. even laughed defiriously as
! cut hole in the side OF the coffin and
through the outside box. Then walt
ed feverishly for the coming Of the
furious men.
had not long to walt heard them.
jumping. one by one, onto the platform.
One of them cursed. one came TO the
box. and he must have held "A lantern
up. for | heard him read the label:
Henry Donnelly, Jackson City. Iowa. p"
Here's that Donnelly's corpse. wait
In for the three O'clock" he said and
then-I tainted.
A dim. indefnable sense of rumbling
noises. like the regular roll OF mnchin-
cry seemed to sing to me. 1t lulled mo
gently while swaying. rising motion
seemed TO carry me higher and higher
I'll ! began to wonder II | should fall
Was II the air that made breathing SO
hard What was that dark spreading
gloom that appeared suddenly and
seemed to be racing with me? I
strained every muscle-and thcn-a
nameiess horror awoke every sense
That black mass WAS CONN top. the
wh.riing wings were wheels. and
was on board a train. alone In n car
a supposed corpse-Henry Donnclly.
Of Jackson City. Ia.-bound for n
grave. Oh. God! Why did you not
let ME dream
Again. I tried to shove the lid away.
but my hands were held down. I
sought for the knife ! had held In my
hand, but II wins gone. pressed my
mouth TO the hole I had cut In the
side and drew In my breath. Why
was II could not set more air. Al
| last I guessed Il: the satin lining was
keeping the mir out ! tried Ia rats.
my hands To the place but the lid held
them down. In determination l
gnow-d the lining with my teeth and
then ! cried out with all my strength.
No answ-r. My voice seemed almost
inaudibie to myself.
Again I attacked the lining with my
| teeth, and l thought \ little more air
came In. but II was such a little.
! was growing weak and faint again.
The thought that II II overwhelmed
me, I might not awake. III II WAS too
| la,~-t,ll earth covered me six feet
d~cp-madc me fight against that
fnin,n.ss with all my might ! ret
my teeth aud clenchcd my INST. night