The Tucumcari news. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1906-07-07

At aetIlIcu as u the next step must be
nay last, but kept on-running, run
ming, running-till my legs felt like two
brittle sticks likely to snap under the
weight Of my weary body. tried to
throttle, with my hand. the sharp pain
in my side and wondered, half-con-
sciously, how long my heart could stand
The fearful strain.
1t was not my crime that sent me
stumbling, breathelessly. along thai
stony road at two O'Clock In the morn
ing, with a crowd Of angry farmers fol-
lowing Il quarter mile behind. | was
not guilty, but | might as we'll have
heen.
Thank Heaven! | had n good start,
but of what good Is a start when a man
Is almost dead from fatigue? If | could
find a way out. a 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 a dark shadow ahead, and
| knew 1t was the little wayside sta
ton. | prayed to God for n freight
train. | looked up and down the track
for some friendly headlight, but all was
darkness.
Automatically | looked for a hiding
place. A long, narrow pine box on the
platform caught my eye and shud-
dered, thinking that to. morrow perhaps
that box might enclose n corpse. Sud-
denly an idea flashed across my MIND.
made light by fear.
touched the handscrews on the
cover; they turned very easily. |
pulled off the top and looked in. Heav-
ems! 1t already held a coffin. slid the
lid from the black coffin and stood,
shuddering at sight of a still, white face.
drew back hastily. Up the road ! saw
the lanterns of my pursuers and desper-
alton scattered all c~ompunctions, all re-
spect for the dead.
Dazedly, scarcely knowing what ! did.
! reached down and pulled that cold,
shrouded form from its coffin. He was
heavy, that dead man, and | was Tired
and weak. but a false strength seemed
come to me. With a tremendous erort,
dragged him across the track and
threw him into the lake.
ne lHUlCIuS WClc DopuihS Wy "''
down, nearer and nearer: but ! smiled
ns | moved the box cover half way up
that ! might manipulate it 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 I'D
over me. even laughed defiriously as
- lolo IN tho ciln nf The CONN and
through the outside box. Then ] wait
ed feverishly for the coming OF the
furious men.
had not long to wait. heard them,
humping, one by me onto the platform.
One of them cursed: one came 10 the
box, and he must have held a lantern
up, for | heard him read the label:
"Henry Donnelly, Jackson City, Iowa.
Here's that Donnelly's corpse, wait.
in for the three o'clock" he said and
them tainted.
A dim, indefinable sense of rumblinG
noises, like the regular roll of machin-
cry seemed to sing to me. II lulled mo
gently while a swaying, rising motion
seemed to carry me higher and higher
Till began to wonder If ! should fall.
Was Il the air that made breathing 50
hard? What was that dark spreading
gloom that appeared suddenly and
seemed to be racing with me?
strained every muscle-and then-a
nameless horror awoke every sense
That black mass was a coffin top, tho
whirling wings were wheels. and
was on board a train. alone In a car
n supposed c~orpse-Henry Donnelly
of Jackson City, la.-bound for {
grave. Oh. God. Why did You no
let me dream?
Again, | tried to shove the lid away
but my hands were held down.
sought for the knife | had held in my
hand, but it was gone. pressed m!
mouth to the hole ! had cut In th'
side and drew in my breath. why
was it | could not get more air" a
last | guessed it; the satin lining was
Eaorino tho air ont. tried To ralS'