The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-03-27
CHAPTER xxx.


Murphy's eyes remained unclOsed-
Whatever terrors may have dominated
that diseased brain. he che purpose
Of revenge and escape never deserted
H. With patient cunning be could
plan and wait scheme and execute
He was al animal no~. dreaming only
Of how 10 tear and kill
He was many minutes thoroughly
satisfying himself that Hampton zctu-
ally slept His every movement was
slow. crafty. cO~srSly. the savage in
his perverted nature becoming more
and nore manifest Il was more beast
than man that finally crerr forward On
all-fours. the eyes cleaning cruel as
cats in the night Within : yard OF
the peacefully siumbering man he
rose up. crOuching on his toes and
bending stealthiiy forward. possibly
feeling the close proximity q that ho--
rible presence Then the maniac took
one more steslIhy. slouohing step
nearer. and flung himself al the ex-
/ posed throat. uttering q fierce srzrl as
his fingers clutched the soft flesh
Hampton awe. gssping and choking
to md those mad eyes glaTing into
his own. those murdertus hands throt-
Ting him With The strength Of mad
ness.
At first the stupefei. hslfaEzkenec
man struggled as II in delirium. scarce
IL realizing the danger. he vas
aware Of suffering o. horror. Of suf-
location Then the brain flashed into
life. and be grsppled fiercely with b..
| dread antagonist Murphy snapped
like a mad dog his lips snaTlirg
curses: but Hampton fought silently,
| desperately. his brain clearing as be
succeeded in wrenching those claws
from mis- lacerated throat. and fCTcec
his way I'd on TO one knee he worked
his way. inch BY inch 70 his feet. his
slenoer figure rigid as steel and closed
in upon the other. bur Murphy writhec
out Of his grasp. as a snake might
The. Younger man realized now 70 the
fun his peril. and his hand slippec
down TO the gun upon his hip There
was a sudden CLINT in the faint star
light as he struck. and the stunns-
maniac went down GuiveTing- and las
motionless on the hard ground Wit
the quick decision q one long accus
TONED 10 meet emergencies Hampton
unbuckled the larizt from che q th'
lied animals and bound Murphy's hands
and limbs securely.
AS he worked be thought rapidly
He comprehended the extreme tes
peratiun a their present situation
While the revolver blow might posi-
bly, restore Murphy 10 . degree o. san
ity. il was far more probable that n
would awaken violent Yet II co1ls
not deliberately leave this man q
meet a fate o. horror in the wilder
ness. That which would have beef
quickly decided mad he been alone b
came a most serious problem vhel
considered in connection With the il
sane. helpless scout Then. there yer
the dispatches. They must be Of vita
importance 10 have required The send
ing OF Murphy forth On 50 c2ngerou
a ride: other lives. ay. the result O
the entire campaign might depen'
, uron their early delivery Hampton
had been a soldier. the spirit Of II
service was stiI with him. and tia
thought brought him 10 final decision
Unless they we're halted b. Sioux ou
|, lets. they would push on toward n
Big Horn and Custer should have n
papers.
he knelt down beside Murphy. u
bnckled the leather dispatch bag an
I rebuckled IL across his Own shouldei
Then he set 10 work 10 revive n
PROSTATE man. The eyes. when opei
ed. stared W at him. Wild and giaring
the ugly face bore the expression
abiect fear. The man was 10 lougs
violent. he had become a child frigh
ened az the dark
Securely strapping Murphy 70 q
I saddle and packing AL their renal
ing store q provisions upon one hors
leaving the other 10 follow or renal
behind as il pleased he advanced 9
rectly into the hills. steering By a
~ the stars. his left hand ever 9
z Murphy-s bride rein his low voice
z generalization seeking 10 calm the o.
! er's Wild fancies AMI 1, curb bis u
q lent speech.
TO BE CONTINUED