Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-01-31

ooV, crafty, coWarcly, the savage In
- perverted nature becoming more
eAd more manifest II was more beast
OAA man that finally crept forward on
AN-fourS, the eyes cleaning cruel az q
eats In the night. Within q yard Of
- peacefully Numbering man he
no up, crouching on his toes and
boading stealthily forward, possibly
Sailing the close proximity Of that hor.
Able presence. Then the maniac took
- more stealthy, slouching step
Aearer, and flung himself at the ex.
Dosed throat, uttering fierce snarl az
his fingers clutched the soft flesh.
Hampton avoke, gasping and choking.
- hnd those mad eyes glaring into
Bis own, those murderous hands throt.
tling him with the strength of mad.
aAss.
At first the stupefied, half-awakened
nan struggled as II in delirium, scarce
~ realizing the danger. He was
SWare Of suffering, of horror, of sui.
location. Then the brain flashed into
life, and he grappled flercely with his
dread antagonist. Murphy snapped
ike . mad dog, his lips snarling
curses; but Hampton fought silently,
desperately, his brain clearing as he
succeeded in wrenching those claws
from his lacerated throat, and forced
his way up on to one knee. He worked
his way, inch by inch, to his feet, his
slender figure rigid as steel and closed
= upon the other, but Murphy writhed
cut Of his grasp, as q snake might.
The younger man realized now to the
fall his peril, and his hand slipped
DOWN to the gun upon his hip. There
Vas . sudden CLINT In the faint star.
light as he struck, and the stunned
naniac went down quivering, and lay
notionless on the hard ground. With
the quick decision Of one long accus.
toned to meet emergencies, Hampton
unbuckled the lariat from one Of the
led animals and bound Murphy's hands
and limbs securely.
As he worked he thought rapidly.
He comprehended the extreme des-
peration of their present situation.
While the revolver blow might posi-.
bly, restore Murphy to degree Of san.
ity, 1t was far more probable that he
would awaken violent. Yet he could
not deliberately leave this man to
meet fate of horror in the wilder.
Hess. That which would have been
quickly decided had he been alone be-
came most serious problem when
considered In connection with the in.
sane, helpless scout. Then, there were
the dispatches! They must be of vital
Importance to have required the send.
Ing Of Murphy forth on so dangerous
. ride; other lives, ay, the result Of
the entire campaign might depend
upon their early delivery. Hampton
had been a soldier, the spirit Of the
service was still with him, and that
} thought brought him to final decision.
Unless they were halted by Sioux bull.
lets, they would push on toward the
Big Horn and Custer should have the
papers.
He knelt down beside Murphy, I'm.
buckled the leather dispatch bag, and
rebuckled 1t across his own shoulder.
Then he set to work to revive the
PROSTATE man. The eyes, when open.
ed, stared up at him, wild and glaring;
the ugly face bore the expression Of
abject fear. The man was no longer
violent; he had become child, fright
ened at the dark.
Securely strapping Murphy to bis
saddle and packing all their remain.
ing store Of provisions upon one horse,
leaving the other to follow or remain
behind as It pleased, he advanced d.
fectly into the hills, steering By aid
- tina stars. his left hand ever on
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