Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1908-04-15
CHAPTER Xxx.
Alone with the Insane.


Beneath the shade of uplifted arms
Murphy's eyes remained unclosed.
Whatever terrors may have dominated
that diseased brain, the one purpose
OF revenge and escape never deserted
it. With patient cunning he could
plan and wait, scheme and execute.
He was all animal now, dreaming only
of how to tear and kill.
He was many minutes thoroughly
satisfying himself that Hampton actu-
ally slept. His every movement was
slow, crafty, cowarGly, the savage in
his perverted nature becoming more
and more manifest. 1t was more beast
than man that finally crept forward on
all-fours, the eyes cleaning cruel as a
cats in the night. Within a yard of
the peacefully slumbering man he
rose up, crouching on his toes and
bending stealthily forward, possibly
feeling the close proximity of that hor-
rible presence. Then the maniac took
one more stealthy, slouching step
nearer, and flung himself at the ex-
posed throat, uttering a fierce snarl as
his fingers clutched the soft flesh.
Hampton awoke, gasping and choking,
to find those mad eyes glaring into
his own, those murderous hands throt-
Ting him with the strength of mad
ness.
At first the stupefed, half-awakened
man struggled as if in delirium, scarce
ly realizing the danger. He was
aware of suffering, of horror, of suf-
location. Then the brain flashed into
life, and he grappled fiercely with his
dread antagonist. Murphy snapped
like a mad dog, his lips snarling
curses; but Hampton fought silently,
desperately, his brain clearing as he
succeeded in wTenching those claws
from his lacerated throat, and forced
| his way up on to enc knee. He worked
| his way, inch by inch, to his feet, his
| slender figure rigid as steel and closed
in upon the other, but Murphy writhed
| out of his grasp, as a snake might.
I The younger man realized now to the
full his peril, and his hand slipped
down to the gun upon his hip. There
was a sudden CLINT in the faint star
light as he struck, and the stunned
maniac went down quivering, and lay
motionless on the hard ground. With
the quick decision of one long accus-
| toned to meet emergencies, Hampton
| unbuclIled the lariat from one of the
led animals and bound Ntdrphy's hands
| and limbs securely.
AS he worked he thought rapidly.
He comprehended the extreme des-
reration of their present situation.
| While the revolver blow might posi-
bly, restore Murphy to a degree of san
| ity, it was far more probable that he
would awaken violent. Yet he could
| not deliberately leave this man to
| meet a fate of horror in the wilder
ness. That which would have been
quickly decided had he been alone be-
came a most serious problem when
| considered in connection with the in
sane, helpless scout. Then, there were
the dispatches They must be of vital
inheritance to have required the send
ing of Murphy forth on so dangerous
a 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 kneIt down beside Murphy, un
buckled the leather dispatch bag, and
rebuck!ed it across his own shoulder
Then he set to work to revive tbs
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
eued at the dark.
Securely strapping Murphy to his
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 di
rectly into the hills, steering by aie
of the stars, his left hand ever OF
: Murphy's bride rein. his low voice o
expostulation seeking to calm the oth
er's wild fancies and to curb his VIC
l lent speech.
CTo BE coNTINCzo)