The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-12-24

It Flashed Over Me That He Was The
| Gl,
very distinctly words spoken II
Italian:
Have care; climb up with the
rope and I'll follow"
Then the boat touched the platform
lightly and second later a man
climbed nimbly up the side. His com
panion followed, and they tied their
boat to the railing. They paused now
to reconnoiter-so close to me that
could have touched them with my
llands-and engaged in colloquy
The taller man gave directions, the
other replying in monosyllables to
show that he understood.
Go to the side porch OF the cottage
and knock. When the man comes to
the door tell him that you are the
chauffeur from an automobile that has
broken down in the road, and that
you want help for woman who has
been hurt"
Yes, SIR"
"Then-you know the rest"
The knife--it shall be done"
! have made 1t the rule of my life,
against much painful experience and
the admonitions of many philosophers,
to act first and reason afterwards.
And here 1t was case of two to one.
The men began stealing across the
deck toward the steps that led up to
the cottage. and with rather more
zeal than judgment took step after
them, and c!umsily kicked over a
chair that fell gathering wildly. Both
men leaped toward the rail at the
sound, and l flattened myself against
the house to await developments. The
silence was again complete.
"A chair blew over remarked one
of the voices.
There is no wind" replied the 9th
or. the one recognized as belonging
to the leader,
See what you can Finland have
a care!"
The speaker went to the rail and
began fumbling with the rope. The
other, l realized, was slipping quite
noiselessly along the smooth planking
toward me, his bent body family sill.
houetted in the moonlight. l knew
that ! could hardly be distinguishable
from the long line of the house, and !
had the additional advantage of know.
ing their strength, while l was still an
unknown quantity to them. The men
/ would assume that / was either Hart
ridge, the boatmaker, or Henry Hol
brook one Of whom they had come
to kill, and there is, as every one
knows, little honor in being the victim
OF mistaken identity. heard the
1 mans hand scratching along the wal
as he advanced cautiously: there wa.
no doubt but that he would discover
me in another moment; 80 resolved
to take the initiative and give battle
My finger-tips touched the back o
one Of the folded camp chairs tina
4 rested against the house. and slow
lly clasped 1t. ! saw the leader still
! standing by the rail, the rope In hi
hand. His accomplice was so clos
that could hear his quick breathing
a and something In his dimly outline
cronching figure was familiar. The
u 1t flashed over me that he was til
dark sailor 4 had ordered from Glel
arm that afternoon.
], He was now within arms length I
i me and jumped cut, swung the cha
], high and brought It down with cras
on his head. The force OF the bio
carried me forward and jerked tn
j cheir out Of my grasp; and down "
II went with . mighty thump. I felt Il
5 Italians body slip and twist lithel
D under me as tried to clasp his arm
!. He struggled fiercely to free himsel
and felt the point Of knife prit
]. my left wrist sharply a. sought
Z hold his right arm 70 the deck. II
d muscles were like Iron. and I had ]
j wish to let him clasp me IA hin shc
81 thick arms nor did the idea of bell
!. struck With ! knife cheer me great
81 IN that nrst moment q the night. ii
i NJ main buslness ~ % keep II
wIof ehS knlfs. He VS. sslowly liftil
Y me- on ~ kness. while ! gripped
ltI arm VIII nth hands. The other m,
= lhad drdpped into the boat and -
n Watchinx vi across the rail.