The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-08-14

sage.
other small bits of matter that were
picked up in the gale and whirled
viciously through the air.
When I reached the manhole l was
not at all surprised to find that some
one had been there before me and
again covered it with leaves and bits
of grass but, as tried to raise it once
more, never doubling that l could
make my escape across the lawn If l
were detected in this, my astonish-
ment was profound at discovering
that it was securely fastened down
from below.
While l was kneeling down on the
ground and Juggling at the lid to make
sure that it was locked, thought l
heard step behind me and turned my
head quickly to see If anyone was ap-
preaching. It was, however, apparent
ly nothing more than the swapping of
a branch due to the fury of the wind
and again turned to the manhole,
hoping vaguely that, even II could
not open 1t, might perhaps hear some
conversation through the grating that
would serve as sort of clew to the
grewsome doings beneath.
AS laid my hand on the iron work
! again it touched a cold, heavy object
which had certainly not been there a
moment before. and, picking 1t up and
| holding 1t between me and the sky,
saw, to my amazement. that it was my
| own revolver. to the handle of which
was tied a bit Of folded paper.
For an instant my heart seemed to
stop and l remained rigid on my knees
with my arms appraised as had held
out my pistol for inspection, fearing to
move through very terror of my own
| shadow. My breath caught in my
throat and then came in short, heavy
gasps, while the wind alternately
moaned and roared about me and &C.
casional thick damp snowflakes lightly
| touched my ashen face.
There certainly had been no sound
or motion in front of me where I
found the pistol, and l had convinced
myself that the cracking had heard
| at my back and which was some dis
lance away at best, had been due to
nothing more than the VIVID.
At length, and with trembling fin.
gers, removed the paper from the
stock of the weapon and stuffed it into
my pocket, so that could examine it
| later, and was about to rise nervously
to my feet, when again heard a slight
| disturbance in the shrubbery to one
side of me and saw a man approach
Ing stealthIly and apparently on all
fours
With no thought of the consequences
and In an actual frenzy Of terror,
raised the pistol and fired at him point
blank, but the cartridge failed to ex-
plode or else the chambers were
empty, and, with frantic shrek,
sprang to my. feet and threw myself
headlong upon him.
He seemed entirely unprepared for
this attack, but he made no sound and
strove manfully to defend himself as
l grapplcd at his throat and we rolled
over and over down the velvety lawn
to the river.
| was considerably hampered by my
overcoat and having no desire to go
into the water with him, l relaxed my
efforts somewhat, when, with almost
superhuman strength and emitting a
cry that indicated degree of terror
equal to my own, he tore himself from
my grasp and sped away in the direc-
ton of the turnpike.
Feeling, now, that l was his master,
/ dashed madly after him, pulling of
my coat as ran, and I was gaining
slowly upon him in spite Of the re-
doubled efforts that he made, when, on
the sharp incline that led down to the
road, he stumbled and fell and I was
upon him again in moment.
My victory was short lived, however,
for as he struggled fiercely to free
himself from my grasp and /, with
equal fury, strove to choke or beat
him into a state of submission, we
again rolled over and over in the grass
until, as luck would have it, my leg
caught in strand Of the barbed wire
fence that enclosed the property at