Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-06-19

ed, would be any better off with him
still blocking the passage? There was
nothing for it then but to come to hand
grips. But the fellow, whoever he
might be--whether white or Indian
was doubtless armed, while was
weaponless. To get him right was a
desperate chance, yet a chance which
must be taken Fortunately / had him
located, his heavy breathing being un-
mistakable, and evidence also that the
man remained unaware of my pres
get firmer purchase, and then grasped
for him through the darkness. My
hand came in contact with shoulder;
then gripped mass Of long hair He
gave vent to sudden cry, startled, al
most inhuman in it's wildness, strug-
Cling backward SO quickly my other
hand closed on air. But held hard to
what / had, dragged off my balance,
feeling his fingers after my throat.
There was no room for US to do other
wise than claw at each other. After
that first cry neither of US uttered a
sound, but i closed in on him, getting a
stronger grip He was man, a white
man, for he wore rough coat, and his
face was covered with growth of
straggly, coarse whiskers. Enemy or
friend could not be sure, nor did I
find opportunity to discover. We both
fought like beasts. resorting to teeth
and nails.
His one object was to wrench him
self loose, but my fortunate grip on
his hair foiled this effort. Yet both
his hands were free, the one clutching
my throat; but, in those first breath
less seconds. I could not locate the
other. He was lying on his side, with
right arm underneath. Fearful of a
weapon, let the fellow gouge at my
throat with long ape-like fingers,
while struggled fiercely to expose the
hidden hand If it proved empty
knew / could handle the man; that
possessed the strength to draw him to
me, to crunh him into subsection with
in the wise of my arms. Straining
every muscle could bring into play.
| succeeded in forcing him over onto
his face. But he was a cat, wary, full
of tricks. In some manner he twirled
his arm out OF my grip. There was a
fash of reddish yellow fame soaring
across my eyes, an awful report, Hse
an explosion in my stunned ears
Where the bullet went ! will never
know, but saw the mans face leap
out at me from the darkness-ju an
instant Of reflection, as though thrown
against screen by some flash of light
the unmistakable face of negro.
Yet startled as was by this appari-
ton, hissview Of me had no less an ef-
feet Even in that single instant of
'revealment, the hate in his eyes
changed to fear, to uncomfortable
panic; his lips gave vent to wild cry.
an exclamation in mongrel French,
and, before could stiffen in resistance,
or recover from my own shock, the fel-
low flung his pistol at me, and jerked
free. The flying weapon tore cash
in my scalp, but his haste and fear
proved his own undoing Half stunned
as ] was by the blow, heard him
spring to his feet, the dull crash of his
head as he struck the hardwood slab
of the low roof, and then the thud of
body on the tunnel floor. In his
haste, his desperation, his strange
fright, he had forgotten whers he was,
and attempted to- spring erect My
head reeled, the blood from this new
cut trickling down my cheek. The ne
gro lay motionless in the darkness; ]
could not even distinguish his breath
ing. although | bestiated, listening in
tently, half fearing some trick.
What had frightened the fellow SO ?
What had. brought that look Of insane
terror into his eyes? 1t was as If be
stared at ghost. the very sight of
which had crazed him. i mastered my
cjvn nerves. and crept forward along
the passage, feeling blindly in advance
with one outstretched hand, until 1t
came in contact with the mans figure.
With clinched teeth, touched the
coarse hair with my fingers; then the
| forehead. The flesh retained some
warmth; yet the feeling was not nat
ural-it seemed lifeless. For the in
stant this appeared impossible. Why
he did it himself; he crashed his own
skull against the slab Yet l could not
make the affair seem real, or probable
And negro! I had seen few of the
race. but had always been told they
were of thick skull: but il this man
was actually dead, his head must have