Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-05-08


up and walked with fdgety Mariner to.
wards the window TO look out, and tura.
ing with serious face toward Henry,
remarked, This is very curious story
of yours, and if did not know you too
well, | would suspect you were quizziog.
Did you hear gun after you parted with
this lank-sided fellow you described Il
thought did once, but the sound was so
distant, that was too uncertain about its
being a gun to risk getting lost again 10
gong 10 it, Was il about quarter of
an hour by sun 7 THAT is, before gun
down. interrupted the Driver. Yes.
well heard gun about that time on
your side, bu. thought il were some OF
yours 1T may be, this madmsn, or
whatever he is, has danger in him, con.
tInued the Squire. 81 can explain about
the winding Of that road which puzzled
you so. 1t is road had cut TO a mum.
Der OF BOARD trees we had rived on the
ground. They were scattered about a
good deal, but none Of them far from any
given place where you should strike the
road, so that you were no great distance
ut any time from where this meeting &C.
Cured. We must turn out and look I'D
this creature, boys" 81 expected TO find
the horse here--he came on in this direc.
,Ion," said Henry. mo" said the Squire,
"Stoner's house beyond here"
Henry now seated himself al the table,
aud great was the uncertainty attending
the fate OF Sloner, these men we're 100
much accustomed to the vicissitudes and
accidents common in the life of the from.
tier Eunter 10 be affected by it for more
than few moments, and the joke and the
laugh very soon went round as csrelessly
and pleasantly as il nothing had occurred
a, all unusual.
In The midst Of this, the rapid tramp Of
a horse at full gallop was heard approach
log. The Squire rose hastily aud went
out, while the room was oppressively still.
In few moments he entered with con-
tracted brows and quite pale: "Stoners
negro has been sent over by his vile to
let Us know that his horse has returned
with the reins on its neck and blood on
the saddle. He has been shot gentle.
men," We all rose Involuntary at this,
and stood with blank white faces, looking
into each others eyes. "The madman %
said one in subdued tones, breaking the
spell Of silence. "Henry's bearded ghost"
said another. "Yes," exclaimed several,
devil or ghost that's the way it has hap.
psned. III tell you what, Henry, it has
occurred TO me ever since you finished
your story: that this singular being was
on the lookout for Stoner, and while you
rode with your head down thought! that
you were he, for there are several points
Of general resemblance, such as size, col.
or Of your horses, &C., but that in the
long look he took at your face, he dis.
covered the mistake, and, after leaving
yos, passed over to the lief. and met Sto.
ner returning, and has shot him. Ho is
one Of the Regulators though, and Hinch
is q very blood hound. shall send for
him to be here in the morning with the
boys, and they will trail him up, if he is
The dovil in earnest. and have vengeance
before shutdown morrow" This seem.
I'd the most reasonable solution of some
Of the inexplicabie features Of the affair,
and as il was too hard to think of accom-.
plishing any thing to.nigh,, we had to
content ourselves with a SQUAD sleep pre-
paratory for action on the morrow.
fro RE CONTINUED