The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-12-02
"For PHYS sake, what hatl' have V dones'

ne commenced - . .
q "Tnis pistol and your head must be-
come close qualnlance, unless you
are silent" said the grutf voice which
had addressed him from the first. Fow-
Ter sullenly resigned himself in silence
to his fate, which he expected would
be murder. After long interval Of
twenty minutes, during which not a
syllable was spoken by any one within
the coach, he was again addressed: {:
"There are three persons in this coach
besides yourself, who have each loaded
pistols, which will be fired at you ifyou
make the least uproar or resistance.
We shall shortly alight, and you mus,
suffer us TO do with yop what we wish |;
and then we will not hurt hair oil
your head. It will be useless for you
TO cry out; for we take you TO house
which is at least mile from all others,
and there will be none but ourselves S.
So, remember what your life depends
upon!" concluded the voice; and pres
emily the coach drew up. Fowler was
then led out, his legs having been first
united, and conducted through the same
places which had been traversed By his
predecessor, Forster, till he was finally
led into the same room where Forster
had been sworn and questioned, as de-
scribed. lie was placed in chair; and
the same voice that had spoken to Dick
Forster proceeded TO address Fowler,
and in a similar strain Of solemn men.
ace. "That wretehed man, Richard
Forster" he was tuld, "i,a. deceived
US, and broken his tremendous oath, ia.
ken in this very room; for which he
must, and will, certainly die. There is
one even now, waiting from hour TO
hour, from day to day, favorable mo-
ment to dismiss him." Fowler's blood
ran cold. "But asfol you've are safe.
There. neither is, nor can be, any mis-
take here; so, al once 10 business.
"Your name is William Fowler?''
''Yes.' abiesL .ssol maa1-g q e.a
"Married?' "No.n aG jatt .lsla.s 4.
"Are your father and mother both
dead?" "Yes.n ,o4+@le.fa a1-l4.sl.s etsiat
"Are you an only son?' "Yes."
"What do you do for Iivingg' 81
am gardener and servant to Thomas
Tripsler, a farmer at West Severn" !"
"What do you ge, week?' "Eight
shilings, and board and lodging" ar
"You would like to have more than a
pound a week, without any trouble,
wouldn't yeu?" Fowler paused. D..
"Do you hear me, sir?' repeated the
voice, more sternly. "Yes. hear. |
should like it ifit were honestly earn
ed" There was pause. 70, .ea. ..o
"You wouldn't mind, dare say,
whether you spent more than pound
a week in England, or abroad %
"Abread?" echoed Fowler.
"Yes; say, abroad. America, for
instance" "Wha;! must then be sent
out Of my country like rogue?"
"Silence! Be obedient: answer the
question put to you." Fowler continu-
ed silent, however, and was observed
to clench both fists, though his arms
were pinioned 70 his sides. f
'.Have you heard the question put TO
you, Fowler" inquired the voice.
,sYes," replied Fowler, in a suIen mon
osyllable.
"Well, William Fowler, since this is
thenyo our humor, we must take our
measures accordingly. We will give
you five minutes by a watch, 10 consid-
er your answer to the question which
has been put to you. We shall not tell
yOu ,ohen the time has erpired; but if
you have not given US an answer by
then, you shall certainly have three bull
lets through your head, and be buried
in an hour after, under the room in
which you are now sitting. Think"
There was palsying pause. One
two-Mree minutes passed, and yet
Fowler had not opened his lips. He
heard the swapping sound Of pistol be-
ing cooked; he fell down on his knees
groaning, ,"Lord have mercy upon mel"
He continued silent few seconds lon
ger; he felt the cold tip Of a pistol touch
ing his ear-his resolution faltered, and
he murmured, though scarcely audible,
"Weii, don't care to live abroad; but
| should like to know whyw "You have
saved your life by hairs breadth,"re-
plied the voice which had before ad-
dressedIhim, shut you are stubborn
fool. Ten seconds longer, and you
would have died.'e saHo7ja,a IA.
."May now ask ques,ionsP "No,
sir! unless you are careless about liv-
ing to hear the answer!" Fowler NUT.
tered to himself. ..
"What are you saying, you snllen