Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1854-03-16
$3.50 PER ANNUM, in ADVANCE.

turned hastily; "bus here is pecdler
who wants.
"We know Mr.. Ke,chum. she inter-
rupted, and without degning further to
notice Bolton, invited the "merchans" to
enter, and led him to the room where
the dinner-table was still spread. He
was yet anxious about the hidden treas.
ure; but the savory smell Of the viands
before him overcame his anxiety for the
present; and. inwardly promising himself
to be :here before it could be abstrac,ed.
he seated himself at the table. Nellie
placed within his reach a good store Of
whatever was vet unbroken, and then
stepped aside, SO as not to embarrass her
CUES, by observing him at his meal.
The evening was now closing in. the
shadows of the forest fell across the farm
Enclosures. and all objects were growing
dim in the deepening twilight. Nellie
stood at one of those primitive windows
formed by simply saving out a section
of log, and though this commanded
view of the stable and intervening lots.
Her attention was suddenly attracted by
seeing some one spring hastily over the
fence ext the wood, and steal,hily disa2-
pear among the stables. approaching, as
she supposed, the peddler's wagon
Without waiting to observe further, she
turned hastily to the "merchant."
"Mr. Ketchum," she said, "if you
have anything valuable in your wagon
you had better go to il without delay"
Isaiah sprang from his seat as if bull
let had entered his brain: and, without
waiting even to snatch his hat, rushed
madly out. Before he could reach the
s'able-lot, however, Nellie saw the same
figure recross the fence, in such direc-
ton as TO be ou. of Ketchum's sight, and,
supposing the peddler's approach had
prevented the depreciation. if any had
been intended. she turned off, and, pass
ing through the house, issued from the
front door, and walked down the slope
toward the stream.
Aa she neared the rude s,ile which
crossed the door yard fence. she was sur
prisec to see Thornton walking rapidly
pas. the mouth of the lane. He glanced
toward the house, paused for moment.
as if irresolute whether TO turn into the
opening, and then suddenly resumed his
hasty pace and disappeared. Nellie
also paused; but, before she could decide
upon her course, she was accosied by
ketchum. who had followed her out just
in time to get faint glimpse Of Thorn
ton as he vanished behind the fences.
"Miss Lowden," he exclaimed, IL
have been robbed"
NV hen and where!" she demanded.
"At the stable, jus. now" he answer
ed. "Didn's you see the man thatdid
i,!"
"Come with me-" she said; and, with
nasty and excited steps, she led the way
toward the detached building in which
the Regulators council was being held.
A suspicion had flashed across her mind
that The man she saw cross the fence was
Bolton. II so, it was not probable he
could yet have taken his seat in the as
sembly; and thus there seemed pros
pect of at once recovering the peddler's
property. She knocked lightly at the
door, and. to her surprise. it was at once
opened by Bolton.
IL was mistaken" she said to Ke,ch-
um; ''bu, 60 in and tell these men the
circumstances-.hey will help you very
gladly"
The door was closed upon him, and
she turned away.
TO BE CONTINUED.