Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1854-03-16


OUT"
see an AKA in your W wagon--why don'l
you cut out!"
IL might have done that that's a fact"
replied the peddler; "only thought |
could pull through. But just stand there
at the cussed bru.es' head minute. and
III try" ....
A few blows with the axe fell two OF
the largcs. saplings, and vigorous pull,
produced by a regular jockey yell from
The "merchant," bent down and crushed
the remaining obstacles, and the "ark"
was clear of obstruction. The horses
halted at their own accord. as soon as
they were on open ground, and the ped
tler sprung upon the sea, and grasped the
reins.
"Now, stranger, what's your name?"
he asked.
"rhornton."
"Well, Mr.. Thornton, one good turn
deserves another; wont ) on get up here
and show me the way to John Lowd-
en's!" -......
II prefer walking" said Thornton
Just follow me and will take you with
in sight Of the house."
lie walked on. and the pedder follow
ed. driving with grea. skill and circum.
spec,ion, which made Mr.. Thornton
wonder that he had ever fallen into the
blunder from which he had assisted in
rescuing him. Fifteen minutes brought
them to the enclosure of Lowden's sta
bles; and. opening the rude gate for the
peddler to drive through. Thornton was
turning away on the path by which he
had come.
"Arn't you coming in!'' asked the mer-
chant, drawing up and thrusting his head
around the s,snchions of his " agon; 'I'd
like to sell you bargain OF swo-come,
| have all sort of things to SUI, man
like you And he proceeded, without
waiting for an answer, to enumera.e.
with surprising volubility, the divers ar
,icles OF stock as various as ever enter
ed an "ark" since the time of father No.
ah. This he continued even after
Thornton had turned away; apparently
hoping, from the reluctance with which
The latter seemed to retire, tha, he might,
by good luck, name some commodit..'
whose attractions might de,ain him.
The hope was vain, however, for Thorn
ton was soon out sight.
"lie might have stayed till | thanked
him for his help, any how" he mutter-
ed, as he sprung from his seat. as he pro-
ceded. 'wihou, ceremony, to unharness
and stable his horses.
As he issued from the door, after per-
forming this latter duty, he IL ade com
ple,e circuit abou: the stables and corn
cribs, prying under the floors OF each, and
apparently seeking some place of con-
cealmeE!. He then wen, 10 his wagon,
and, after glancing sharply around, 10 as
sure himself that he was no. observed,
took from one of ,he boxes small bum
die, which. judging by his manner OF
handling it, seemed TO be both heavy and
precious. With this he returned to the
rear of one of the corn-cribs, and, stoop-
ing. ,hrus, it between two logs under the
flooring, and. drawing i. close to the cor
ner, effectually concealed it from sigh, or
accidental discovery.
"They may all be honest enough"
he mu.tered, "but three hundred dollars
IN silver is rather too much to try them
with"
As he stood thus soliloquizing near his
treasure, he suddenly perceived Thorn
ton walking slowly away, along the
fence. The peddler's first thought was
that he had been watched, and his first
movement was toward resuming posses
sion of his cache. But his purpose was
arrested by voice whose very tone
boded more danger to his property than
he had apprehended even from Thorn
IONS knowledge Of its place of conceal.
ment.
"Holloa, here! what are you about!"
demanded a rough-looking fellow, in
blue jeans hun.ing-shirs, with huge
knife stuck into has belt, and his bullet
head covered by cap of raccoon SKIN.
"lve just been putting up n y horses"
the peddler answered hastily. "l'm a
travelling merchant. and my name is Isa-
iah ketchun."
"D-n your name!" said the fellow
insolenily. .'Whas have you got 10
sell!'
"Every thing gentleman wan.s--or
a lady ether" the peddler replied, lead
ing the way anxiously toward his wagon,
and volubly ringing the changes on the
catalogue with which he had endeavore(
to tempt Thornton. But his merchan.
dize was fased to remain, for the present
on his hands. He was interrupted by
another, who called to his .'costomer."
"Come, Bolton," said he. "ihe compa-
ny is about 10 meet"
.Le.'s 60 in. then," Bolton said; 1--WE
can trade after while"
The peddler would fain have remained
behind, in order 10 remove his precious
deposit, tut he imagined that Bottoms
eye was upon him. and, making virtue
of necessity followed that worthy across
the inclosure and entered the house. As
they crossed the threshold they met Mel.
lie. WHO had just issued from he: cham
ber, for the first time since morning.-I
The struggle seemed to be over. but the
ravages OF the conflict were yet visible
in her face. There was glitter in her
resolution to restrain il.