Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-11-07

| tWuHes eno tnon resOlv0o W push On sui
keep on my guard. The sun vent down. and
moon was already up, and - her beans fell
leDgthwise upon the road, she gave me con-
siderable light when my eyes had become
used to the transition. Half an hour had
passed since l looked to my pistols, and just
as began to wonder IL ! had been mistaken,
| | heard the sound of horses tramp at no
great distance. Al first il puzzled ine 10
| tell the direction from which il came but
in moment knew it was In advance OF
| me, and upon my right hand which WAS
turned toward the river. Presently it stop
ped. drew my horse to the left side Of the
path and kept on gentle trot, having raised
the lapel of nay right holster.--In few
moments saw dark form among the bushes,
little way ahead, On the right.--As camo
up, man rode ont 1t was my host!
GOOD evening, sir" he said, with exceed.
ing politeness.
"Ah! good evening" I returned. ~ bad
not expected the pleasure Of your company"
mo, expect not" he resumed, in sort
OF hesitating manner. s"And shouldn't have
come out. only for little business ! forgot
when you were at the inn"
1t was plain as day. Ny pistols had been
rendered useless i had besn. sent of into
this unfrequentsd kood, and DOW the villain
had thought to take my life and my money
without any risk to his own body, and then
hide my poor carcass in the earth, where,
very likely, others had been hidden before.
Ny eyes were open, and my hand ready.
MAY ask to what business you alludef
said.
"Yesw he snapped out--scmething iu
agreement with his features, "Iwant money,
money. SIR" As he spoke he raised pistol.
Take care !" ! cried raising my pistol,
and pointing it in his face.
'Ha, ha, har' be laughed in coarse tr-
umph, "your Yankee pistols wernt made to
harm such, as me I'll soon put you where
I've put others 'afore--"
When q man knows death is staring him in
the face, and that only his act will avert it,
ne is not apt to wait long. At least am
not. And my hosts last words gave me am
pie proof Of the correctness Of my suspicious
Without waiting for him to finish, fred-
His finger must have pressed the trigger of
his pistol; for within the space Of watch
tick, sharp report answered, and mingled
with mine. and my hat shook upon my head
Daniel Groome swayed to and fro several
times in his saddle, and then with gurgling
groan sank upon the earth. ! slipped dswn
after him, aud when stopped over the body,
from bis forehead. For few moments felt
awe.struck and condemned. 1t was natural
feeling in such presence. But when came
TO reflect upon all that had preceded the deed
felt that had done my country q service
I made the robbers horse fast to tree, and
then remounted and rode on. reached tho
mills vt halfpast nine, and found Foster
and his family up. They were glad to see ME
and introduced me to q MIR. Price, whom
afterwards found to be the owner of the place
where had taken my dinner.
On the following morning party started
out under my guidance. There were Foster
and Price aud three men who worked in the
mills. When we reached the spot where the
tragedy had happened NE found the horse as
| had left him and my host lay upon the
ground stiff and cold. lie had not bed at all
the ball having made but small wound thouc @ b
it had passed clear through. A littls way
within the wood, We found place where the
ground seemed at some time to have been
disturbed. and upon digging there, we found
| two human bodies. Subsequently one more
was fouad only q few rods distant. The body
OF Groome was taken up to his house, aud
We found that Ike had fed. He had proba.
bly, been out and found bis dead father, skd
fearing that he might be might be implicated
| ne departed.
Mrs. Groome, who was a mild, broken
down woman, acknowledged that she had
long been aware of her husbands crimes, bu,
that the fear Of death had kept her silent
Ike, believe, has not yet been found, but
his mother is still living in Illinois with d
married daughter who ~ we'll off. She ha.
grown more strong and happy since the nigh
on which had the highway adventure with
my host.