Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-11-26

be certain. before they acted. Henry Ray
mond addressed him:
.'Do you mean to say that you are friend
/ ly with the whjgs!" I---'
'.Ed die for 'em!'' was the enthusiastic
response. - -
Are You stranger upon the Creekr' q
-"Not exactly was up in these parts
sometime last sprng."
"Do you belong to the American armyla
mo sir! don't hitch myself to anything
/ of the kind reckon I'm army enough N.Y.
self! I'm Kind O. huntin' around tryin' if
couldn't find Mr.. Major General Somebody
wat owns the big brigade around that
licks every thing they naturally come across"
'HaVe you been enabled TO find them!'
Cant say have-when corner i'm
IN one place he's alters sure to be in tother,
80, 'sPect now Pm about as near him as
"as when commenced"
What if were to tell you that we were
detachment of his troops!"
"You did say SO, thought"
''No didn't say SO; but what ii were to
say it!"
why III be in for jiuing you right off. -
"Perhaps it would take more than one
person to complete that bargain
But you cont pretend to say that you'd
refuse mel''
81 can't say that We should be particular
ly pleased with your acquain' ance The
fact is, you resemble your notorious brother
Joseph to closely to render yourself not very
tasnatng. hope, Mr.. Robinson, that you
will pardon the little rudeness with which
my remarks may be tinged, but if were
allowed to decide, should write you down
a humhug.''
YOU'RE too hard stranger, altogether
feiler hadn't orter be called a humbug
cause his brother happens to lnok like him.
amt to blame for what my relation is.''
Certainly not, We, Ithink you have made
Slight error in your distinction--i; strikes
NE rather iorcibiy that you are the inGividu-
al Known as the ''noturiuUs Jue," and your
brother Seth, is undoubtedly baskiag in the
sunlight ot some Otner CLINE"
Now | think that's kind o ungenerous!
After oiierin' my services to you So free as
have, and be treated in tn way, it ANT
Christian lIke.''
Wei, we'll not argue the point-5ut
answer me, did you ever hear of one Cap
tain William Berksford!"
"No--;hat IS to say--I--'re hearn Tell of
him. stamefed the bogus patriot.
by whom have you heard him spoken
ofr'
Il believe ii was my BROTHER
Does your brother regard him favorably!"
''Wali--if you mean, does he ike him,
cau't says know all about TINT. ! guess
hes kind O. half way about II. But hope
You'll excuse me-l've got in another trail.
Hope to seeye ag'ia some time-good day.p
And with this hasty greeting, Joe Rob-
inson rapidly made his exit from the place.
De hurried ong deep and winding ravine
slsl.ss e.asofe4Ay ard tsin f.on aieii vlew,and7
after careful and innumeIabe windings,
reached APPOINT but few yards from the
door OF the .'Old House in the Meadow"
Joe listened until the last deadened echo
grew fainter in the distance, when he re-
turned to his game, and having secured the
most valuable portion, bent his way to
where he had left Tom Miller and Grimms
awaiting his return.
He found no difficulty in procuring admis-
sion to his friends And here we "ill pause,
and make hasty obsery alton of the apart
ment into which the tory had ushered him
self.
All around was pitchy dark--nota vestige
Of daylight made its appearance there to
detract IA shadow from the black wall of
darkness that seemingly lay heaPed up be-
fore him. He uttered low peculiar whistle
which resem6led the distant echoing of the
nj htengalr'S song and awaited Its result.
Il light llickered for a moment in the dis
tance--grddualIy it came nearer, and soon
man was seen, bearing a torch light in his
hand. This personage was decidedly short
not over ur-feet-six in height, but his
rotundiry was almost measur .ess-in TACT.
his length was almost exceeded by his width.
A superfuous amount of grizzly beard COW
cred his lace, reaching ceverly to his hair
upon the back OF his head. This was
Grmms. He waddled. rather than walked
up to Joe, and casting a benevolent glance
at the haunch OF venison which was slung
over the new comer's shoulder, acquainted
him, with a gruff "C"me ahead!' that he
was prepared to conduct the way to more
comfortable quarters. Joe Robinson did
no. pause for Il second Indication, but follow
/ ing closely upon his guides footsteps, gave
evidence of his haste, by tread ng rather
closely upon that gsntleman's heels, which
operation would ever and anon cause the
immortal Grimms to mutter a grumbling
protest against the proceedings an toto.
They hurried through dark and narrow
passage, with innumerabie turnings and
windings, until their progress was retarded
by the passage suddenly coming 10 an enc
against the solid rock. The two paused,
and Grimms, bending his head close to the
basement brawied out:
81 say, stranger, jest take away hat iron
bar, and catch hold that ring and haul away
while we push" .-.
Grimms placed one of his brawny hands
against portion of the solid wall, and in q
moment it gave way. Slowly a seeming
block moved inward until it lett "a crack al
OHt Slut IiOuei NHlC!! nan SOu'u tu1S
, Grimms forced his pprtly figure through tue
aperture, end joe followed, when the secret
opening wa; again closed, aud the three tory
; companions were together.
| There was burning fire in the room, an'
t yet, no chimney could be seen that woult
permit the egression of the smoke from the
r cave. But upon further examination we flint
h several small crevices around the fireplace
b yet large enough 10 allow the smoke Il
e make its escape through-where to 20 /
4 would be hard to .fathOm, though twas n,
d more than probable hat after many wind
d ings it should find its way to the mountain
@ top and thence to the open air.
: Grimms placed few large slices of tn
venison upon broier, and having stirre
| the Goals anew, placed it upon the fire.
~ While the process of cooking was under