Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-11-19

home by wretch of the basest kind.
Dick Hiskey was the leader of band
of horse thieves, robbers and murderers.
In fact, no crime was too frightlul for
their depraved and reckless spirits. He
had seen Mary, the pioneers daughter,
and his base passions were aroused by
the sight of her ripe and healthy beauty.
The father scorned his approaches-for
he did have the audacity TO make over
lures for her hand. His character was
well known. throughout that whole coun-
try, and the idea of his coming to him,
to sue for his Mary's hand in marriage,
was loathsome. lie did not hesitate to
let the villain know his feelings-such
feelings-such feelings as could only BE-
aroused in the heart Of a doting father.
Dick Hiskey was nota man 10 be easl-
ly baffled. There was now Two motives
for succeeding in his base designs-the
determination to CRAFTY his detestable
passions, and the longing for revenge
The pioneer knew enough of his charac-
ter to make him careful and guarded, as
we'll as anxious. Fear was not in his
nature but the love for his child made
him intensely fearful in regard to her
Hiskey also well knew the character of
the man with whom he had to deal so
that with all his reckless bravo, he was
extremely cautious in carrying out his
designs.
The time at length came. The pon-
Ger did not stay to tell me ali the partic-
ulars. 1t was enough that his home had
been invaded by q villain, while he was
off his guard, his daughter carried away,
and he left as | found linn. And he felt
fortunate that l had found him as l did,
for he had expected every moment to see
the ruffians back again to finish him. He
wondered as it was why they had not
killed him, for Dick Hiskey had a fend-
ish delight in drawing blood, to which
many a victim could testify.
But he was alive and free now, that
was sufficient. He was not a man to take
up much time in conjecturing or talking
In fact, the information which he had
given me was given in short sentences,
with a deep determined voice, which
sounded peculiar to me, it was SO steady
and one toned, and yet so full Of intense
inward excitement. He was determined
to recover his child that night if heaven
would aid him. He hardly seemed will
ing TO ask me, a young man, and an en-
tire stranger, to help him. But there
was no necessity for asking for his mis-
fortunes Instantly made me fast friend,
and the excitement of the adventure drove
everything like fear from my mind so
thai was eager to be his companion
Then there was something romantic 10
me in the idea of rescuing a young and
beautiful girl for her father told me that
she was beautiful, and had no reason to
doubt him, for he did not talk idly. You
must recollect that was just at that age
when such romantic adventure would
offer the most romantic charms to my en-
thu5iastic spirit.
We were soon on our road through
the wood, with our rifles carefully load
ed and our knives ready for instant draw
ing. The villains had left the arms OF
the pioneer, from forgetfulness, probably
for they had taken everything valuable
they could find. But these were in a
retired corner, in tie shadow. and in
their haste they had entirely overlooked
them.
1t was now about ten o'clock. The
sky was covered with half-scudding, and
half-heavy clouds, through which the
light of the moon would Try now and
tHeu W DIcdh WilHOut SutCcSS, sttu tilcll
all would be darkness again. Ny com
panion seemed to know where to find his
enemies, for he kept straight on through
the woods and across the uneven road
with determined and confident tread.
/ have before told you of the impress
sion of power which his appearance had
made upon me. If l then felt that lie
was powerful, by no means felt that i'm
preston less while we were striding on
our way. There was combined with his
appearance an air that told me that no
common mind was in the man. The
manner of reciting his account to me i'm
pressed me strongly with this belief-al,
though his appearance, the physiognomy
of his face, and the general expression OF
the whole man was enough Then his
manner ever since had been remarkable.
1t was calm outwardly, and yet the ex-
element within was almost to bursting.
strides We're long, and itseemed as though
his feet would sink down into the rrroupd