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

Couiu u0 40 pOiSOn IN tueM. no Weht con
sisted of hoiled potatoes. fried bacon aud nsv
wheat bread, and did ample justice to th'
repast.
'sYou think you must 20 on to- pight r. sal,
my host, while we we're eating.
Yes" ! told him, II wish 20 sec M
friend, and shal gain considerable time b.
reaching his place tonight"
"ls he sxpectin' ye" Groome asked.
"No." answered.
Perhaps he don't know that you're in thii
section at all p
"No, he doesn't" said and expected
that my host would urge nae to stay with hin
until morning, 40 had my answers all pre-
pared. But ! was mistaken. He didn't
urge any such thing. On the contrary, be
said he thought was wise iu my determine
tion. He would like my company, but i,
would be better for me to push on. / wa,
quito relieved.
1t wanted q quarter to seven when m,
horse was brought to the door. took ou,
my wallet, and asked what was to nav
Half a dollar" paid it, and then asked
which was the most direct route.
"foa see that big tree, just over the barn
YES" I said.
WAL that's right 10 the best road. Wheu
you strike that you can't miss the way"
"But isn't there another road one nv
which follows this stream right down to the
mills 7" asked; for had been informed by
the young man who had taken charge of nv
borss ut noon. that Groome's inn was right
by the very stream which gave Foster his
mill power. and that the road followed ire
stream direct.
"Oh," said my host, turning and looking
OF toward the stream, that road amt fit to
travel now. Tother ones the best"
But what's the matter with it?" asked.
why, the bridges are all washed away.
an' then there's been wndfalls aeros't. /
tried il last week, and had to come back.
The upper road is matter of q mile or two
fsrler, but that's aothin'. Your boast is
good for it guess"
told him my horse would stand it we'll
enough, and then asked where the other road
struck the streum.
about three miles this sido Of tho mills"
be replied.
"It's all cleat and direct 2"
YES. You can't miss the way
bade my host goodbye, and then started
on. l didu't like the idea of u new roud nj
all. The youth before mentioned had told
me what an excellent road it was from
Groome's to the mill by the river road. Ho
said it followed the stream, which was yery
near straight. and that it was light and ope
the whole distance. However, OF course
Grooms know, so l must take the best of il
] looked back as reached the edge of the
wood. was upon o gentle eminence. and
could overlook the shrubbery had passed,
l looked and saw Ike going from the house
TO the barn; he had saddle upon his arm
l was cure It was a saddle--perhaps he had
an errand to do. Kre long / entered .hs
wood. and found it thick aud gloomy-Ths
path was plain, enough, aud had evidently
been at some time Travelled road. Aye,
remembered now, of having heard my in
fornant OF the noontme speak of the "old
road" lie said there used to be a road
leading to Rock river, but when Foster com
menced his settlement, new road wal
opened by the stream, and the old one dis
continued. He had said nothing about ANY
bridges. AT the distance of two miles.
came to q place where bed of sand la,
across the road. 1t was a sort of gully au.
a stream must at some. time have run there
l looked, but saw no track upon it.-W ate
bad swept across since any living thing ha,
trodden 1t. slid from my saddle, and ex
amined thoroughly; but 1 could fiud d,
tracks VI Course the father of my noon
times host could not have gone this way
And yet he had gone to Fosters Al ills.
began to suspect mischief. There had beel
an uneasy sensation lurking in my bosom
ever siuce 1 lett the inn. Something Wa
wrong. ! regalued my saddle and l0oke
about. The sun was yearly down in twent
minutes, ut the farthest, il would be out Q
sight. lustinctively l drew one of my pis
tolls from the holster. | raised the hammer
and fonnd the cup in its place. / was ius
putting 1t back, when l noticed mark upo
the but. 1t was peculiar knot in the woos
That pistol l always carried in the lei
holster. 1t was not 50 sure as the othe
one. l took out the other, aud was sure th
weapons had been changed by other bapd
than mins. They had remained in the sac
die ut the forest inn, and they had been char
ged there. began to think. Why was NJ
Groone so particular TO know if my fren
! expected me? And then, why should he ha,
! been so anxious to have me set forward th,
nlght. instead of remaining with him, al
paying him u dollar or so more than did.
Then, this road believed had been d
celved. There were no freshets to carr
= away any bridges, for il was now early a
tumn, ana the river load had been travels
S all summer. Aud then the saddle had Sc,
y like" carrying to the barn. There was sur
|
. daughters at his house, and, perhaps othel
d whom he would not have to hear the noise
i the robbery. And very likely he would n
g wish to have such deed connected with
e house at ALL OF course be. kAew had mo
l. ey. No one would be travelling as W
=. then travelling. without considerable SUI
Z If my pistols had been taken out, might th
! not have been foully dealt with took I
one from the right holster. and examined
ID il. The ball was in its place, and the cap
D. Still ! was not satisfied. l slipped the c.
off, aud fouad the percussion removed.
TX There was not particle left within the ca
s aud this was not all. found the tube SD
ed with little pine stick ! Here was the
Id cret, sure enough took my pen k.ife a
succesded in drawing out the stick and til
u | examined the other pistol, which fou
to bs in the same plight. stopped y
he went to work in earnest, had an excells
IT, screw for removing bullets, and my pie
Up barrels were smptied in very few minut
rs had very serious objection to firing tn
~ in the woods, where the report might betl
the knowledge had gained. SO smpt
ry them and snapped cup upon each. fou
| ham m al h., IA l.