The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1857-06-11

ed here and there, until at length found
myself on the western borders. Here
was excitement enough for ~ Late in
the afternoon, one day, | WIS wandering
along through the country on the extreme
borders. had not seen a house for sew
eral hours 1t was kind of attractive, and
kind of dreary, too. The woods were
very thick through here, and there was a
savage air about the place which led my
mind very often into imaginations Of bull
let-holes-I carried a rife myself-knife-
stabs, and scalped heads. The country
around there did have a terrible reputa.
ton for such things-not by any means
confined to fights with the Indians, but
relating to lawless transactions between
the whites themselves. Well, | wander
ed on until the sun had gone down and
! darkness had come on, when | saw a cab
in off on a clearing which | had just en-
tered. There was really strong sense
Of relief on finding that was in the pres
ence of civilization, for, although | was
by no means coward, still the terrible
gloominess about me made me long for
some signs of a fcllow-beng.
4 quickly passed up the cart road to
the building, and knocked--for although
the door was open, which surprised me
some, it then being late in the evening.
| Iinstiuctiyely obeyed the impulse ofhome
habit. There was no response to my
knocking, so l repeated it louder. The
stiffness which succeeded the raps sent a
creeping dread through me. Certainly
the house was Inhabited, for l could see
that plain enough by the light of the
moon, which enabled me to look about
the premises some, and to see into the
room through the open door. Then why
was the door left open, at that time of the
evening, and no lights to be seen?
MY mind was in this state of uncer-
tainty, when heard a sound which sent
the blood thrilling through my veins with
horror. 1t was surely groan! Before
| could move, it was repeated. could
not be mistaken now. A suppressed,
gurgling groan it surely was. 1t seemed
to come from the back part of the hut
| grNsped my rifle in my left hand and
loosoned my knife with my right, and
crept to the spot where the groans seem
ed to be. There was a small building
there, which was probably used to store
some kind of produce in. l made my
way to it and cautiously looked in.
well might he groan-lhe man whom
| saw in there. lie was bound by thongs
ofleather to a beam. The thongs had
cut deep into his flesh, during his efforts
to get free, and the blood was oozing out
and filling up the deep compresons which
the hard leather made. He had been
gagged with some. old cloth, which he
had Ioosened just enough 10 enable him
TO utter the horrible groans which had so
startled me- AS his bood-shot eyes met
mine he instnctively comprehended that
| was a friend. His eyes cleaned with
Joy, and he tried to speak; but the effort
only resulted in gurgling choking
sound. HIS arms moved convulsivey.
with an mpulsive attempt 10 reach them
out 10 me, which carried the hard thongs
deeper into his lscerated flesh. quick
ly drew the gag from his mouth but the
relieving ofhis arms and legs was amuch
more difficult matter. 1t was critical
work 10 cut the thongs without cuttieg the
flesh but succeeded in few moments,
and he was instantly on his feet.
He was Ansplendd specimen Of west
ern pioneeF va TALL broad, muscular
form, and ssslss2 marked face-not with
wrinkles, but muscles, He was
powerful B hn learned the cause
ofhis site |lal,iI.c .cs,Iif words he told
me thatrs - less r1Iha2s head
e,Fby deef.oys ''IsT171si : -
the name of Dick Hskey, had sur - -
him while eating gsupper, bound, gagged,
and Left him ted. where | found him,
taking off all that was valuable on the
premises. All this he could have borne.
but the villains had a worse object in
view. They had carried off his only
daughter.
lie was widower. His wife had died
about a year before, leaving him with no
one but this daughter to comfort his lone
heart. She had done everything, which
a child's affection could do, TO bring
back happiness to his home; and well had
she succeeded. Many time had he
ferventIy called Gods blessing upon her,
in the oulpouring thankfulness oI his
heart. But now she was gone-iorn
from his home by wretch OF the baSest
kind.
'Dick Iliskey was theleader of band
of horse thieves, robbers and murderers.
In fact, no crime was TOO frighllul for
their depraved and reckless spirits. lie
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 approaohes-for
he did have the audacity TO make over
lures for her hand. His character was
well known throughout that part of the
country; and the idea of his coming to
him, to sue tor his Mary's hand in mar.
rsge, was loathsome. He did not hesi
tate to let lha villain know his feelings
such feelings as could only be aroused in
the heart 6f.a doling father.
Dick Hiskey was not the man to be
easily bafflel. There were now two mo-
tives for succeedingin his base designs
the detarninaiion tn pratifv his defestable