The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1857-10-28
WHOLE NO. S..

drawing out the stick and then I ex.
amined the other pistol. which 1 found
to be in the same plight. Istopped and
went to work in earnest. I had an OK.
cellent screw for removing bullets, and
my pistol barrels were emptied in a very
few moments. l had . serious obiec.
ton to firing thom of in tho woods,
whore the report might betry the knowl-
edge had gained. So / emptied them
and then snapped cap upon each.
found them both clear, and then pro-
ceeded to load them, which did care.
fully.
And now, how should / proceed p
That this road would lead me to Foster 3
Mills, had no doubt and it would be
nearer for mo to keep on than to turn
back. So upon that point my mind was
made up.
And next-which~ way would my
host come? For that he meant to rob
me I felt certain. Every circumstance
everything that had tlanspired be.
tween him and me-pointing to that one
simple result. Would he 60 down the
river road a piece, and head me off ? or
would he follow me directly up? Most
likely the former. l considered upon
it awhile, and then resolved to push on,
and keep on my guard.
The sun went down, and it grew dark
in the deep wood but the moon was
already up, and as her beams fell length
wise upon the road she gave me conside-
rable light when my eyes had become
used to the transition. Half an hour
had passed since looked to my pistols.
and just as l began to wonder if l had
been mistaken, I heard tho sound of a
horses tramp at no great distance. At
first it puzzled me to tell the direction
from which it came, but in a moment
knew it was in advance of me, and upon
my right hand, which was toward the
river. Presently it stopped. l drew
my horse to the left side of the path.
and kept on gentle trot, having raised
the lapel of my right holster.
In few moments Isaw q dark form,
amid the bushes, little way ahead, ON
the right. AS Icame up man rode
out. Il was my host!
"Good evening, sir" he said, with
exceeding politeness.
"Ah-good evening"" Ireturned.-
II had not expected the pleasure Of your
company"
"No, Iexpect not" he resumed, in a
sort of hesitating manner. "And !
shouldn't have come out only for a little
business / forgot when you were at the
in."
II was plain as day: Ny pistols had
been rendered useless-I had been sent
off into this unfrequented wood, and
now the villain had thought to take my
life and my money without any risk te
his own body, and then hide my poo'
carcass in the earth, where very likely
others had been hidden before. NJ
eyes were open, and my hand ready.
"May TASK to what business you al
ldde 2" I said.
YES" he snapped out, something il
agreement with his features. ~ wan
money. money, SIR"
As he spoke, he raised a pistol.
"Tako care" Icried, raising my pis
tol, and pointing it in his face.
"Ha, ha, ha," he laughed in coarse
trump, "your Yankee pistols weren'1
made to harm such as me ri soor
put You whore l'vo put Others
'afore-"
When man knows death is staring
him in the face, and that only his ac
will avert it, be is not apt to wait long
At least Fam not. And my hosts las
words gave ample proof Of the correct
ness of my suspicious. Without wait
ing for him to finish, 7 fired. Eis
finger must have pressed the trigger o
his pistol, for within the space of .
watch tick. sharp report answered, sne
mingled with mine. and my hat shool
upon my head.
Daniel Groome swaycd to and frt
several times in his saddle. and then
with gurgling groan sank upon tn.
earth. Islipped down after him, ane
when Istoo oped over tho body, I saw .
few drops of dark blood trickling from
his forehead.
For few moments I felt awe-strucl
and condemned. It was natural feel
ing in such a presence. But when .
came to reflect upon all that had pre-
ceeded tho deed, I felt that Ihad dom
my country a service. Imade the rob
bel's horse fast to a tree, and thon re
mounted, and rodc on.
reached the Mills at half. past nine
and I found Foster and his family up
They were glad to see me, and introduc
ed me to Mr.. Price, whom Iafterward
found to be the owner of the place wher'
Ihad taken my dinner.
On the following morning, a part,
started out under my guidance. Their,
were Foster and Price, and three me,
who worked in the mills. When w
reached the spot where the tragedy hst
happened, we found the horse as 7 hat
left him, and my host lay upon tn
ground stiff and cold. He had not blet
at all. the ball having made but small
wound. though it had passed clea
through.
"a little way within the wood, W
found place where the ground seemed
at some time to have been disturbed
and, upon digging there. We found tw'
human bodies. Subsequently one NOR
was found, only few rods distant.
The body of Groome was taken up t
his house, and We there found that TX
had fed. He had probably been on
and found his dead father. and fearing
that he might be implicated. he decamp'd
Mrs. Groome, who was mild bro
ken down woman. acknowledged tina
she had long been aware of her husband
crimes, but that the fear of death ha,