Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1857-06-10

was fool enough to be equally frank, l ad
mitted that had some money, and told him
my business and by a most quiet and I'M
| prcsuming course Of remark, he drew from
me the fact that had money enough topur-
chase forty full lots. .3s
Finally the conversation Jagged, and be-
gan to give my companion q closer scrutiny
| sat in the stern Of the canoe and he was
amidships, and facing me- He was no.
| large man, nor was he tall His hair was -
| a light aaxcn hue, and hung in long curis
about his neck; his features were regular
and handsome, and his complexion sery light
But the color Of his face was not what one
could call fair. 1t was cold, bloodlexs col.
or, like pale marble And for the first time,
too, looked particularly at his eyes. They
were gray in color, and had the briIIiancy Of
glaring ice. Their light was intense, bu.
sold and glittering like snakes When
thought OF his age, | set set him Gown for not
much over thirty.
| Suddenly sharp, cold sludder ran thro'
my frame, and my heart leaped with wild
thrill. As sure as fate--l knew it-thers
could be no Doubt had taken into my ca
noe, and into my confidence, GusTus Karl,
The Wabash Robber
For few minutes l feared my emotions
would betray me. looked carefully over
his person again. and knew was not mis-
taken. could look back now and sec how
cunningly he had led me on to confession
| my circumstances-how he had made me
tell my affairs. and reveal the state of my f.
nances. What q fool had been But it
was too late to think of the past. / had
enough to do to look out for what was evil
IDENTIFY to come
at length managed to overcome all my
outward emotions, and then began to watch
my companion more sharply and closely.
| My pistols were both handy, and they were
in order, for had examined them both in
the morning after firing ut some game. They
were in the breast pockets of my coat, which
pockets had been made on purpose for them,
and could reach them at any moment. An
other hour passed away, and by that time
hal become assured that the robbcr would
make no attempt upon me until nightfa l.
He said that it would be convenient that we
were both together, for we could run all
| night as one of us could steer while the 9TH
slept. .... =--s
| aye" / added with smile; ''that is
good for me- for every hour is valuable I
wonId not miss Of meeting my friend for
worlds"
'Oh-you'll meet him never fear" said nv
| companion
| Ah-hc spoke with too much meaning. 7
understood it we'll knew what that sly
tone and strange cleaning of the eye meant
lie meant that he would put me on the road
to meet poor Kemp in the other world l.
| wondered only now that had not detected
the robber when first saw him, for the ex-
preston of his face was SO heartless. so icy
and then his eyes had such wicked look
that the most Impractical physiognomist
could not have failed to detect the villain at
| once.
During the rest OF the afternoon we con-
versed some, but not so freely as before.
| could See that the villains eyes were not SO
frankly bent upon me as he spoke and then
he seemed inclined to avoid my direct CLAN
ces. These movements on his part were not
studied or even intentional but they were
instructive, as though his very nature led him
thus. Atlcngth night came on We ate our
supper, and then smoked our pipes, and Fl
nally my companion proposed that should
sleep before he did. At first | thought of
Directing, buta few moments reflection told
| me that had better behave as though |
| thought him an honest man; SO agreed to
| his proposition. he took my seat at the stern
| and moved further forward, and having re-
moved the thwart upon which my companion
| had been setting, spread my cloak in the
| bottom of the canoe. and then having placed
| my valise for a pillow, lay down. As soon
as possible drew outone of my pistols, and
beneath the cover of a cough cooked it.
Then moved my body so that my right arm
would be at liberty, and grasping my weapon
firmly, with my finger upon the guard drew
up my mantle, slouched my hat, and then
settled down for my watch,
Fortunately for me the moon was up, and
though the forest trees threw a shadow upon
me yet the beams fell full upon Karl, and
could see his every movement We were
we'll into the Wabash having entered itabout
three clock
"You will call me at midnight l said
drowsily.
"Yes," he returned
''Good night"
Good highland pleasant dreams"
all have you further on your way than
you think ere you wake up again.
Perhaps SO, thought l to myself as low
cred my head and pretended to lower myself
to sleep.
For half an hour nv companion steered
the canoe very well, and seemed to take but
little notice of me; but at the end of that
time | could see he became more uneasy. /
drawn breath, and on the instant the villain
started as starts the hunter when he hears
the tread ofgame in the woods. 7.-
But bark! Aha-there was before one
lingering fear in my mind that mis- chit shoot
the wrong man; but it was gone now. AS
the fellow stopped the motion Of the paddle,
distinctly heard him mu,tcr--
"Oho, my dear sheep; you little dreamed
that Gus Karl was your companion. But
he III do you good turn. If your friend is
dead you shall follow him, and III take your
traps to pay for your passage to heavent' =
think these were the very words At any
rate they are the drift As he thus spoke he
noiselcssly drew in the paddle, and then rose
to his feet. | saw him reach over his left
shoulder, and when he brought his hand back
he had a huge bowie knife in it; could see
the blade CLEAN in the pale moonlight, and
saw Karl run his thumb along the point and
then feel the edge! MY heart beat fearful
" and my breathing was hard 1t was with
the utmost exertion that could continue my
snoring, but managed to d., it without in
terruption. Slowly and noiselessly the foal
wretch approached meOh! his step would
not have awakened a houna--and his long,
cleaning knife was half raised e,,ald hear
his breathing plainly, and l could hear the
NTutlUN vi MS teSlu US ne ucENcu himself lOE
the stroke.
The villain was by my side, and he mea-
sured the distance from his hand to my heart
with his eye In his left hand he held a
thick handkerchief all wadded up This was
to stop my mouth with Every nerve in my
body was now strung, and my heart stood
still as death OF course my snoring ceased;
and at that instant the huge knife was raised
above my bosom! Quick as thought l brot
my pistol up--the muzzle was within a foot
OF the robbers heart--he uttered a quick cry
II saw the bright blade CULVER in the moon
light but it came not upon me. pulled Che
trigger, and the last fear was past had
thought that the weapon mi sht miss fire, but
it did not There was sharp report, and
IS sprang up ana back heard a fierce yell
and at the same moment; the robber fell for
ward, his head striking my knee as 1t came
down.
,.t, Weak and faint sank back, bat sudden
stirping of the canoe brought me to my sens
'cs, and l went aft and tool, the paddle As
,Sot,n rs the beats head was once more right,
! tornaI my ewes uppn the form in the bot