, 1858-05-14

AAoAASS 0SAS Va bluc WuIc utlu uCAElY HeWs TIC
and Ike sat down with me, and as saw them
attack the various articles Of food, felt assured
that there could be no poison in them. The meal
consisted Of boiled potatoes, fried bacon and new
wheat-bread, and didample justice to the repast.
"YOu think you must go on tonight" said
my host while we were eating. u--
"Yes," I told him; 81 wish to see my friend,
and ! shall gain considerable time by reaching
his place tonight" U :
as he expectin' yeG" GroOme asked
"No," answered. ar....
"Perhaps he don't know that you're in this
section at al2"
"No, he doesn't" I said, and expected that
my host would urge mo to stay with him until
morning. had my answers all prepared. But
I was mistaken. He didn't urge any such thing
On the contrary, he said he thought was wise
In my determination. He would like my com.
pany, but it would be better for me to push on.
] felt quite relieved. Itwanted quarter to seven
when my horse was brought to the door. l took
out my wallet, and asked what was to pay
" Half dollar" l paid it, and then asked which
was the most direct route.
"YOu sec that big tree, just over the barn
theref" Ia7 taa.l'- sfi
"Yes," said. saIa tl1 a
"Wall, that's right in the best road. When
you strike that, you can't miss the way"
"But isn't there another road, one which fol-
lows this stream. right down to the millsip
asked; for had been informed by the young
man who had taken charge Of my horse at noon
that GroOme's inn was right by the very stream
which gave Foster his mill power, and that the
road followed the stream direct.
"oh," said my host, turning and looking of
toward the stream, that road amt fit to travel
now. Tother ones the best" y2s r
But what's the matter with III" asked.
"Why, the bridges are all washed away, an
then there's been windfhlls acros't Itriod it last
week, and had to come back. The upper road is
matter Of mile or two furder, but that's nothin.
Your beast is good for IT, guess"
Told him my horse would stand Il well enough,
and then asked wherc the other road struck the
stream. .fa.rraa Ai
"AbOut three miles this side Of the mills" he
replied. ID 5 fjg4
"It's all clear and direct" asrz !,
EYES You can't miss the way gr
Ibade my host goodbye, and then started on.
] didn't like the idea Of new road at all The
youth before mentioned had told me what an ex-
cellent road it was from Groomes to the mill BY
the river road. He said It followed the stream,
which was very near straight, and that it was
light and open the whole distance However, or
course GrOOme knew, SO must make the best
Of il I looked back as reached the edge Of
the wood. was upon q 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. was sure
il was saddle-perhaps he had an errand to do.
Ere long entered the wood, and found It thick
and gloomy. The path was plain enough, and
had evidently been at some time Travelled road.
Aye, I remember now Of having heardmy inform
ant Of the noontlme speak Of the "old road
He said there used to be road leading to Rock
river, but when Foster commenced his settlement
new road was opened BY the stream, and the
old one discontinued. He had said nothing about
any bridges At distance Of two miles came
to place where a bed Of sand lay across the
road. l looked, but saw no track upon it Wa
ter had swept across since any living thing had
troddcn IL I slid from my saddle and examined
thoroughly, but could find no tracks. ofcourse
the father Of my noontime's host could not have
gone this wayl And yet he had gone to Fosters
Mills. began to suspect mischief There had
been an uneasy sensation lurking in my bosom
ever since left the inn. regained my saddle
and looked about The sun was nearly down; !;
in twenty minutes, at the hrthest, Il would be
out Of sight. Instinctiyely | drew one Of my
pistols from the hester. raised the hammer
and found the cap in its place was just put
ting il tback when I noticed mark upon the butt.
It was peculiar knot in the wood That pistol
l always carried in the LEFT holster. II was not
90 sure as the other one. took out the other,
and was sure the weapons had been changed by
other hands than mine. Ibegan to think. Why
was Mr. Groome 50 particular TO know II my
friend expected me3 And then why should he
have been so anxious TO have me set forward that
night, instead Of remaining with him and paying
him dollar or so more than l didi Then this
road-I believed l had been deceived.
If my pistols had been taken out might they
not have been fouIly dealt WITH took the one
from the right holster, and examined it The
ball was in its place, and the cap on. Still was
not satisfied. Islipped the cap OH, and found the
percussion removed. There was not particle
left within the cap. And this was not ALL I
found the tube spiked with little pine stick
Here was the secret sure enough. l took my
penknife and succeeded in drawingO out tho stick