The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-02-26
Molly stepped out cautious, and pricked up
| Inv ocl1 he

l.
her long ears ell the same.
well, master, it was so dark couldn't
see yard past Molly's ears, and the path
was SO narrow and the bushes so thick we
could hardly get along but Just rs we came
to the little creek as they calls the Spout.
cause the water jumps and lets along till it
emptics into the Punch Bowl. and lust as
Molly was cautiously putting her fore foot
into the water, out starts two men from the
bushes and seizes poor Molly's bride =
field.
Well, Master, before could cry out, one
OF them villains seized me by the scruff of
my neck, and with the other hand on my
mouth he says:
''Be silent, you old fool, Or I'll blow yer
brains out p
"And then master, / saw for the first time
that their faces were covered over with black
Grape. couldn't a-screamed if they'd let
me, for my breath was gone and my senses
were going with it from the fear that was
on me-
'Don't struggle, come along quietly and
you shall not be hurt says the man rs had
spoke before.
Struggle! couldn't a-struggled to a.
saved my soul! couldn't speak |
couldn't breathe! liked to have a-drop-
ped right often Molly's back. One on 'em
says, says he:
'Give her some brandyn And t'other
takes out flask and puts it to my lips and
says, says he:
''Here, drink this''
well, master, as he had me still by the
scruff O. the neck | couldn't do no other
ways but open my mouth and drink it. And
as soon as | took swallow my breath come
back and my speech.
'And oh, gentlemen says l, 'cf it's
your money or your life you mean, haint
it about me Deed 'clare to the Lor- a.
mighty l haint it's wrapped up in an old
cotton glove in hole in the plastering in
the chimney-corner at home, and Of you'll
spare my life, you can 60 there and get it,
says |.
''You old blockhead,' says they, Eve want
neither one nor t'other! Come along quiet
ly and you shall receive no harm. But at
the first cry or attempt to escape this shall
stop youn And with that the villain held
the mzzle of pistol so nigh to my nose
that smelt birthstone, while t'other one
| bound silk handkerchief round my eyes.
and then took poor Molly's bride and led
her along. | couldn't see, in coarse, and
disSint breathe for fear O the pistol. Bot
| said my prayers to myself all the time.
Well, master, they led the mule on down
the path, until we coined to place wide
enough to turn, when they turned US round
and led us back outen the wood, and then
round and round, and up and down, and
cross ways and length ways, as eff they
didn't want me to find where they were TAX
ing me.
'Well, sir, when they walked about in this
fused WAY, leadin' of the mule about Il mile,
knew we WAS in the woods again-the
very same woods and the very same path
| knowed by the feel OF the place and the
sound of the bushes, as We hit up against
them each side, and also by the rumbllng of
the Spout rs it tumbled along toward the
! Punch Bowl. We went down and down, and
down, and lower, and lower, aud lower, un-
! I'll we got right down in the bottom of that
! hollow.
/ 'Thcn we stopped. A gate was opened.
put up my hand to raise the handkerchief,
and see whore was but, just at that min
ute, felt the mizzlc o the pistol like ring
Of ice right agin my right temple, and the
villain growing into my ear:
'.If vou do -
! 'But didn't dropped my hand down
rs if had been shot, and afore had seen
anything either. SO we went through the
gate, and up gravely walk-l knew it by
the cracking of the gravel under Moily's
fcet-and stopped ut Il horse block, where
one % them williams lifted me off. put my
hand up again.
/ 500, if You dare says t'othcr one,
with the mzzle of the pistol at my head.
| Il dropped my hand like lead. SO they
led me on n little way, and then up some
steps. | counted them to myself as went
along. They were six. You see. master,
took all this pains to know the house again.
Then they opened door that opened in the
middle. They then went a!onga 4 passage
and up more staIrs-thcre were ten and IL
turn and then ten more. Then along an
other passage, and up third flight of stairs.
They was alike.
well, sir, here we was at the top o. the
house. One o them villains opened door
on the left side, and t'other said
/ "Therc-go in and do your duty.' and
pushed me through the door. and shut and
and locked it on me. Good gracious, sir.
how scared was slipped off the silk
|
forget to put it in my bosom.
! 'Thcn looked about me. Right aforc
me on the hearth was Il little wcnv taper
, burning. that showed | was in great big
garrct with sloping walls. At one end two
deep dormcr windows, and black walnut
bureau standing between them. At t'other
end great tester bedstcad with dark cur
tains. There was a dark carpet on the floor.
And with all there were 50 many dark objects
md so many shadows, and the little taper
/ burned so dimly that could hardly tell
t'othcr from which, or keep from hrenking
my nose against things MS CROPPED about.
'And what was in this room for to do
| couldn't even form m idec. But presently
my blood ran cold to hear groan from be
hind the curtains-thcn another and anoth-
cr-then a cry as of a child in mortal agony,
saving:
| ''For the love of heaven save me.'
! Il Iran to the bed and dropped the curtains,
and liked to have tainted ut what | saw =
'And what did you see?' asked the mag
istratc.
Master, behind those dark curtains saw
+ young creature tossing about on the bed,
Ginging her fair and beautiful arms about,
| and tearing wildly at the fine lace that trim
med her night dress. But, master, that
wasn't what almost made me faint-it was
that her right hand was sewed up in black
Grape, and her whole face and head COM
pletely covered with black Grape drawn down
and fastened securely around her throat,
leaving only small slit at the lips and nose
to breathe throughl'
What take care, woman. remember that
you are upon your oath ? said the magis
tratc.
81 know it, master And as hope to be
forgiven, am telling you the truth ?
60 on, them
well, sir, she was a young creature,
scarcely past childhood, if one might Judge
by her small size, and soft, rosy skin.
asked her to let me take that black Grape
from her face and head, but she threw up
her hands and exclaimed
''Oh, no, no ! for my life, mop
well, master, | hardly know how to tell
you what followed said the old woman,
hesitatins in embarrassment.
go right straight on like a car of jug
gernaut, woman. Rcmember-the whole
| tr,,tI