Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-05-06
ROCKVILLE. MARYLAND FRIDAY MORNING MAY 8. 1859


/ gagged tilling the few acres that sur
rounded bis cottage, he heard the report
of rifle seemingly at no great distance
from him. Gordon started and quickly
examining tue printing of his rife, which
was suspended from his shouder-belt,
FASTENED in the direction Of the sound.
1 Before he had reached half milo, which
he imagined might intervene. he was
suddenly brought to u stand still by the
exclamation of "Ho, there p Gordon
looked ap, somewhat surprised, and be-
held within few feet of him one Of the
ufost ferocious looking beings that he
had ever seen. He stood with his rife
pointed at Gordon; his face was envel.
oped in a black beard, while the haii
4 upon his head hung in elf like locks upon
his shoulders. He wore upon his head
a cap formed OF marmot skin, while a
sort Of loose hunting. frock Of deer skin
hung in folds from his shoulder to his
knee, and his limbs were encased in
lcggings of buffalo hide, while an un.
dressed thong Of the same leather encir.
c,cd his waist, to which was attached q
rude powder horn and bullet pouch. -
After hosting the butt of his rifle in to-
ken Of friendship and submission, Cor.
don asked in a loud voice, whether be
was friend or foe p
/" am friend to nobody" answered
! the stranger; I" whether | am foe, de-
I ponds upon circumstances.
I Gordon had meanwhile approached
nearer to the stranger, and preferred him
bis hand, which he cordially grasped,
exclaining,
=" It's in the nature of man to be an
enemy, and | always keep my eye clear
for fight, though you meant we'll. As
| am more than match for you any
way, I'll venture to shake hands"
I" May | ask Intercepted Gordon,
chow long you have dwelt in this soil
tude Z"
. / live not far from here" was the
reply, "and go out once in while to
pick up stray deer or So"
/" How long have you lived in these
pdlis uSkcu OOfuOn again.
. Six or seven months, " was the reply.
Il generally stay about that time in Que
spot Next week shall move away"
ny do you move SO often r said
Gordon.
" Because" replied the stranger, a
fierce light cleaning in his eye, "Tm
seeking one who lives somewhere in
Kansas. Perhaps you know him his
name was Rob Hilton"
.tAnd your name exclaimed Gordon,
''is Herbert Vaughn p
In an instant the rifle was PINNED and
pointed at Gordon's breast, but the latter
grasped it, and the contents passed harm-
lessly into the ait. Again, however,
before be could utter one word, the
stranger folded him in his hcrculean en-
brace and bore him to the ground Cor
don was man Of great personal strength,
as well as courage, yet he seemed only
an infant in the grasp of the desperate
man, aud almost expected every moment
to be crushed to death. When the stran-
ger looked his victim full in the face he
released bis hold, excaiming:
+" You're not the man; | should know
him among thousand You. are not
Robert Hilton. Get up, man, and thank
Your stars did not shake your heart out
of you"
Gordon then proceeded TO tell his
name, and brought to mind the part he
had enacted in the quarrel years be-
fore. Vaughn (for it was he'd again and
again shook the hand Of his Old comrade,
aud at length said:
" Well, if you can Gpd place in your
cabin for buffalo like me, Ill 20 with
you; it not, say So"
OF course Gordon invited him TO par
take Of his hospitality and during the
evening meal Vaughn related the details
Of his singular fight from home and the
erratic life be was leading; while his
host, as he regarded his bronzed check
and hardened features. cnnld scarcely
believe him the same brght-cycd and
graceful STRIPPING, the Herbert Vaughn
of other days.
-" When Robert Hilton put that rag
ged bullet into me-" exclaimed Vaughn,
for being better than he was, CON
cluded to load and prime my rife, anG
step over the border, trusting to my
ramrod for help in the hour Of need /
have Travelled and trampcd," he coniin-
ued, "from cast to west, from north TO
ses.5, aud searched in every dark nook
and corner, but have not yet found the
man. But the time is coming. ] shall
trace him TO his den and settle all ar
rcars. Here's a ragged bulletl' he OK.
claimed, drawing one from side pocket
and holding it up, and then replacing II
again with an air Of composnre
Evening at length came, and some
thing Of the old gcDiality seemed to be
aroused IN the nature Of Vaughn, as be
sat before the blazing fire in Gordon
cabin, relating anecdotes Of bis boyhood.
Suddenly knock was heard at the
door, loud aud startling. and both Cor
don and Vaughn started to their feet =
The former however. advanced and
opened the door. and before him stood an
armed man, dressed as a common hunter.
and carrying rife in his hand. Cor
don, with the cordiality which character
ICES the denizcn Of the prairie and the
solitary dwellcr in the lonely cabin, in
vitod the stranger TO his Greside. The
newcomer strobe in and took q scat.
laying bis rife on the floor beside him
+" Are you friends here, or are you in
clined for Gght?" he asked, after q