The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-09-12

The host asked why | wished to know, and
] simply told him that the mans couute-
nance was familiar, ard merely wished TO
know if ever was acquainted with him.
resolved not tc let the landlord into the Sc.
cret, but 10 hurry on to Jackson, and there
give Information to the Sheriff, and perhaps
he might reach the inn before the villain
left, for had no doubts with regard TO HE
identity.
81 had an alarm watch, and having set
it TO give the alarm at one O'Clock, | went
to sleep. l was aroused at the proper time,
and Immediately got up and dressed my
self When reached the yard, found the
clouds all passed away, and the moon was
shining brightly. The ostler was easily
aroused, a1d by two O'Clock was on my
road. The mud was deep, and my horse
could not travel fast-yet il struck me that
the beast made more work than there was
any need of, fer The cart was nearly empty.
However, on we went, and in the
course of half an hour / was clear of the
village. AT a short distance ahead, lay
large tract of forest, mostly of great pines.
The road led directly through this wood,
and as near as could remember, the dis
tance was Twelve miles. Yet the moon
was in the east, and as the road ran nearly
west, should have light enough. ] had
entered the woods, and had gone about half
a mile, when my wagon wheels settled,
with bump. and jerk, into deep hole
T,,ffo roi 10 IF -hrno
but that was fot all. heard another ex.
clamation from another source
'tWhat could it be l looked quickly
around, but could see nothing. Yet | knew
that the sound heard was very close to
me- As the hind wheels came up / felt
something besides the jerk of the hole.
hear something tumble from one side 20 the
other of my wagon, and could feel the Jar
occasioned BY the movement. 1t was sim
ply man in my cart knew this on the
instant. Of course felt puzzled. AT FIRST
imagined some poor fellow had taken this
method to obtain ride; but / soon gave
tLis up, for knew that any decent man
would have asked me for ride. My next
idea was somebody had gone 10 sleep but
they passed away as quickly as ii came for
10 man wonld have broken into nv cart for
that purpose. And that thought, genile-
men, opened my eyes. Whoever was there
| had broken in.
"My rext Thoughts were of Dick Hard
head He had heard me say that my load
was sold out. and of course he supposed
had some money with me. In this he was
right for had over two thousand dollars.
| | also thought he meant to leave the cart
when he supposed | had reached some
quiet place, and then either creep over and
shoot me, or knock me down. All this pas
sed through my mind by the time had got
rod from the hole.
s'Now, never make il point to brag of
myself, but [ have seen some ofthe world,
and am pretty cool and clear headed un.
/ der a difficulty. In very few moments
my resolution was formed My horse was
now knee deep in the mud, and | knew !
/ could slip off without noise. So drew my
/ revolver-I never travel in that country
without one-I drew this, and having twin
ed the reins about the whip stock. | care
fully slipped down iu the mud, and as the
cart passed on ] went behind it and exam
ined the hasp.
"The door of the cart lets down, and is
| fastened by hasp, which slips over sta
pie and is then secured by a paddock. The
! paddock was gone, and the hasp was secur-
ed in its place by bit of pins-so that a
slight force within would break it. My
wheel wrench hung in leather bucket on
the side of the cart, and l quietly tock ii
out and slipped it into the staple, the iron
handle just sliding down.
"Now had him. My cart was almost
new, made in stout frame of white oak,
and made on purpose for hard usage.
did mol believe any ordinary man could
break ou.. got on my cart as noiselessly
as got of, and then urged my horse on,
still keeping my pistol handy. | knew
| that the distance of half a mile further
should come to a good hard road, and al
lowed my horse 10 pick his own way thro'
the mud. About ten minutes after this l
heard motion in the cart, followed by a
grinding mise, as though some heavy force
were teing applied 10 the door. | said
nothing, blt the idea struck me that the vii
lain might Judge where | sat and shoot up
through the top of the cart at me, so sat
down npon the foot-board.
ssOi course knew that my mex xpected
| passenger was villain, for he must have
been awake ever since started, and moth
ing in the world but absolute villainy would
have caused him 70 remain quiet SO long,
and then start up 10 this parkcuIar place
The humping and pushing grew louder and
louder, and pretty soon heard human
| voice.
] 81 Let nna ont of this =, he cried. and he