Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-05-24

he sometimes bought no and drove to q
distant market. He had good deal of
money, which it was supposed be kept Sc
GREETED in his dwelling; and to get posses,
sion OF this money was, of course, the OBJ
ject in view. The trouble was, that the
mau himself was q brave, determined felA
low, who always went well armed, and
had, besides his wife, two grown up sons
and daughter, which was force too
great for any one individual to encounter.
About mile from him lived poor widow,
who bad nothing worth stealing except
her clothes, which would be valuable for
carrying out our plan. This plan was to
rob the widow first of her clothing, dress
me up in them, aud have me seek lodgings
at the speculatOr's house. Then in the
night, when all the family should be asleep,
! was to unbolt the door, let in my confed-
crate, and we were TO attempt the murder
Of the iDmates-the robbery and burning
of the house to follow and be the conclud-
ing scene.
/ secretly 7shuddersd atThe atrocity OF
the contemplated crime but appeared to
receive the disclosure with the business air
Of the most hardened wretch, inquiring as
to the amount of money we should thus
probably obtain, and o5jecting to nothing
but the great risk we should have to run,
both before and after the accomplishment
of our purpose. permitted my eager COM
paniOn to gradually quiet my fears, AMI at
last consented to act.
When everything had thus become set
tied, we struck off into the fields, TO avoid
being seen, and just before night, came in
sight Of the widows house. As my COM
panion was acquainted with the premises,
/ insisted that he should procure the fe-
male garments-but solemDly warned him
that If he harmed the poor woman in the
least, would have nothing further to do
with the affair.
As good luck would have it, the widow
was net at home, and my murderOus friend
managed to break 10 and get the necessa-
~ clothing without doing any farther
damage. The widow being large woman,
| had no trouble in arranging the dress SO
as to pass in dim light as a tolerably re.
spectacle female and then having agreed
upon the story l was to tell, how would
msnage matters, and the signal that would
assure my accomplice of all being right,
we went forward together, till we came in
sight Of the house to be robbed, when !
"HNS hSoiOoe W buO IOdu1 duu
continued on alone, reaching the dwelling
about an hour after dark, and just about
MS the family were concluding their evening
meal.
Had my design been really what had
led my villainous companion to believe, /
certainly could never have gone forward
with such confident boldness but feeling
my conscience all right, and knowing |
was acting from good motive. kept up
a wonderful assurance. feeling curious to
see how well could play my part, and
TO what extent could carry the decep~
ten.
l asked for lodging for the night, and
some thing to eat, and was kindly and hos
pirably received. The first thing that sent
the blush of shame and confusion to my
cheeks, was the coming forward of young
lady, ebOut eighteen. besutiful as on houri.
and 10 a sweet. gentlo tone asking me If
had walked far, if was much fatigued.
Offering to take my hood. telling me
should soon be refreshed with hOut cup
Of tea. This was little too much for my
equanimity. I could have got along with
all the rest, without being especially dis
turbed but / was then q young. numar-
ried man, and, though not particularly sus-
ceptible to femple attractions in general,
thought had never looked upon so lovely
and interesting a creature before. ! STAN
Eered out sumo unintelligible replies, kept
my hood weel drawn over nv face, and
asked to be permitted to have a few min
utes' private conversation with the master
Of the house.
OF course this request caused considera-
BILE surprise-but it was granted-and as
sooD as we were alone together, / told him
in few words who and what was, the
strange adventure had met with, and dis
closed in full the plot Of my road-acquain-
lance to murder and rob him. He turn>
ed pale at the recital, and seemed much
astonished, begged me not to men,
ton the design tc his wife and daughter
He then called his two sons-strOng, deter,
mined fellows-recouDted the plot to them
and arranged to have every thing go for
ward as If the scheme were being carried
out as it's vile author designed.
1t took some shrewd management to
keep me to my part without letting the
females into the secret; but It was effected;
and before midnight cautiously opened
the door, and looked out. There was my
man, ready and waiting.
is all rightP he whispered.
Yes, come i1t'
As he crossed the threshold. the father
and sons sprung upon him. But the fell.
low was strong and desperate, and perha ps
had some slight suspicion Of the truth
With wild yell he cleared their united
grasps at bound, leaving q large portion
of his rags in their hands The next mo-
ment the whole four of Us were in chase of
the villain, as be ran across the road to
gain the cover Of wood about twenty rods
distant.
Fire 7 shouted the father shoot down
the scoundrelP
We were all armed and prepared, and at
the word four revolvers began to crack be-
hind him. But be seemed to lead charm
ed life, and still he ran on, keeping short
distance ahead of Us. Once fancied saw
him stagger but he gained the woods and
disappeared, and we reluctantly and with
deep chagrIn gave up the chase.
When we returned to the house, the
wife and daughter were both terribly al.
armed. Of course and explanation follow
ed-the host being disappointed of making
the capture, as he intended, without excIt
log their fears. There was no more sleep
in that house that night.
The next morning we went cut to the
wood and discovered trail Of blood. We
followed on for halfa mile, and found the
ruthan lying dead, face downward, his
hands firmly clinched upon some bushes.
Ooe OF the sons recognized MIN rs suspec.
TED murderer, who had couple Of years
before LETT that part of the country. He
was buried with little ceremony. was
warmly thanked for the part had played
toe.save the family; but from DO other did
the words sound so sweet to me as from
lips OF the beautiful maiden.
The family pressed me to stay with them
Ior while, and | stayed-long enough to
lose my heart and win another. Strange
Is appears IN looking back to it, the
sVent Of that VILLAIN Ieapipp into the road
before se changed my whole fortune and
sometimes, when gaze fondIy upon NV
vile 1 am temnfed tn hlasa kha At -