The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1865-01-25


he refused to take it. Perhaps you ma,
be more sensible"
The old woman greedily took the prof
fered coin, saying:
!, "Pierre is too sensitive. We Nigh
both starve before he would take cent
Il see you differ from him little,
returned the hor,emsn laughing. Fl,
then put spurs to his horse. aud rode on
In a few minutes he reached the larg,
rock alluded to, and could then perceive
the entrance to narrow lane, arttull
concealed by bushes. lie soon made hi
way through them, and when once in the
lane, found it a little wider than he ex
pected. 1t also became free of bushes
as he proceeded. He stopped q moment
to examine the ptiming of his pistol
mutteriug:
my worthy friends are rather sharp,
They do not do their numbering in the
open road, where spilled blood might lead
to their detection, but inveigle the nulor-
tunate traveller into the dark lane, where
he may be safely put cut Of the way and
none be tho wiser for it. At any rate, |
am fully prepared for them, and thev
will not put me out Of the way without
struggle"
Having seen that his arms were ready
for use, he rode slowly forward, keeping
careful, watch on each side of the road,
that he might not be surprised. AS long
as the woods kept open as they were, he
had no fear, as there were no good hidiug
places for man. Ere long the woods
began to get thicker and more som bre.
Little hiIlocks covered with bushes, be-
came frequent, until at last they became
q long range skirtiny on each side of the
road. The horseman felt that the time
which was to try him was near at hand,
and he dropped the reins until his hand
covered a holster pistol, which he firmly
graspe !, though in such maoner as a
person would not notice, and he then as
sumed an air Of carelessness, though his
watch was pow keener that ever. AT
length he came to place which he felt
certain contained his enemy. Mature
seemed to have adapted this for the pur
pose of concealment.--The rocks which
skifted the road at this place were about
breast high, and so perpendicular as to
have the appearance Of a wall; they were
covered with growth Of bushes SO thick
as to be nearly impslvious. The tall
trees on each side of the road twined
their tops together, forming a natural
roof Of leaves and branches, and render
ing the place as dark as midnight.
It was u scene sufficient to appall the
stoulest heart. butthe horseman. although
he knew the next moment might be hisI
last, rode forward with AS careless an air
as he might have worn had he been trav
cling The streets Of a populous city. His
hand still grasped the butt Of a pistol,
md hi! keen eyes still searched each coy
.rt. Suddenly pistol shot rung out up !
IN the air and his hat fell to the ground |
With a bullet hole through it, not more I
han an inch above wEere his head had |
,een. Instantly turning in the diree atom
# the sound, beheld a slight wreath
# smoke curling Up from behind . bush,
nd without moments hesitation he
4veled his pistol and fired The aim
vas terribly fatal. A wild sErisk rang
pom the air, and the next moment there
prang from behind the tree, not the
'harcoal burners as be had expected,
ut his wife. The blood was flowing
onspicuously from her forhead, andpre 4
ented horrible spectacle. She totter-
d to The edge OF the wall of rocks and 4
III into the road. corpse.
Had known it to be woman,' the
orseman muttered, "I never would
ave fired, but it is too late to moralize.
That can have bee ome of my friend, the I
larcoal burner?" 7
AS he spoke. he turned around quick y
aud encountered the object OF his
loughts. 1t was lucky for him that he
as so quick. The charcoal burner :
I'D a cleaning knife in his hand. al =
ady uplifted to strike, While the
rseman's attention had been engaged al
the trag cal end of the woman, he n