Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-01-26

among the Ribbon boys Besides, I don
! like a bone in the young vagabond's skin /;
and the rutian muttered something
could not hear.
May be, responded the other in Low
tone. you may get into trouble"
/ No fear, Bill my boy | dunno, b,
| consumed, either, but 1t may be best t
/ finish him at once. Faith, here goes.
| As he spoke, the man lifted a squar,
| stone somewhere near the hearth, anC
/ from a concealed receptacle he drew Ou
/ what appeared to me, as well as | cOulC
| see it, to be large pistol; from the same
/ opening be took the other appliances anC
| proceeded deliberately to load the wea.
pom. The poor bound creature leaped W
with a desperate effort, as he noticed
those fearful preparations, but fell back
again, helplessly, upon the seat.
Oh, for the love Of God, Barney, don't
murder me ii he cried, IN hoarse, half
choking voice Speak to him, Nelly,
speak to him r he continued appealingly
to the old woman Neither Of them took
the least notice to his entreaties the old
woman shook her head, and continued
gazing into the FIRE. [ felt tingling from
head to foot at the prospect of witnessing
this cold blOoded murder, and was in
clined, on the first impulse, to rush out
at all hazards and interfere.
" L say, Barney, why waste powder and
shot on the likes of him; 'tisn't so much
we have to spare Tell you what we'll
do as we go down to meet the boys on
the way to the colonel's tonight, pitch
him into the Wizards Hole; and mind
me, he'll not come up again to tell tales"
You're right, Bill-the-very-th
returned Barney, laying down his pistol.
q" [ remember the last chap as we tucked
him into the soft sheets there laws
what a splash he made as the black slush
closed over him; it made me almost shiv-
er."
A deep moan Of agony that broke from
the wretched youth, told the effect that
this new arrangement had upon him.
" There's a weight, 4 half hundred
somewhere" said Barney; where is it,
Nell?"
oh, the old weight is it? It's behind
the sticks there, | believe. What do you
want with it
Ny hearat leaped to my throat at this
inquiry, for just at my foot, where l stood,
felt the hard substance, that l had sup
posed to be a stone. Now for it." [
thought, as ! listened in an agony to the
next words
twill be nice buckle for his belt, and
will keep him down while in the bot
tom of the hole.
Shall I get it now?" said the old
STime enough, responded the other
" when we set out. Get US the supper,
though"
Some relief was afforded by this re-
spite; but the faint hope which l had
lust began to entertain, that | might pos
sibly be able to evade discovery until the
men departed from their victim, and [
had the old woman only to deal with, now
vanished, as, when the weight came to be
looked for, [ was sure, of course to be
found, and as certain to be murdered.
Some food was placed upon the small ta-
BILE drawn in front of the fire, while
candle fixed In a sconce against the wall,
added a feeble illumination to the fire.
light The three partook Of the meal in
silence, and then the men smoked, during
which an hour might have passed scarce
IL sound being heard, save a low moan
or restless movement from the poor lad
who was evidently writhing inagOny from
the physical torture of the tight cording
of his limbs, as well as harrassed, no
doubt, with the horrible apprehensions of
his coming doom.
Look out, Nell, - was the first words
spoken by Barney, that broke the still
ness" look out and see what time O.
night it is.
The old woman rose, opened the door,
and, judging by what external appear
ance [ know not. In a few moments turned
in again. Tis no more than eight
o'clock" she said.
Eight o'clock Four or five hours
yet, Bill! Let's have a sleep; we are not
to meet at the cross till one. Do you sit
up and watch Nell, he continued, and
wake US at about twelve, mind"
In few minutes the two miscreants
had disposed themselves beside the fire,
dragging over them some loose garments
supplied by Nelly and IN a short time
their deep, heavy breathing betOkened
that both were fast asleep. A turmoil of
anxious thoughts literally seethed thrO'
my brain In the brief period of stiffness
that soon followed. Could [ take advan-
tage of their sleep? Could I take any
this dreadful peril? At length a low
parched voice, a kind of husky whisper,
it seemed, rose up on the quiet of the
place. Nelly, for the dear love of God,
have pity on me, and save me, now they
are asleep"
There was no answer Who knows
but she has dropped off too" | thought.
Nelly, if you hope for mercy listen to
me, save me" again whispered that weak
voice of anguish.
g Whist, will ye, replied the old wom-
an, evidently quite awake. It's no use
your talking you'd have sold Bill to the
gallows and if the liftin' Of my finger
would save yes, I wouldn't"
Give me sup Of wather, will ye, he
asked L think I'll go mad.
I'll give you that much, at any rate, y
she said though it's enough of it you'll
get afore long [ m thinking"
The old bag rose and gave him some
water from tin vessel, but bitterly per-
sisted in her refusal either to aid his es-
cape or even to loosen the chords that
were SO cruelty tormenting him. When
| Nelly replaced the water-can on the table
she replenished the fire, settled the COW
/ ering more carefully round the youth, and
then muttered in a kind of sollloquy,
No fear but I'll wake in time; an hour
at most will do me" She moved toward
the old bed, eyeing the prisoners bonds
as she passed him to see that all was right
there, and threw herself upon the rickety
resting place that grOaned and creaked
/ beneath her weight, as she turned away
| from the light Thank God, almost
passed my lips as an audible utterauce
/ For the first time, l ventured to alter my
position. | was so numbed and cramped
that I could hardly stir. Soon the deep
/ breath of the third sleeper was heard
/ The candle had been extinguIshed; the
| fire burned less brightly, yet shed Grim
son glow through the whole apartment
showing me, as [ gazed with less appre-
/ hension round the wooden screen, the