Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-04-21

thin surface soil into the white, fet~lock
deep sand underneath. 1t was dreary
| ride enough. Broom kept his horse at {
steady pace, urging him now and Their {
little faster. Nell would be looking fol-
him now, and eighteen miles with a tirec
horse between them yet. Four miles o.
the same monotonous waste; then, tal
away across the level, be caught sight oi
the buildings of Camarack Station on the
line Of the railway. He heard the whis
| tie of ira coming west, and presently
saw it rob in asd stop. It moved off
kissing and changing, just as he came up
Crossing the track, he was hailed by .
man he knew.
Hello, Broom! hold on" He stop.
/ ped and the man came out.
sLook here, Broom" be said. "Half
an hour ago l got this telegram. What
the deuce does it mean ?" It was dated
"Halfpast six, Brammerley," ten miles
west on the line 1t was addressed to
Henry Tarlow, and read thus
"Prentiss Broom will pass through c.
about seven. Tell him this: Don't go
beyond Bron,e's tonight. 1t was sign
ed-"A Friend"
II don't know what it means. Good
night Tarlow, I've got fourteen miles be-
fore me-" He rode on, keeping Driver
well up to his work. 1t was five miles to
Squire Brame's tavern five miles of the
same dreary waste around, and the same
clogging sand under foot. The road bent
more to the west now; it was fast grow
ing dark.
Two miles short of Brame's he caught
sight of wagon also going north. He
pushed the brown ahead to overt4ke it,
and, coming up, recognized the sturdy
person and gray hair of the stout old
Squire himself. The Squire was a fast
friend of Prent's, and he was glad enough
to see him jogging home.
"Hold up, Squire" he called,
whats your hurry?"
"Whoa Bill, ;" answered the Squire, in
his hearty voice. "What, now, if it amt
Prent Broom
"Give s a ride. Squire. been in the
saddle all day" He dropped off Driver,
and got in with the Squire
II want some advice Squire" he said
Look here-or hold on you can't see
it now, but I'll tell you what's int" He
read and explained the Message.
''Dop't go beyond Brame's tonight"
the Squire repeated. "Well, that's good
advice anyway, Prent. How much have
you got on you p
nineteen thousand dollars and odd "
"Whew !" the old man whistled.
"You better take A Friends advice.
Don't go beyond Brame's to night.
Your horse is tired too. Look how he
hangs back
"But I've got to go home. NelPs all
alone
"Then you better leave the money with
me-"
''No, no, Squire, I amt going to get
you into any trouble like that. And, be-
side, I'm going to town with it in the
morning. I won't lose sight of it any,
way"
"Well, Prent, if you won't do that, I'll
tell you what, Put up Driver at my
house. I'll put your saddle on to my
roam mare, Skylark, and she'll take you
that nine miles in forty-fve minutes easy
Slip that package under the seat here.
You get on to Driver, and ride in slow
I'll cut round by Big Pines, and come in
on the other road. I'll stow the money
under the saddle for you it'll be safer
there. Come, tumble out. Whoa, Bill. !"
Good, Squire, I'll do it, and thank
full. I'm blest if you amt the cleyerest
old trump that's going"
'Oh, sof' soaps cheap, Prent. None
O that sort
He whipped up his horse, and skurri-
ed away through the sand Prent came
amoug the hills now; the land was much
better; the sand and scrub pines and oaks
dropped behind. There were cultivated
fields on either hand, here and there a
house. He came to the Big Pines cross
road, and could dimly see Bills fresh
tracks turning off to the left. He held
straight on mile, over the Madon II ills,
and SO down to where road ends at the
broad middle pike Then west half
mile to the little hamlet of Fillmore, with
Brames tavern in the centre. AS he
rode up to the door, old Brame came out
of the courtyard at the left. He came up
Glow do Prent % he called, in his
loud, cherry voice. "Glad to see ye.
Where y bound now. Been rather Civ
in it to Driver, amt ye? Have him
rubbed down and eat some oats fore y
go on"
There were several idlers hanging
about. Broom took his cue. He said
nothing about the roam mare.
"Well, Squire. guess [ will come in a
bit, he said. The tostler took away
Driver to the staole. They went n.
Come inside and have bite" says
the Squire. And Prent followed him
through the bar i nto an inner room.
"Prent," said the Squire, Il don't like
the looks of things at all. There's been
stranger here tonight in buggy. He
was dressed in the best; had beaver. on
and lego mutton whiskers, and long
hair. Looks amazin' like swell parson
only parsons don't gin'ally sit in hote
parlors, and smoke cigars with their Leg
on to the table, and drink no end o
brandy hot and hot. He went off jus