The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-10-27
Se1ett Stnrp.
Speedy Retribution.
BY JUDGE CLARK.

,.... By JUDGE CLARK. H...
In the fall of 1S47, had occasion
to travel on horseback through what
was then the far West.
The purpose of my journey required
the carrying of a larger amount OF
money than | felt quite easy at hav
ing about me in that wild and lonely
region. II. <..
Late one afternoon I stopped at 8
cabin on the road, where something
unusual seemed to be going on Il
didn't look like religious, and bore
none of the marks of a political meet
ing while the absence of firearms
proved it was no shooting-match. But
wasn't long kept in suspense.
"Pve jest received bar'l of whis-
ky, stranger the landlord smillingly
explained. "The fust ever brung here
for white consumption. Hev nip-Y
Howsever," he added, quickly inter
preting my look, "you needn't of you
don't want to, specially as there isn't
,more'n enough to supply the home
market, let alone a furrin demand" p"
And with that he turned aside to wait
ON customer. who, after "sampling'
the 'stuff," declared, with look of
approval, that ''tiat was what he call
ed about the substitute for milk, in u
family too poor to keep cow"
1t is quite probable I used less eau
ton in exposing the contents Of my
pocket-book when paid my reckon
ing, than I would have done, had I
sooner noticed young man with an
exceedingly furtive and sinister look,
who sat apart from the others, and was
evidently closely observant of my ev-
erv movement Still, that may have
only been has way of manifesting the
curiosity which seemed to be native
there The circumstance arrested my
attention but for a moment, and had
wholly passed from my mind before
mounting my horse to resume my
journey. ~
1 had gone about half the distance
to the house at which / purposed to
pass the night, and darkness was al
ready setting in. when 1 heard the
sound of hoofs .lpse behind me. Turn
ing about 1 saw horseman, in whom
recognized by the twilight, the
youth whose countenance and manner
had SO unfavorably impressed me at
my last stopping pace. He advan-
ced promptly to my side, and after the
usual '.Good-evening" had been ex-
changed, a conversation was gradual
ly fallen into, the strangers part
wherein did much to modify the bad
opinion which, 1 began to think, I had
too hastily formed OF his character.
His language, though not that of an
educated person, was much superior to
his class, while his remarks betokened
more than ordinary sagacity. My
growing esteem was, perhaps, heigh-
tened by the fact that his looks, on
which 1 had merely prejudged him,
were by this time concealed in the
the darkness.
My companions horse, apparently
fatigued by his recent exertion, from
time to time fell little in the rear,
despite his riders exertions with the
heavy whip he carried, to urge him
forward. .a -.. .e. .sa,-.....
Ii I were put on oath at this moment,
I could not tell, save by inferrenc e,
how it happened, but it was during
one of these temporary laggings behind
that sharp, instaneous pain seemed
to shoot through my head; then came
a feeling of numbness, and then OBJ
livion. 70. h.-.. ..s.rr.-. 4.t 9, ..es
How long I remained, in the condi-
ton, it it is, of course, impossible to
tell. When consciousness returned, I
found myself. lying by the side of the,
road, chilled and shivering. stripped
of my outer-clothing, and experien-
cling dull pain in the back of the
head. My money had disappeared
with my clothes. My horse, too, was
gone. But near me, on the ground,
lay the garments for which my own
had been hastily exchanged. Putting
them on as I best could, 1 stood deba-
ting with myself whether going back
or forward would sooner bring me to
some human habitation, when my own
horse, saddle, and portmateau all un-
gallopped up, aud sudden
ly stopping, rubbed his nose against
me, uttering sounds which seemed al
most words Of recognition. He was
in a tremorfef excitement, having 'evi-
IDENTIFY undergone some recent terrible
fright. '4 Q" i-u''i ''hi" i..f+'s7 '''s
Just then one of the customers, as
I afterwards discovered him to be, of
the jolly landlord whose hospitality I
had SO lately shared, came riding by.
He proved genuine backwoods Sa-
maritan; for, when 1 hailed him, in
stead of passing on the other side, he
came to my assistance, examined and
bound up my wound, which was
found to be an ugly cut on the back
of the head, and would, doubtless,
have carried out the parallel by .:pour-
ing in oil and wine" "had he them, butin
default thereof, presented me his can
teen filled with the landlords recent
importation, recommending me to take
a good 'tswig Of it inwardIy,"' which
advice I followed. --.-,g -, -s,..
l had not yet remounted when a
sound was heard as of horse coming
at full speed in direction opposite to
that in which I had been travelling.
My new companion hastily drew me
me aside among the bushes, and in an
other moment man gallopped up
and suddenly stopping, attempted to
seize my horse by the rein, but the
poor animal sprang frightened away,
and the next instant the strangers
bride was in the grip of my friend.
fIh"Now, what in the Harry are you
'1up to. Bill Sharkey ~ was his greeting
to the newcomer. 27H q -