The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-10-11
THE OUTLAWS DEFEAT.
BY E. L. vEsNE.


Late in the afternoon of n gloomy
day / was slowly making NY way along
q heavy country road, / had not left
my saddle for the last ten hours, and. .-as
may be expected, both myself and my
horse were worn and jaded. All day
long had been eagerly looking forward
for wayside inn had been told that l
would find at point not far from equi-
distant between the two places; but the
day was fast wearing to close. and still
no signs of the promised haven. ! be-
gan to fear that I should not reach the
promised haven that day, for already the
shades of night began to deepen, and the
black murSy clouds that rolled up from
the eastward proclaimed that storm
was gathering behind me.
Just as had left one Of the narrow
patches of clearing that now and then
appeared along the route, and was enter
ing the belt or forest that circled it, l
spied solitary horseman riding leisure
ly along some forty yards in advance of
me. At first this struck me as some
what singular, but afterward, coming to
the conclusion that he might be trav-
eler like myself, and pleased at the
thought of companion, ] touched my
horses flank lightly with my whip, and
started on in pursuit
Hearing the clatter Of hoofs on the
road, the .horseman drew in his steed
and waited my approach. II seemed that
he had only just observed my appear
ance; for as l reined in my horse up be-
side him, he eyed me narrowly before
speaking. I did not like his looks, and
the moment my eye rested on him
something seemed to warn mo to keep a
watch on. him. He was a tall, hrawny
fellow, clad in a complete suit Of dark
colored material. On his head he wore
a low slouched hat which he kept pulled
down close over his brow so that but a
narrow strip of white could be seen be-
tween the eyes and hat,the former which,
even in the uncertain twilight, flashed
brilliantly from their covering. II took
but single glance to show me this and
something more Under the waistcoat
that sat tight to his person / could plain
ly trace the forms of two revolvers. Al
most involuntarily my hand sought my
pistol-belt; but before my hand could
reach it, the stranger spoke: S
'sWell, stranger, this is lonely road.
"Yes; it is a lonesome road, and one
which I hope never to have the misfof-
tune to be upon again. ;"
aYou have said my own thoughts.
stranger; but most probably you never
will Be travelling this particular road
again" And then there was a peculiar
significance in the strangers tones as he
added: mo, it is not at all likely that
you ever sciu be on this road again; it's
a good deal more likely you'll be peg
gin along the road to kingdom come
than that you'll ever come back here
again.
What did the fellow mean preten-
ded not to notice this polite threat, for
what else can call it? and said:
dis there an inn not far from here,
where l can put up tonight? | see
there is storm gathering, and must be
looking for some shelter"
eThere's an inn about two miles
ahead, the s.Old Oak tavern, where I
think you might stop; but to reaehit
you must take the road leading to the
right. You must know there is fork
in the road not far beyond"
/ thanked him for his information and,
whipping my horse, sped, out into the
darkness. The stranger shouted
ssBe sure to take the right hand road
at the turn. ''
/ made up my mind not to take the
right hand road, but to keep straight
ahead. / was almost certain that my in
formant was trying to deceive me, and |
determined that / would foil him in his
designs, which had no doubt were evil.
I did not take the right hand road, but
kept straight on. Though confess I
had some misgivings asto the propriety
of this movement at the time, = / was
soon convinced that Il had taken the
right course, for soon discovered, not
more than one hundred yards ahead of
me, bright light glimmering out of the
darkness, a light which I at once mis-
took for the "Oid Oak'ptayern.
Cheered by this almost unexpected
occurrence l again touched the whip to
my horse and bounded forward. had
proceeded for perhaps half the distance
toward the point where, ! supposed the
inn to, be. when suddenly the. light DIS.
appeared entirely from my sight. Here
was;a new and certainly unlocked for
Circumstance, Could it be that ! had
been following one Of those vague, un-
certain lights had so often heard of but
never encountered? !? Il seemed not at
all unlikely. kept steadily on, howey-
er, though my hopes were sadly abated,
/ will admit, when suddenly the light
flashed out again at about the same dis
tance in advance as before. The sight
revived my dropping spirits, and | rode
forward as fast as my, horses speed
would admit. tsk
As rode along / became conscious
that the road / had been pursuing was
gradually Narrowing; in fact it was now
but a smooth bridle-path, over which the
trees and nnderbrush grew so closely
that il was necessary for me to stoop in