South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1870-08-12
The Hunters Crime.

follow the light touches Of frost a mount
ed traveller was quietly pursuing his way
through dark, broad, lovely forest in the
western part of the State of New York.
lie had ridden three mile since seeing n
single habitation, and had yet two miles
to go before he could get sight of another.
lie was descending hill into gloomy val.
/ ley, through which flowed shallow but
swift running stream, aud on reaching the
water be permitted bis thirsty beast TO drink
At that moment man slapped o.. frerx
a cluster of bushes into road or horse
path, on the other side of the stream. This
man was dressed like hunter and carried
his rifle on his shoulder. Ia his general ap.
pcarance there was nothiny to Indicate hos
tility or wicked design. fIo was of medi-
um size, compac,ly ba;lt, with intelligent
features and a Certain air of gentility-
seeming as one abroad from some settlement
for days sport, more than professional
hunter.
All this the mounted traveller carefully
noticed before he crossed the stream to con
tiuue his journey, aud when they came to-
| gether pleasant salutations were exchanged
Fine weather for travelling, SIR re-
marked the man with the gun.
! And for hunting, also, suppose smil-
cd the man on the horse.
! yes, there is game enough returned the
/ other, but I'm not good hunter, and can
/ only show one bear for my days work thus
far and that is almost useless TO me, have
+ no means Of taking it away. | would will
/ lngly give a dollar for the use of a horse
like yours for couple of hours If you
can spare FIVE minutes or so | would like
/ you to sec tue bear it is just beyond these
/ bushes some two or three hundred yards
/ from here
Il viii not only look at it, said the tray
eilcr, dismOunting and fastening the horse,
but ii not too heavy | will take it along
f1r you, as am going the same way
The hunter thanked him in a most cor
dill manner, and then, as if to make him
sell agreeable and keep up conversation,
inquired where the other was from, and
whittier Journeying aud so forth; and learned
IN reply that the latter resided in Albany,
was merchant in good business, and was
travelling partly for his health and partly
with view Of making an extensive pur-
chase OF land.
We'll, here We are exclaimed the hun
ter, and the two emerged from a dense
thicket through which they had slowly
forced their way into an open road 'here
VIC ar, and Ill show YOU as Gne and as fat
beast .s you ever saw. Observe where
point my rifle
lie stepped back eight or ten feet, DELHI
eratc'y raised his gun to his eye and point
81 the muzzle mt the head of the traveller
There was a flash, loud report, and the
victim fell like a log, his face covered with
blood
This might or might not have been the
hrst crime committed by The man with the
rli', bu! rs the traveller fell the rife slip
ped from his hand, and he shook violently
from :hcad to foot yet he ran to bis
victim and hurriodly robbed him Of his
pocket hook, gold watch and chain, some
curious seals and diamond ring which he
fairly tore from his finger Then he drag
ged the body into the thicket, plunged
mld'y through the bushes into the road ,
mounted the travellers horse and dashed
away from the awful scene.
We must Row suppose lapse Of twenty
years.
10 the spring Of 1887, there lived in the
city OF New \ Olk banker and million
are, whom we shall call Stephen Edwards
lie owned palatial mansion, splendidly
iurnished, in the very heart of town, and
ana he and his wife we're among the leaders
OF the fashionable world They had n
I daughter just turned out Of sweet sixteen,
who was about to be married to a foreign
nv"lomrr, and great preparations we're be-
ing made for TIE happy event.
b ftro 4. 4 -. .-..-l
/ banker stood couyersiog with gentleman
ii'm another city, who had called to sec
MA ou business, he observed that The latter
turned deadly pale and began to trcmblo.
Wy dear SIR, said he, IN his usual tone
% 10 handed sympathy, what is the mat
. ttrI arc you illT
- little faint, sir, but nothing TO cause
any alarm, replied thc other, burricdly.-
am subject 60 spells. " you will be
-ll- ensIgd o. excuse rae for ten minutes
nr s', Z will take a short walk and Tcturn
bgGcr'
In ieu minute ha AID return, said be
woe quite well, proceeded 60 finish
on-lun-- wifhila scl, and then respect
iI'.y took Dis lcayo.
10 was perhaps a week after this that one
uI.i 'he banker was sitting By the Ere 10
ihc library, whom tho servant came in aud
prescntfd him with a letter lie took il
win a yawn, took it ia the most indolcnt
and indifferent manner possible but be had
not read dozen words before he came up
win start, turned deadly pale and trom-
Pied 20 % ihas tic paper ratified lie read
zoe note for 10 was rather note than a
.cLi-I. worried ono hind nnrNnn.lv an Lie