Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-09-18
EATON, OHIO, THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 49, 1873

and returning somewhat calmed, pro-
ceeded. He remained standing, how
ever, and at different stages of his story,
he became very active in awkward ges-
ticulations which were intended to give
color to the weird picture. It was ev1-
dent that my loquacious acquaintance
had been led into the affair by the in
sinuating Bill Gleason, and while at
heart being an honest fellow, there
also existed in his compo-
sition too much of venality, and
too little of Independence of character.
He had blundered into bad company,
and I wondered how he would attempt
to excuse himself. When at the rem
devious,
HE EvNCED A PROPER SPIRIT,
but he did not possess sufficient strength
of will to turn back when not too late,
and thus wash his hands of the bust
ness. Those were wild times, and many
a brave heart was driven into the
perpetration of similar misdeeds.
eyes, you bet was white about the
gills," resumed the entertaining Dick
man, "when I seed the preparations
goin' on for the fight. I had no time
to get much skeered tho, for very soon
arter I got my eye on the Yanks, seed
the rebs a-comin up behind. backed
out of those diggin's as lively as my
hands and knees would carry me, and
gittin' in the orchard, I creeped away to
a safe pint of observation. Just then I
tho't of my hoss and companions, who
was waitin' on me back in the woods
but how in the dooce was I to git
back
He accompanied this conundrum with
a peculiar flourish of his right arm,
sudden forward tilt of his head, and an
inquiring 1eer out of his left eye, which
were all forcibly directed toward me
but not waiting for ansobservation from
his listener, he whisked off with his
story, the gestures becoming thicker
than ever.
I checked his gymnastic exercises by
introducing a remark. $50, then, you
discovered yourself surrounded, did
you? Rather lucky circumstance, I
should think
" That's it, that's it." He impetu-
ously repeated. "That's what wanted
to tell you but you wouldn't give me
show. That's just the way got out of
bushwhakin', bein' surrounded so I
couldn't git back to my crowd. The
rebs come runnin' on, and yellin' and
shootin' like mad, and when the Yanks
seed 'em they went to FIRM back. The
way the lead whistled around old Todd's
log stable about that time was leetle
disquietin' to me.
''THE YANKs' BEIN' CAUGHT NAPPN"
was obleeged to skin out, or git laid
out. The muss didn't last more'n
mint, when all was over. The Yanks
got partin' volley as they disappeared
rebs went off South. And" resuming
his chair, "now comes the most excitin'
part of what I've got to tell you"
Here it might be proper for me to
describe the house and farm, in the vi
cinity of which we leave friend Dick
man for the present. The house is
built upon beautiful rise of land,
around the northern and western side of
which there runs belt of heavy tim
Der, and in which were concealed the
party of bushwhackers. Eastward
broad expanse of beautiful prairie meets
the eye, while the landscape to the south
is fringed with long line of forest
trees, whose moving foliage blends most
harmoniously with the rich coloring of
the great picture. The long, narrow,
oddly constructed house, with two great
stone chimneys at either end, which
seemed to frown down upon the humble
roof beneath, appears to have grown
runs through the center of the house,
on both sides of which are thick oaken
doors opening into capacious, low-brow-
ed rooms. The same want of taste is
here exhibited as to the construction
and arrangement of everything, as in
the house of our bushwhacking friend,
who still remains anxious to proceed
with the "most excitin' part" of his
story.
eye see," he continued, "while the
rebs was eatin' their grub, ventured
to crawl up and git behind log cabin
near the house, and from which lookout
seed everything that was goin' on.
The rebs hadn't been gone more'n
twenty minits when I heerd my lads
a-tearin' up the lane to the house.
'sBILL WAS AHEAD OF 'EM,
and he rid right up to the front door,
kicked it, and yelled to the folks inside
to open, or he'd burst the door higher
than kite. It just happened that old
man Todd was away, and they had ev-
erything their own way. The lady was
sick a-bed, and she sent some one to the
door to Parn what was wanted. The
door bein' opened, Bill driv right in,
and I heerd his hoss a-jumpin' and
stampin' around inside in manner not
calkilated to quiet the narves of sick
woman. he told Din ne was 4anKee
captain, and declared eff money warn
handed over he'd string 'em up without
further notice. The hull party hitched
their horses and went inside. I was
fastening to git nearer, when out come
Bill and four or five of his fellars with
young Gus Todd, the old mans young
est. 1 lodged back as they passed, and
soon after followed 'em down back OF
the barn, where they put rope round
the lads neck, threw it over the limb OF
tree, and told him eff he didn't let 'em
know where his dads money was he
would have to die. That young chap
never squealed through the whole thing,
and I am sure they strung him up foul
or five times, and then left him fol
dead. Gettin' back to the house afore
'em, I discovered one of them black
hearted scoundrels in the room with the
sick woman. He had a shovelful o.
live Goals, and was a-standin' over hel
bed threatenin' to throw 'em onto he1
eff she didn't tell him where the none,
was. Securin' place safe from bein
seen I paid purity close attention. M.
blood begin to bile, and could hardl..
hold myself from shootin' the villil
on the spot. But I gloried in the olt
gals spunk, for she declared they want
| in thn Shn hoe told m,