The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-01-16
WHOLE NO 9S1.

q bludgeon, ana rined his BODY on the nigh
road, and each, taking one OF their victims
horses, had separated on the spot, to rendez-
vous at Hingham's, preparatory to a journey
north, to perform an enterprise near Rockford,
ILLINOIS, which had been suggested to them
some time previous, by a confederate in that
quarter. Previous to the robbery Of the dro-
yer. the trio had been prospecting in Ohio and
Tennessee for some three months, having been
driven from their regular northern quarters in
Illinois, by robbery Of horses near the Ind
ana line The owners OF the animals had
tracked the thieves towards their rendezvous,
and they found IT TO be good policy to leave
their neighborhood, until such unpleasant wit
nesses shonld retire. Their scouts, and par
ticularly their agent, Shack. the bro' y ln-sw
of John Long, had acquainted them oy infor-
nation sent to Cairo, that the coast was clear,
and they we're on a crcutous return, when
they fell in with the drover near Alton Illinois.
After that affair. Birch had taken route TO
Grafton by the western shore OF the Missis-
sippi, Fox returned in the direction OF Alton,
and followed the east bank, while Long, With
view of calling On one of his agents by the
way. struck INTO the interior, ahead OF the
drover's intended route, designing 70 make 20
the rear OF Grafton. and reach 1t as we have
seen hIm IN the beginning OF this chapter.
In all this concerted movement, ore rule was
rigidly adhered to they travelled only at night
while IN the day time. they laid in thickets,
awaiting the return of gloom to move forward
unobserved. In this way they kept them
selves entirely from observation, and all hope
of tracing their direction was rs absolutely
lost, as If they had ascended in the AR. This
course required great self-denia and endur-
ance, but men who devote themselves TO peril,
are equal to such sacrifices. and like misslona-
ries in better cause. lose sight OF Their prva-
tons in contemplation OF their slms 1t was
invariable with IL ese robbers 10 pursue this
plan, aud thus they moved forward all their
, concerted enterprises like an epidemic in the
air, only to betray their presence, oy the IN
seen blow they visited upon their victims. As
this course of travel was necessarily a slow
one it was deputed to Fox to apprise man,
near Alton OF their movements, anu advance
direct TO Grafton, and notify bingham that the
party were on their way to his quartz This
news bad been received two days before the
arrival Of Long. Fox had arrived the next
nigh, Lut retired 10 the residence o. another
OF the oand, named Hunt, fifteen miles to the
north, on hearing OF the murder Of the ped
lar; and Birch had sent word from the oppo-
site side of the Mississippi that he would ar
rive few hours after Long. The precautions,
therefore, which were taken by Long, on ap-
preaching Hinghams cabin will be understood.
There was bat little sad between the r0bber
and the host during supper. The Ieeu air of
the prairies seemed to have given tue former
the stomach of wolf. while the manner IN
which he twitched his shoulders and shrugged
himself within his coat. whenever be sat down
the jug of spirits that fanked the nam and
bread, showed that the chill OF the damp siesta
had not entirely left his bones At length
when he had finished, and leaned ba.l. 10 his
chair to enjoy short pipe which lie lad taken
| from his pocket, the keeper OF the hut ventur-
ed to probe him With professional inquiry
How do the boys get along IN Tennessee,
Captain John?
But poorly. Since the burning OF Whites
| farm, there has not been good sight raised
in the state. The boys seem to be under COW,
from the fate of Big Dan and the Snaws.
Well, 1 can't blame them for benz Shy. A
throat full OF rope for breakfast is pretty Sc
rious admoniton. ! suppose they have lately
worked along into Kentucky?
Some of them; though Stmson and the
Kenneys have been stamping 1t through the
Choctaw purchase. But they have done moth
ing 10 speak Of.
Fox tells me that your stamp nas been
pretty good one tins round
Tolerable.
lie didn't say how much YOU took the drover
for?
Seven hundred dollars-that was ali.
prettp far strike, nevertheless. low did
you leave him.
Very well content. The probability is that
he will never enquire after us, or complain
that we have been unjust to him.
All, Captain John, it takes you to give satis-
faction to all your professional customers. an
swered bingham with grin at BILE atrocous
wittcism But the northern business that you
are moving upon now-what is that
Well, Uncle Peter, las il won't bear telling al
this stage, replied Long, looking st him signi-
ficantly, we will let it go by until better op-
portunity. And now, as ! am eth stiff and
weary with the cold and want OF rest. III take
nap OF two or three hours, until Birch ar
rives. Saying this the robber took a lamp in
one hand and the jug in the other, and went
upstairs, in the style Of man vino considered
himself master OF the premises.
CONTINUED.