The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-10-24


wAnd that dosen't come down until thurs
Idov n;ghtn said Mrs. lIaviland, worrying
again. "Agncs, your fatherts full OF notiohs
The loss of that suit would be more thal
twenty farms in the Sand Ridge"
"'T6e fruitfarm is Il pretty good notion
thou~h." said Agnes, brightly. "Ill tell yo
What think, mamma; it will be better TO e
after him myself-then there will be no mis-
take"
at is twelve miles through the woods,
objected Mrs. llaviland.
SOply three or four miles Of forest, nam
ma; and shall be there before night
"But shall be uneasy about you. Haven
heard something bad about the people u
that way -,
II guess moi, laughed Aggie. "Now, moth
err, don't worry about be! As if ! couldn'
ride up to the farm and back, with papa, Il
! time for the train in the morning"
So it was settled, ana Aggie ran out 10 TN
stables TO have the horses saddlcd, Melissa
Briggs following -,
Whats up, Aggie?" queried the damsel
II am going after father, replied Agnes
"Who's goin' alorg:'
! mo one ,....,
81 wouldn't do it for no,hn' in tins !lYlh
world cried Melissa. "Ihe horsc"Ihlc'cS
IN kclch YOU" ~:
Il guess not" said Agnes, with indi
"Why, Aggie' yon sha'nt do it. They
! killed a pcddler up there once FOR MS money
"Melissa, isn't that what YOU Call "Dogie'
story" p,,. ,.,,.
| boy; "lhc stagedriyer always carries pistols.
"Well, I've got to 30, at any rate, sad she
turning toward the house: land don't either
! Of YOU tell those stori5s to mother Tor any
/ thing" 49,. y.
Mr.. ITViland was engaged in litigation
which might leave him millionaire or the
possessor of only very moderate means. IN
anticipation Of the latter result, he prudentIy
resolved to lay the foundation for another
fortune, bought Western lands and engaged
in various enterprises.
The Sand Ridge region extends over mllcS
and miles of country, consisting OF wooded,
sandy ridges, with intervening marshes ana
occasional openings Game of all sorts was
plentiful, but the sell was thought to be
worthless, and the few inhabitants were be,
leycd to be there for the purpose OF harbor'
ing horscthicves and sharing their profits,
Ia one of these sheltered openings Mr, Ha.
yiland had built cottage, planted acres OF
small fruit and peach orchard, now just
coming into bearing, placing all under the
charge of a trusty man in his employ.
His Western interest demanded long and
frequent absences from home, and, having
fallen in love with Western life, he had, with.
in the last year, built pretty house, ana
brought his family to Waneta.
Had Agnes IIayiand understood the char,
acter of part of her route, she would have
looked long Tor Il messenger before she would
have undertaken the ride; but she gave very
little thought to the hOrse-thlct stories, hur
rcd on her trim riding habit of navy. blue,
perched her little plumed cap over the teath,
cry brown curls with their CLINT OF gold, and
gathered up her long skirt to hasten down
stairs, but, on second thought, turned back
and took from drawer little top ola pock
et.pistol with which she sometimes amused
herself in firing at mark.
In few moments she was canterlng down
the carrlage.way on her spirited iron-gray,
leading her fathers glossy chestnut by the
bride, Melissa Briggs protesting to the last
"IIayc YOU stole II boss? Coin to run him
off into 1njianny?" The speaker was old
Capt, Billings, and Aggie dashed on laugh.
ing.
For n time the ride was delightful. Over
smooth roads, past cultivated farms, the
horses dashed on abreast, seeming to grow
across the green country in the golden autumn
air.
But now the dwellings were less anC less
frequent, and by the time she reached the
bells of timber, she confessed to herself a
feeling of nervousness. The sun was getting
low, and the forest road looked lonely. She
had travcrsed about two miles of woods when
the horses sprang aside, startled by the sud
den appearance OF two men, muddyhnd rough
looking with guns.
Aggies heart gave great leap, and, thor
oughly frightened, she urged the horses on at
q flying pace; but the men only lifted their
hats, one of them with easy grace, the other
boying with all Frenchmans eifussion.
"Only hunters" thought Agnes, ashamed
of her cowardic2.
"By Jove! Fernando who would have
expected such a vision as that in this wilder
ness? She must be bound for the plantation
we came upon this morning"
mo doubt, man dmt.'
Those were DEMONSTRATING scoundrels We
saw stealing through the timber while ago.
Suppose we strike across here and see that
she passes the creek safely?"
wiz all my heart" responded monsieur.
Coming soon to the little stream, Agnes
stopped TO let the horses drink. 1t was a
pretty DldCtt lllC SIldllON NdlCl tlthi
limpid, the banks covered with close under
growth of bushes, blaze of cardinal flowers
in the marshy islcts.
Tired by rapid riding, she rested Il few min
utes, leaning over to watch the tiny fish dart
lng here and there, quite unconscious of the
Unlocking figure lurking behind large tree
near v, and hidden by the bushes.
liant you stole n boss, MISS" Aggic
started, almost expecting to see Capt Billings,
but bcholding most Misunderstanding indi-
vidual instead. Looks powerful like IT." he
continued, passing his arm through the ches
nuts bridle.rcin and grasping the other
You are mistaken, sir" said Agnes, quiet
IT, 81 am ON my way TO my fathers farm"
Can't believe you, my beauty. Reckon
I'll have to set you down yer and take the
hOSscsn
You will 40 no such thingm cricdAgneS,
reused and fearless now, in the face OF real
danger Let go my bride, or fire an you"
drawing her little revolver
Law" said the man, with grin, conf