The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-03-27
THE BR|GAND NDS OF THE WEST,
OR
JOHN LONG,
The Wolf of the Prairies.

lprlsoners on motion Of their counsel changed
the venue to another county and this new de-
llay released John Long from the responsible
duties Of main witness which he had assumed
Iby the consent of the conscientious counsel fol
the defence and postponed the case for an
other three months more. We should rather
say il was postponed to that time, nominally
for the sheriff Of the new district had good
understanding with the clan, and IN the fourth
week Of the residence Of the prisoners under
his charge they found an opportunity to break
Jail and seek another region for their respira-
ton. The Sheriff, OF course. Was in great con-
cern at the escape, and offered reward OF
three hundred dollar, on his own hook, and
broke the backs OF i've or six horses, on the
score Of the county, to recapture them. Good
man; his efforts were in vain, and he was
obliged to sit down in the end and wipe the
tears out Of his eyes, at the expiration OF a
week, with the strong expression that no graft
tude was 10 be expected from prisoners, though
you treat them ever go well.
Taking advantage Of an interval thus afforded
to him, previous TO the arrival Of his two asso-
GATES, the Prairie Wolf, under throe Of ilial
tenderness. crossed dutifully over 10 Galena
and paid visit 20 his father, the veteran Owen
Long, who resided IN the neighDorhood. He
was received with due affection, aud after the
ordinary ceremonies OF welcome were over and
the information that biz older brother, Aaron,
was absent a. Nsuvoo had been returned TO
his first question, sire and son squared them
selves on the opposite side OF a small pine
table, with bottle between them, TO talk up
the proceedings Of the last foar months. l;
was rare spectacle 10 behold that telon father
and that bloody son sit there and serenely cam
vass toe deeds oY violence and rapine which
occupied them since their separation.
Owen Long was little more than middle
height, strong, compact and inclined 10 be
burly. His hair was gray and bushy and be
wore grizzled beard which, besides his hard
and stone like face, seemed like an iron fringe
His eyes OF the same color, helped the illusion
that be was casting OF chilled iron, and had
he not now and then reached for the bottle and
nodded approval 10 points OF his sons discourse,
he might have passed minutes at length a. a
specimen pattern of al old bucaneer or SNUG
gler from foundry, 10 be set up as an orna-
mental figure at some gentlemans 5 gateway
The son Aaron, who was absent, resembled
him somewhat in his coarse features, but he
was taller by two inches than the father, and
by four than John Despite o. this advantage,
however, he was inferior TO both in intellect, as
his stupid look betrayed, and was never en-
trusted by either with more than subordinate
branches OF any business in which they were
engrossed. II was the habit Of Aaron to reside
principally with the old man, and assist him IN
conducting the affairs Of his station. His jour
ney 70 Nauvoo, at the time, was 10 enter into
an arrangement with the brothers Hodges for
the proceeds Of their depredatons, in the way
Of goods and clothes, for the coming winter ;
and from there It was bis mission TO proceed 10
owen county, Indiana, the station OF his aunt
The widow Long, and his cousins Hiram and a
name sake, Aaron, 10 establish q system OF ex
changes for such goods as might be more profit
ably removed TO opposite meridians and also
70 leave word for Johuland Fox TO visit Galena
IN case they should be coming north.
" Tbat concern, however, Is now over said
the old man. '' seem as how you have come
along OF yourself, but, added he after pause,
. ia rather you should have come that way,
for want to know how matters stand in Owen
county, between you and me, in relation to that
affair on which We broke jail two years ago. and
were driven to Arkansas
'' on may set your mind at rest on that
point said the Wolf, 4" Hiram, when at Wash
ington Grove fortnight slnce. mentioned to
Bridge. who keeps that station, that 10 later
than the previous month Sheriff Bennett and
the tavern keeper at Marshall, who suspects
me to be the fellow who once cracked him on
the head in compliment to his pocket book,
made a eudden descent on the owen county
station, expecting to find you and there, and
actually stripped the beu covering down from
the old woman before they would go away sat
isfed that we were not concealed under her
small clothes"
Upon this the old man made husky, noise
in his throat that might have been intended
for laugh, though his features showed no
sympathy with such purpose, and. remarking
that he rather guessed they got pretty good
damning from the old woman for their pans,
showed the bottle over to his son.
"Now Jack" said he after civilities had been
exchanged by draining their glasses to the bot
tom. " Now, Jack, don't want you to neglect
the Dixon land Office affair that was spoken of
before you started south. Large sales of pub
lie land have been made lately, and it Is all de-
posted in the hands Of the government Re-
ceiver al that place. ! should say there may be
thirty or forty thousand dollars there in the
whole
" Yes, probably double that amount" SAID
the Wolf, lighting pipe.
Like enough said toe old man. Well,
rs ! was sayin', the whole OF this entire God
blessed sum remains in the hands of the Re-
ceiyer. But that's not the pint. People yously
careful about such sum Of money as that ar
to have il guarded very strong or watched very
close on the spot where it's regularly deposited.
so far so good. but its got to go to government
some time, and its got to go by Frink q Walk
ers stage as far as Rockford. And there's
where we catch 'em, concluded the old man.
actually undoing his masculine countenance
sufficiently to wink at his hopeful son. by way
OF expressing his enthusiastic confidence IN the
scheme. But no smile accompanied the wink.