The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-03-13

bolical glancee, over the nead OF tne oid man.
Terror-stricken at this sight Mr.. Mulford could
scarcely restrain groan, whereupon both the
gentlemen assured him, with the most unmis-
taxable firmness, that il he attempted to move
or speak again they would plaster the brains Of
both against the wall. This preliminary cere-
mony having been performed, John Long. who
had been glancing with his lantern around the
room 10 see that & ere were no concealed in
mates In any quarter, advanced and demanded
OF Mr.. Mulford his money. The old man at
tempted at first to deny that he had any, but
admitting, upon being reminded by the press
ing arguments OF the robbers knives aud
pistols tnat be had a small amount, pointed 70
a large oak chest which stood in one corner OF
the apartment out of which Long succeeded in
extracting four hundred dollars. This not beng
satisfactory to the Prairie Wolf, lie ordered
kilgore and Birch to put the old man TO instant
death unless he revealed where the great sum
which they expected was slowed. Upon this
they seized the old man, a. IL they would have
choked him where he lay, but fncing that this
terrorism could extract nothing but protesta-
tions Of poverty, Long and Birch commenced
had the rifle, remained at the bedside az guard.
while the short man, whom the woman recog-
nized as Harris who had come to them for
work two days before went like bloodhound
over every nook and conner. Nothing escaped
his touch or scrutiny, and suspicious in the ex-
treme, be even went the length OF going down
cellar and bringing mp large cakes Of tsllow TO
cut them apart with his bowie knife, a. if he
expected they had been used as the receptacles
CT money. The whole house had az length
been searched except an old bureau which he
had passed to Birch for scrutiny, but which
that gentleman in his excitement had over
looked. Finding upon inquiry from his com
rades that it was not opened, Long soon pryed
its drawers apart with his heavy blade, and TAX
ing out the clean linen with which Il was filed
commenced shaking out every piece 10 see that
no bank-notes we're laid between.
Up TO this moment Mrs. Muford had borne
everything quietly. She had held her peace at
the command Of the robbers when hearty
scream would have done her world of good
she had seen her household ransacked and Its
gods degraded without murmur-nay, she had
even folded her hands and exhibited a praise
worthy resignation to the event, when the sham
order was gwen to put her husband TO death (;
but she could not endure the desecrauon OF her
clothes. AS she saw piece by piece, which had
cost her so much care, shaken rudely from It's
folds and cast soiled and deranged upon the
floor, her temper mounted, till she became 90
incensed che could not restrain from directing
to the robber an angry order TO stop, adding
Mr.. Harris, YOU conduct yourself rather
different from what you did the other day,
when you wished to obtain employment from
u.s."
Z Startled at this detection in despite OF his
disguise, the kneelng robber rose to his feet
with loud oath, and springing 70 the bedside
exclaimed as he waved his bowie knife threat
eningly over her head
"D-n you lie down and cover up your
head. II hear another word out Of YOU while
we are in the house. viii make a stain on the
floor that will last long after you are gone
The old woman obeyed this brutal command
but underneath the clothes she heard the de-
tected villain express his alarm a: the discovery
which had been made, and speak OF the neces
sty that the search should be brought speedily
to close Proceedings were then conducted
: IN rapid manner, and the robbers turned e
leave the house.
The Prairie Wolf. however, fingered behind,
and going up to the bed pulled down the cover
= lid and addressed the trembling husband
"Old man, do you intend to follow u
, 81 don't know, was the answer.
h roaRo you intend to follow Us, : say? re-
u ner '"'iNe N'7 ''i'e ~ al "NHi' Ai"N
. " can't tell" rephe~ T., ,,.,,,.-,
e creased alarm, and scarcely H'oiu' M w -
said; 9 have not thought anything abU,' =, =,
= :, "You must tell" said the desperate robber
- = setting his teeth with resolution. What
: you say | ask you for the last time"
. Il don't know that it would be OF any use L
follow you, was still the evasive answer.
e The eyes of the Praine Wolf flashed wit
= rage, and the black demon of murder was as
: cendng to bis throne in the robbers heart
:, when he recalled the policy Of Fox in regard t
taking life and changed his purpose just as
= was on the point Of consummation.
Listen to me old man.. said he lowerin
2 . the point Of his knife. take my advice and d
= not attempt to search us out. We are too man
!, to be captured, and for the first man who /
arrested we will have the recompense OF bot
your lives. II you attempt to leave the hous
. to follow our track now, you will fall vctin
to your own folly. A man with loaded riff
= will guard the door till daylight, and you wi
:, find nothing but bullet ont Of doors befor
y morning. Good bye; and remember what
y say"
L. With these words, tue Prairie Wolf hurrie
D from the room and disappeared through tn
81 window into the darkness after his comrades
le The small result Of this enterprise, after tn
y, great expectations that had been formed upo
re it, occasioned strong disappointment in tn
g, minds Of the main performers, and Fox, wit
ht a cunning mistrust that was characteristic
as him, was inclined to suspect that Kilgore an
his companions had misrepresented the pros
I'D pect in order to engage the services Of Ions
ell Birch and himself in an inadequate enterprise
ey Long was not inclined to take this extrem
ss view Of the affair, but he was sufficiently Chi
re grined 10 be Indifferent TO enterprises from th
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