The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-01-29

AT length the time came fOr making
the final payment on tie home which
[ had bought. 1t would henctforward
be my OWN; and, in a few more
months, my simple dwelling, which
I had spared no pains to render
inviting, would b. graced by its mis-
tress.
AT the iand-ofica, which was some
sixty miles off, [ met my old friend,
George c.. He, too, had come to
seek his fortune in the West ; and We
were both delighted at the meeting.
He had brought with him, lie said, a
sum Of money which he desired 70 III
vest in land, on which it was bis pur-
pose to settle. I expressed Il strong
wish to have him for q neighbor, ana
/ gave hiG a cordial invitation to accom-
pany NE home, giving it as my belief
that he could nowhere make a better
selection than in that vicinity. He
readily consented, and we set out to-
gether. We had not ridden many miles,
when George suddenly recollected a
commission he had undertaken for a
friend, which would require his attend
ance at a public land sale on the follow
ing day. Exacting Il promise that he
would not delay his visit longer than
necessary, and having given minute
directions as to the route, [ contin-
ned my way homeward, while he turned
back.
81 was about retiring 70 bed on the
night Of my return, when Il summons
from without called ne 10 The door. y
stranger asked shelter for himself and
his horse for the night. / invited him
in. Though Il stranger. his face seemed
not unfamiliar. He was probably one
of the men L Ead seen 1t t2e innd-
rfice-a place, at that time much fire.
quented. Offering him = scat, L went
to see to lis horse. The poor animal,
as well as 1 could see by Tie dim star
light, seemed to have been hardly used.
His painting sides bore witness of mer-
ciless riding; and a tremulous shrink
ing, at the slightest touch, betokened
recent fright. On rc-enterlpg the house,
[ found the stranger Vas not there.
His absence excited 40 surprise he
would doubtless soon return. 1t
was a little singular, however, that he
should have Left his watch lying on The
table.
SAT the enc of half an hour, my
guest not returning, l went again to the
stable, thinking he might have found
his way thither to give personal atten-
ton to tie wants Of lis horse. Before
going out, from mere force of habit
for we were as yet uEiDfested by either
thieves or poiicemen-I took the pre-
caution of putting the strangers watch
in a drawer in which + kept my own
valuables. found the horse as | had
left him, and gave linn the food which
be was now sufficiently cooled to he al
lowed to eat !; but his master was no.
where to be seen. As [ approached the
house, a crowd Of men on horseback
dashed up, and | was commanded, in
no gentle tones, to STAND !! In
another moment I was in the clutches
of those who claimed NE as their 'pris-
oner.'
81 was too m Uch stupefed at 6rot to
ask what it all meant. l did SO at last,
and the explanation came-it was ter
rible. Ny friend, with whom I had so
lately set out in company, had beenfound
murdered and robbed near the spot at
which I, but l alone, knew we had sep
arated. 1 was the last person known to
be with him, and I was now arrested on
suspicion Of his murder. A search of
the premises was Immediately insti-
tuted. The watch was found in the
drawer in which I had placed it, and
Was identified as the property Of the
murdered q His horse, too, was
found in my stable, for the animal I
had just put there was none other. l
recognized him myself when [ saw him
in the light. What I said, I know not.
My confusion was taken as additional
evidence. And when. at length, l did
command language to give an intelligent
statement, it was received with sneers
of i~ncredulity.
"The mob spirit IS inherent in man
at least, in crowds of men. 1t may not
always manifest itself in physical vio-