The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-06-10
HIDING in A COFFIN.

had ridden hard and fast, and was
astonished to find myself coming in a
struggling settlement. On the course
which / should have taken there was
nothing of the sort. Somewhere / had
wrong one. Almost any traveller on the
border sections would have been glad to
thus stumble on place FOR food and re-
freshment. Not so with myself. In the
breast-pocket of my coat l carried five
thousand four hundred and ninety odd
dollars, United States money. / had
received this amount from Major General
T. M. Lacy, and it was to be carried
through to Fort L, and placed in
the hands of Colonel Asa +. Southland,
to defray necessary army expenses
There were only two men in the bar
room of the tavern which 1 entered-the
landlord and the hostler. Strolling care
lessly about the room / glanced out of
the window. My heart leaped into my
throat-for in the man outside l
recognized, from the description of him,
Bill Wolf, one of the most desperate
characters that ever figured in the
annals of border ruffianism. There was
the huge red mustache, the thick, hairy
throat, and the shoulders hunched up
around his head, suggesting the shape of
mammoth clam; and the voice with a
deep-down intonation like the plop, plop,
plop of water huyriedly leaving jug. If
the description of the notorious renegade
is inelegant, it has merit OF truthful
ness, and must therefore be excused.
went through with my supper in
form; but whatever appetite l might
have felt on my entrance into the inn
had vanished with my discovery. After
time the other fellow came in-having
been out, he said, to look after the
animals-and ordered supper. Now was
my time to leave, which did in care
less manner.
1t was quite dark outside. The hostler
was fitting about the stable with his
lantern, which emitted but little more
light than white bean would have done
but he graciously brought ort my steed
at the order, and, mounting, l thankfully
trotted away. After riding a mile or
more heard faint sound, and drew up
my mare to listen. No chance travellers
ever rode like that. 1t meant pursuit.
l gave my steed CALLING lash. She
broke into convulsive gait, hove her
body up with one or two plunges,
stumbled, going down from her knees to
her nose, and pitched me literally heels
over head For an instant l was
paralyzed with astonshment. The next
moment l seized the bit to fetch up the
fallen animal, and discovered that in the
meantime she had undergone a strange
metamorphosis! She had lost her white
face on or in the grass. Passing my
hand between her eyes, found the hair
was wet. In an instant was examining
the white legs. My mare had been
peculiarly marked with white legs and
face and / found these sticky with white
wash. What then? Simply my trappings
had been transferred 10 another animal,
gotten up to exactly represent mine in
the evening. This discovery brought an
appalling Interpretation of the oncoming
horsemen. gave the mare the whip as
soon as her unsteady legs were well
under her, and sent her a securing on
ahead, while ran off to the right, max
ing for little hollow ravine. Here, to
my profound astonishment, l discovered a
cabin, or hut, about the dimensions Of an
ordinary country Lighthouse. Impulsivo y
dashing up to this, / gave rapid
succession of knocks. A shrinking, pale,
and covering woman opened it.
"What is it?" was her first question,
noticing my breathless haste.
" Is there any chance to hide here
My horse has thrown me, and believe
party of despercdoes are close up with
me-"
"No! mol There is no place." she
gasped, her quick ear catching the sound
Of the coming horsemen. "This is all
the room there is-there is neither cellar
nor attic"
"But this p exclaimed, rushing for a
dark object in the corner.
It's coffin" was the quick response.
But there's no other chance-they are
turning up to the door-get in"
had barely time to hide myself in
this receptacle for the dead when a
hoarse voice-one that / knew by the
description which I had Of it-called out
Here you, Dickr'
The woman threw her apron over her
head and opened the door.
where's Dick g'
"He hasn't come back yet" returned
the woman.
"Oh, he arn't, Jen, hev yer hurd a
horse go by to-nightT
eyes, only little while ago-a small
manT'
Yes. Driving like the devil Y
guess" she said, and then paused
You can hear the horse now," feignine