The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-02-26

perhaps the danger is not so great as you
think"
"I assure you that I am not mistaken,
and I beg you not to proceed on this
road.
ewhat do you know of these nenl"
I asked.
Il don't know anything Of them; I
only suspect what they are"
"Does your father know anything
about them.'
"The landlord is not my father. I
am only employed at the hotel. 1 was
raised in Knoxville"
"Well, do you think the landlord
knows anything about theml'
"I don't believe he is in league with
them. If he knows or suspects their
business, he would not dare to say any
thing; they would murder him. Now 1
have warned you, and 1 beg you to be
careful. I must hurry back, as it is
getting light. You will never let them
know that 1 warned youl"
Certainly not, my girl, and repeat
my thanks. will be careful. Have no
fear that there will be anything like a
murder Good byl"
"Good by, she responded; and glid-
ing into the bushes she disappeared.
A nervous shudder ran over me as
found myself once more alone on the
quiet mountain road, and looked keen
/ ly on all sides, with feeling that dan
ger was near me. All was quiet, not
even the footsteps Of the retreating girl
being audible.
stood motionless and undecided for
full minute, then moved slowly on,
watching the bushes on either side, to
lsee if anything like path left the road
for l felt confident the countsrfeiters
den was some way between the Half
Way House and Csmpbell's tavern, four
miles eastward
The road was dry and dusty, and the
light of the morning soon enabled me to
discern fresh tracks of human feet.
had gone quarters of a mile, with
the towering hill still on my right and
the deep gorge on my left, when was
struck by the discovery of fresh tracks
directly across the road.
Examining the lower edge of the road,
1 found, not a path exactly, for the de-
clivity at that point was hard and stony,
but saw unmistakable signs that per-
sons had often descended at this point,
for the bushes showed that they had
many times been thrust aside right and
left, while some of the smaller ones were
trampled down and broken.
While 1 was carefully noting these
facts 1 was startled by a low, harsh voice,
which said in ear:
"Well, sir what are you looking forl'
! turned about quickly, and foundmy
self face to face with the tall man who
paid the fifty cent note at the Half Way
House.
He scowled savagely, and with a long
hunting rifle in his hand, he reminded
me Of Giant Despair calling Christian
and his companion to account for en-
croaching on his domain.
My mind took in the situation at once.
1t was useless to attempt to conceal my
true character, and there was nothing
left me but to struggle with that power.
full and desperat man. must not al.
low him to escape, OF it would defeat de-
feat my object; and moreover 1 could
see, by a savage CLEAN in his eye, that
he did not intend to allow me to escape,
if he could help it, Plainly he intended
to murder me.
These thoughts passed through my
mind like a fash, and summoning al
my coolness and tact, I somewhat sur
prised him by calmly replying to his
question;
"Oh, was just looking for you"
He had expected that would be star
tied and confused, and my complacency
surprised him and threw him off hi
guard.
! Quick as thought I dropped my satche
and snatched his rifle, intending t.
knock him senseless; but his hold wa
frmer than 1 had thought, and insteaC
of getting possession Of it in twinkling
as had hoped, I now had to struggle
for it.
1t was struggling for life with me
with him, for liberty He was mucl
larger and stronger than myself, but
was more used to handling men than he
With my skill against his strength, i
was an equal match. 1 need not describ
how We went swaying to and fro in tina
, fearful contest; how we went down t
the dusty earth together; how we rose
still struggling for the rifle; how W
Z staggered to the edge of the road an
NEARLY f7,ulbled down the declivitv