The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-02-20

around his head, suggesting the shape OF "A
mammoth cam-and the voice with Ceep
down intonation like the plop, plop, plop OF
water hurredy leaving d jug Ii the des
eruption Of the notorious renegade Is inelc
CANT i, has the merit of truthfulnees; and
must therefore, be excused.
went through with my supper in form
but whatever appetite l might have felt or
my entrance into the inn, had vanished will
nv discovery. After time the other fellow
came in having been out, he said, to look at
ter the animals and they also ordered supper
Now was my time to leave, which | did in q
careless manner, passing some commonplace
remarks with the two men as | crossed tlt
dim, smoky barroom. AS they seemed 10
take no notice of me, whatever, felt my splr'
It's rise with hope that | should make safe
transit. 1t was quite duskish outside, but inc
hoStler was lifting about the stable with MS
lantern which emitted little more etnigenl
light than white bean would have done, Dul
he graciously brought out my steed at the or
der and mounting, thankfully trotted away
The moon, II little past iull-Woulu inahc
her debut in something more than an houl
after sunset, and pushed along at smart
trot SO as to get well out upon the plains anu
into the right trail before that time. Inc an,
imal went along at an assuring gait, anu
was feeling infinitely relieved at my proVlaeh'
tial escape from contact with the desperate
characters whom had left at the settlement,
when nv acute, trained, every alert ears de-
trctcd the sound Of swift riding In which
direction From behind me, as the mildly
floating breeze blew from that quarter Inc
face of the prairie in this section was u HUE
rolling bn, not so rs TO afford any shelter,
and not a shrub or bush dottcd 'he cApanse
for miles. | drew Hp my horse one moment
to listen. No chance travellers ever rode like
that II meant pursuit.
gave my steed "A CALLING lash and she
broke into u cOnvulsive gait, hove her body
I'D with one or two plunges, stumbled gong
down from her knees to her nose, and pitched
me literally heels over head. For an instant
[ was paralyzcd with astonishment the next
seized the bit to fetch up the fallen animal,
which had in the brief mishap undergone II
strange mclamOrphosiS. She had lost her
white face in the grass, and, passing my hand
between her eyes, found the hair was wet
In an Infant was examining the white legs
my horse had been peculiarly marked with
white legs and face-and | found these sticky
with whicwash. What then, Simply, my
Itrlppings had been transferred to another ami
nal, gotten up TO exactly represent mine in
the evening This discovery brought an APP
palling Interpretation Of the on. coming horse
men | gave the horse the whip as soon as
his unstable legs were well under him, and
sent him securing on ahead, while ran off
to the right making for little hollow near a
shallow, dry ravine. Here to my profound
establishment discovered lone cabin, or
hut, about the dimensions of an ordinary
country log house, and impulsiyely dashing
up to this, | gave rapid succession ot
knocks. A shrinking, pale, and covering
woman opened 1t.
What is il" was her first question, noticing
my brcalhesS haste,
| Had stopped for Il moments reflection
upon the strangely isolated position OF the
cabin, should not have pushed in with
the explanation:
is there any chance to hide herc--my horse
has thrown me and believe a party Of des-
peradocs are close by with me-
| | noticed that the moon was coming up dry
and red IN the cast, when she mechanically
closed the door hch ind me, before | lad fin.
! ished my explanation
No, no; there is no place. she gasped, her
quick ear now catching the sound of the com.
! ing horsemen. This is all the room there is
and there's neither cellar nor attic
But th!sY exclaimed, rushing for dark
object in the corner.
It's a coffin was her quick response; but
there's no other chanCc-they are turning up
to the dOOr-gct in
| had barely time to place myself in this
receptacle for the dead, when hoarse voice,
one that knew by the description which
heard of ii, called out
Here, you Dick.
The woman threw her apron over her head
and Orencd the door.
Where's Dick?'
lie hasn't come back yet returned the
woman.
oh, he aint--Jen hev yer hurd a horse go
by tonight"
Yes, only IL little while ago--.a small man?
Yes, driving like the devil
i guess, she said, and then paused, you
can hear the horse now feignlng to listen.
! But Bill Wolfe must have been of sus.
picious nature. | heard him leap from his
horse and strike with a jarring PUNK upon
! the sod. \ smOulderng fire was burning
on the stone hearth. | could imagine Bills
a,titude-he had hand on each decreasing,
his brutal head was thrust inside the room he
was pcering about the apartment.
| What in h is that he questioned; and
nv heart stood still for | knew he spoke of
my retreat.
| IT'S Stailcrs coffin. Dick is going to car.
| ry il over to night
! Stuff elected the desperate, 'as he made
| his bed, 50 let him lay-buzzards are the sex.
tons for the like of him.
The woman sort u groaned, and then |
heard Wolf go up and joggle the rain barrel
at the corner OF the cabin and finally go away
with the remark;
| lie amt lar off he couldn't stick TO that
blind criter when he began ter hurry
| What shall do what shall dc" gaspcd
/ the woman they will be back IN twenty min
utcs for believe your horse is in sight, not
more than thrccquarters of mile of, and my
husband is liable to come at any moment
\ But with him inside the house We might
-
with him. she emphasized II in despairng
I tones-'he's Bill Volts brother
/ was out of the coffin in a tree, then YOU
may well believe
1T is death for you any way she moaned,
for heard the rattle of Dicks axles already
! Stay, there's the rain barrel, said |, in DIES.
| pcration, they've tried that once, they may
not again.
! And before you woald be able 10 speak n