The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-11-02

the lock, and in spite of my OBTAINING
hand slipped quickly from my knee and
left the room.
"After partaking of warm, substan-
tial supper, l requested to he shown to
my room, as was desirous of taking an
early start in the morning.
The room to which the landlord took
me was an upper one, of good size and
comfortably furnished Iobserved that
there was only one windows and that one
very small and provided With shutters.
As was examining nv snspsee1z.
with my back to the door, ] heard fain:
rustic, and turning fsaw the little girl
had observed below standing in the mid.
die of the room with an expression upon
her countenance which startled me as
much as her unexpected appearance.
scare you going to stay here to
night?' she said in a hurried whisper.
"'Yes,' replied. wouldn't you like
to have me2'
"'No, oh, nor she said, with the same
look and tone, and shuddering as she
spoke. This is dreadful place. Don't
stay. If you do, they will kill you just
as they did.
"'Kathie! Kathier screamed the
harsh voice of the landlords wife, come
down here this minute
"Kathie's eyes dilated with terror, an(
turning she glided from the room a.
quickly and noiselessly as she had en-.
tered.
Listening, I heard angry voices be
low; then sharp cry, ending in piteous
sobs, which gradually died away, as il
the child was conveyed to some distan
part of the house.
"Filled with indignation and alarm,
opened the door with the intention o
interfering; but feeling, upon secont
thought, how useless any such attemp
would be, in my present situation,
closed it and went to the window.
placed my hand upon the shutters; they
we're iron, and firmly fixed into the ease
ment. '.'
at did not take me long to decide
what to do After examining my re
volver to see if it was all right, I tool
my traps and descended to the bar-room
"rhe landlord started with an angry
look when he saw me. an i9 A
al have concluded to resume m,
Journey I said, in as careless zone 81
could assume Please bring my hors'
directly to the door,
"'Every one to his fancy said tht
man, glancing sharply at me from the
corner of his eye; 'but / shouldn't wan
to pass through Black Forest alone suct
night as this.
sYoaforget my trusty friend here,
said, touching my revolver significant
ly as l spoke.
"'I s'pose you know your own bust
ness best he muttered sullenly, as h
went out for my horse.
sit was with feeling of joy that
found myself again in the saddle, gloomy
and lonely as the way before me was
Yet my thoughts reverted sadly to th'
sweet child to whose timely warning
owed so much; and determined to oh
tain search warrant and rescue her, j
possible, from the cruel hands Of thos,
whom felt could have no claim on her
~ soon struck into the Black Forest
which was composed principally Of fl
and pine, and to whose dark foliage i
doubtless owed its name.
"But soon the faithful creature tina
had never failed me before began to fail
and finally became SO lame as to be una
BILE to proceed further. Suspecting SOM
treachery I dismounted. '''
"The sky had partially cleared, ant
the moon had risen, but she gave only {
fitful light, and had now entirely disap
peared under cloud. But striking
match 1 discovered that two sharp peb
bles had been skillfnlly inserted into lht
bone. 1 succeeded in dislodging one
but the. other defed all my efforts; 81
tieing the animal to tree I determined
to proceed oa foot - -.
II had hardly done so when I heari
the quick sound Of horses feet along tht
road. Istepped back in the shadow o
the tree and looked in the direction
whence it proceeded. %stfiS 'z7lH
81 could discern the outlines of two
horsemen, who reined up within fe,
feet of the spot where stood. a7e
81 felt that the odds we're greatl
against me, but was determined to sci
my life dearly. Hae lsalFeIfa. - Z
s"I shouldn't s'pose his horse coult
have taken him any further said one o
them, whose voice | instantly recogaiz
ed as that of my late host. 'e Y
"sHist! here is his horse,' said tn
other, as an impatient movement of th
animal betrayed his proximity atial
i s"Just then the moon emerged from
cloud, revealing my form distinctly as
stood, with one finger on the trigger
, watching for the first CLEAN of light t
make my aim sure aida t I'D
"The landlords eyes fell directly upo
me, and with muttered curse he snatch
ed pistol from his belt But he wa
too late; there was sharp whistle, 70
lowed bya dull. heavy sound, and throw
e ing his hands upward he fell forward o
his horse. aifa
"As he fell his pistol, which was .
/. half-coek, was discharged, to all appear
7 ances mortally wounding his companion
, who dropped instantly to the ground.
"But it seemed that this was merely
I feint, for no sooner did he see that ws
off my guard than he fred Fortunatel
e he aimed too high, and the ball passe
S harmlessly over my head.
t II sprang forward and after a bri
i struggle succeeded in disarming him :
Then perceiving that the bone Of b
0 Knee was shattered, making his escaI
y impossible, LEFT him, and mounting u
fine-looking animal he rode resumed n
!. Journey. um rE 5o ~
n sit was past midnight when / reach'
J. A., and brosd daylight when, a
companied by magistrate, posse
}. constables and several of the villagel
Z, l returned to the scene of my nights a
venture. fa eat5 .+
!, "The landlord lay just as he had f,
e len, his pale face turned up to the ra
of the rising sun. The other villain b
d managed to crawl away. but was so,
tracked and secured.
le ave then went in body to the to
d, ern there was no one in the house b
III L