South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-07-28

The child shadtierei and tarnea pale.
Just then the nndlora enteyel Ne
no~ned n his eve fell upon the chila.
and looked uneasy.
You must not trouble The ec.fle.
man, he said, IN voice whose harsh.
ness was m marked oontrAs; 20 the
smooth oily tones be had used in spcsk.
ing TO me. Get down and 20 into the
kitchen"
The child sank In mortal fear from
that tone. aud. in spite OF inv dctaining
hand, slipped qnickly from my knee aud
LEFT the room.
After partaking OF warm. substan.
ual supper requested 10 be shown to nv
room. as | was DESTROYS OF takinr an
early start in the morning.
The room into which the Landlord took
me was an uppertoosn of good size aud
comfortably furnished. tobservei that
there was only one window. and that onC
was small and provided with shutters.
As was examining my knapsack
with my back TO the door. I heard fain;
rustic, and. turning, saw the little girl
had observed below. standing in the
middle of the room, with an expire sion
upon her couutenance which startled me
as much rs her unexpected appearance
Are you going to stay tonight" she
said in hurried whisper.
YES" replied. "Woaldn't you
like to have mc?''
"No-oh, nor she sail. with tho same
look and tone, and shudderiug as she
spoke, "tEis ia dreadful place. Don't
stay! 1fyou do they will kill you, just
as they.did-"
"Kathic, katllie r. screamed the harsh
voice ofthe landlords wife, ..come down
here this minute"
Kathie's eyes dilatcd with terror, and
turning she glidcd from the room rs
quickly aud us noiselessly as she had
entered.
Listening, heard angry voices below
then sharp cry, ending i'm piteous sobs
which gradually died away, rs If the
child had been conveyed to some dis
tant part or the house.
Filled with Indignation AMI alarm,
, opened the door with the intention oil
interfering, but feeling upon second
thought, how useless any such attempt
would be in my situation, | closed il
and went to the window. placed my
hand upon the shutters, they were firmly
liked into the easement.
1t did not take me long TO decide what
TO do. After examining my revolver tC
see If it was all right. took my traps
and descended to the barroom.
The landlord started with an angry
! look when he saw me.
IL have concluded TO resume my jour
ney,' l sail in ms careless tone rs
could assume. Please bring my horse
directly TO the door"
Every one TO his fancy, said the mar
| glancing at me sharply from the corner
of his eye: "but shouldn't want TO pas,
through Black Forest alone such nigh
as this"
You forget my trusty friend here.
! said, touching my revolver significant
| ~, as | spoke.
The villain covered, for he saw in ,
moment that understood him.
81 suppose you know your own bust
ness best" he muttered sullenly rs h,
went out for my horse.
It was with feeling OF joy that
| found myself again in the saddle, gloomy
and lonely "a was the way before me-
Yet my thoughts reverted sadly TO tn,
sweet child, to whose timely warning
L owed SO much and | determined C
obtain search warrant and rescue her
ifpossible, from the cruel hands of those
whom I felt could have no legal CLAIM
on her.
soon struck into the Black Forest
which was composed principally Of I'll
and pine, to whose dark foliage it doubt
less owed its name.
But soon the faithful creature that haG
never failed me before, began TO halt
and finally became so lame "a TO he un
able to proceed further. Suspectinp
treachery dismounted.
The sky had partially cleared and the
moon had risen, but she only gave IT,
full light, and had now entirely disap
! peared under q cloud. But, striking 3
match. | discovered that two sharp peb
bles had been skllfully inserted into
one Of the fore hoofs. and which had
/ been driven with every step into the
bone. j succeeded in dislodging one
but the other defed all my efforts; SC
/ tying the animal 20 a tree I determined
TO proceed on foot.
/ I had hardly done so when heard
the quick sound of horses feet along tho
road. ! stepped back in the shadow oil
n tree. and looked in the direction whence
it proceeded.
could just discern The outlines Of
two horsemen. who refined up within =
foot OF the spot where J stood.
/ felt that the odds we're Urc,f'y
against me hut I was deteruipeI 20 g,.I
my life dearly.
81 shouldn't suppose his horse could
have taken him much farther" said one
OF them, whose voice instantly recog
nized IA that OF my late host.
Hist here is bis horse" said tho
other, rs An impatient movement Of the
animal betrayed his proximity.
Just then the moon emerged from a
cloud revealed my form distinctly. as ]
stood with one finger on the trigger
watching for tho first CLEAN Of light to
make my aim sure.
The landlords evoa fell diroc,Iv o,op