Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-12-20

sured myself with the thought that 1t was tile
consciousness of the responsibility reposing
upon me that caused his glances to disturb
me. Before had finished my supper, two
more travellers rode up, called out for the
hostler and ordered drinks, or rather one OF
them came in with the order, and the other
threw himself down on bench outside and
began loading huge pipe. Strolllng care
out Of the window. My heart leaped into my
throat, for in the man outside l recognized
from descriptions of him-Bill Wolf-one of
the most desperate characters that ever 6gur'
ed 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 a mammoth
clam-and the voice with deep down into
nation like the plop, plop, plop of water hur.
riedly leaving a jug. If the description of
the notorious renegade is inelegant, it has the
merit of truthfulness, and must, therefore, be
excused. ..'
went through with my supper in form,
but whatever appetite might have felt on
my entrance into the iun, had vanished with
my discovery. After time, the other fellow
came in, having been out, he said, to look af-
ter the animals, and they also ordered supper.
Now was my time to leave, which | did in a
careless manner. passing some commonplace
remarks with the two men as crossed the
dim, smoky, bar-room. As they seemed to
take no notice Of me, whatever, l felt my spir.
its rise with hope that l should make safe
transit It was quite duskish outside, but the
hostler was fitting about the stable with his
lantern, which emitted but little more efful.
gent light than white bean would have
done /; but be graciously brought out my steed
at the order, and, mounting, | thankfully trot'
ted away. The moon-a little past the full
would make her debut in something more
than an hour after sunset, and pushed along
at smart trot so as to get we'll out upon the
plains, and into the right trail before that
time. The animal went along at an assuring
gait, and was feeling infinitely relieved at
my providential pc from contact with the
desperate characters whom had left at the
settlement, when my acute, trained, ever-alert
ears detected the sound of swift riding. In
which direction From behind me, as the
mildly floating breeze blew from that quarter.
The face of the prairie in this section was a
little rolling, but not so as to afford any shell
ter, and not shrub or bush dotted the ex-
panse for miles, I drew up my horse one
moment to listen. No chance traveller ever
rode like that. 1t meant pursuit.
gave my steed CALLING lash and 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
1 was paralyzed with astonishment, the next
seized the bit to fetch up the fallen animal,
which had in the brief mishap undergone a
strange metamorphosis. She had lost her
white face on or in the grass, and, passing my
hand between her eyes, found the hair was
wet. In an instant was examining the
white legs-my horse had been peculiarly
marked with white legs and face-and found
these sticky with whitewash. What then :?
Simply, my trappings had been transferred to
another animal, gotten up to exactly repre-
sent mine in the evening. This discovery
brought an appalling Interpretation of the on.
coming horsemen. gave the horse the whip
as soon as his unstable legs were well under
him, and sent him securing on ahead, while
l ran off to the right, making for little hol
low near a shallow, dry ravine. Here, to my
profound astonishment, discovered lone
cabin, or hut, about the dimensions of an or
dnary country log.house, and impulsively
dashing to this, gave a rapid succession Of
knocks. A shrinking, pale and covering wo'
man opened it.
"What is it?" was her first question, no.
ticing my breathless haste.
Had stopped for moments reflection
upon the strangely isolated position Of the
cabin, l should not have pushed in by her.
with the explanation:
"Is there any chance to hide here-my
horse has thrown me and believe party of
desperadoes are close up with me-"
l noticed that the moon was coming up
dry and red in the east, when she mechani
cally closed the door behind me, before had
finished my explanation.
mo, no there is no place." she gasped,
her quick ear now catching the sound of the
coming horsemen. This is all the room
there is-and there's neither cellar nor attic" !"
"But this ?" I exclaimed, rushing for
dark object in the corner.
"It's cofin," was the quick response;
"but there's no other chance-they are turn
ing up to the door-get in." 81.
I had barely time to place myself in this re-
ceptacle for the dead, when hoarse voice
one that knew by the description which |
had heard of it-called out
"Here you, Dick"
The woman threw her apron over her head
and opened the door.
"Where's Dick p
"He hasn't come back yet" returned the
woman.
"Oh he ain't-Jen, hev yer hurd horse
60 by, to night?" -,
"Yes, only little while ago-a small
MANI"
"Yes-driving like the devil"
Il guess" she said, and then paused, "you
can hear the horse now," feigning to listen.
But Bill Wolf must have been Of suspi-
cious nature. I heard him leap from his
horse and strike, with jarring plunk upon
the sod. A smouldering fire was burning on
the stone hearth could imagine Bills at
titude-he had hand on each decreasing,