The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-03-09

perate characters which L had left at the
settlement, when my acute, trained, ever
alert ears detected the sound of swift
riding. In what direction? From be-
hind me? Yes, for the mildly floating
breeze blew from that quarter. The face
of the prairie in this section was little
rolling, but not 80 as to afford any shel
ter, and not shrub or bush dotted the
expanse for miles.
1 drew up my horse one moment to
listen. On they came. No chance trav-
elers ever rode like that. 1t meant pur-
suit.
1 gave my steed lash and he broke
into convulsive gait, hove his body up
with one or two plunges, stumbled, go
ing down from his knees to his nose, and
pitched me literally heels over head.
For an instant was paralyzed with as
tonishment, wondering what could have
taken my trusty and good horse the
next, seized the bit to fetch up the
fallen animal, for there was no time to
lose.
But what was the matter with the
horse? He had white spot on his
face, and this white seemed to come off
on my hand as 1 touched him. A wet,
shiny, sticky substance. bearing re-
markable resemblance to whitewash.
With my heart in my mouth, stopped
to feel his white legs and feet Yes,
they were whitewashed, too. The trap
pings had been taken off my own horse
at the inn, and transferred to this worth
less animal, which had been whitewashed
over to initiate mine.
This discovery brought an appalling
Interpretation of the oncoming horsemen.
1 gave the horse the whip as soon as his
unstable legs were well under him, and
sent him securing on ahead while ran
off on foot to the right, making for little
hollow that saw in the distance. This
proved to be shallow, dry ravine and
here, to my profound astonishment, /
discovered low cabin, or hut, about the
dimensions of an ordinary country log
cabin. Dashing up to this, for it was out
my only hope of shelter. gave rapid
succession of knocks. A shrinking, pale
and covering woman opened the door.
"What is it ?" was her first question,
noticing my breathless haste.
Had 1 taken moments reflection, I
might not have given the true explana-
tion as I pushed in by her. In all proba-
bility this secret hut belonged to my
enemies. The moon was coming up dry
and red in the east.
Is there any chance to hide here |?
My horse has thrown me, and 1 believe
party of desperadoes are close up with
me-"
She mechanically closed the door be-
hind me before had finished my ex-
planation. "No, no there is no place, 3"
she gasped, her ear catching the sound
of the coming horsemen. "This is all
there is this one room"
Ny eyes had been seeking for piece
of furniture, or else that / might lie con-
ceaIed in-all in vain. Suddenly they
rested on dark object in the far corner.
"But this whats this 2" exclaimed,
making a rush for it.
"It's coffin," was her quick re-
sponse. "But there's no other chance
they are turning up to the door. Get
in."
/ had barely time to place myself in
this receptacle for the dead, when a
hoarse voice that / had now too good
cause to know, that of Bill Wolf, was
heard outside. His heavy whip struck
the door.
"Here, you Dick lis Dick here ?"
The woman threw her apron over
her head and opened the door.
Where's Dick ?"
"He has not come back - returned
the woman.
"Oh, not yet ! Jenny, have ye heard
a horse 90 Inv wonder 9"
"Yes, just but now. I looked out,
thinking one of we might be coming.
Seemed to have a small man on it."
Driving on like the devil-eh 2"
"Going fast" she answered. "You
might, perhaps, hear its track still" she
added, passing out and pulling the door
to. "Listen |"
But Bill Wolf must have been of sus-
picious nature. / heard him leap from
his horse. For the life of me 1 could
not help pushing up the coffin lid by q
hairs breadth, and looking through the
chink. A fire was burning on the stone
hearth. Bill Wolf had hand on each
door-post. His brutal head was thrust
inside the room, peering about.
What's that ?" he questioned. And
my heart stood still, for knew he spoke
of my retreat.
"ft is Staffer's coffin," she answered
"Blue Rex left it here for Dick to take
over tonight"
"Stuff p calculated Wolf, contemptu-
ously. "A coffin for the likes of him (!
AS Staffer made his own bed, SO let him
lie on it"
"The boys wish it." said she, "and
Dick promised.
"Dick be shot He ought to be here.
Are you sure he is not in? You've not
got him in hiding anywhere ?"
Wolf, all suspicion, went mp to the
rain barrel, and heard him shake it.
suppose he thought "Dick might have
taken refuge in the water then he came
to the door and looked in again. Salts
fed, he turned away, and mounted his
horse.
"Are you in pursuit of the man gone
by 2" asked the woman in timid, care
less tone.
Gay. But what's il to you if we are ?
He can't have gonelfa either, on that
animal.
Riding away in search of me and of
what carried. Wolf clattered off The
woman watched him ioin two comrades,