Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-02-22

| listen. On they came. No chance ira,
elers ever rode like that. 1t meant pun
suit.
L gave my steed lash and he brok
into convulsive gait, hove his body II
with one or two plunges, stumbled, &c
ing down from his knees to his nose, an
pitched me literally heels over head
For an instant L was paralyzed with as
tonishment, wondering what could hav
taken my trusty and good horse til
next, L seized the bit to fetch up th
fallen animal, for there was no time t.
lose.
But what was the matter with tn,
horse? He had white spot on hi
face, and this white seemed to come of
on my hand as / touched him. A wet
Shiny, sticky substance. bearing re
markable resemblance to whitewash
With my heart in my mouth, stoope,
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 whitewashet
over to initiate mine.
This discovery brought an appalling
Interpretation of the oncoming horsemen
/ gave the horse the whip as soon as his
unstable legs were well under him, and
sent him securing ON ahead while L rar
off on foot to the right, making for little
hollow that / saw in the distance. This
proved to be a shallow, dry ravine and
here, to my profound astonishment, ]
discovered low cabin, or hut. about the
dimensions of an ordinary country log
cabin. Dashing mp 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 p was her first question,
noticing my breathless haste
Had 1 taken moments reflection, ]
might not have given the true explana-
ton as 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 L believe
a party of desperadoes are close up with
me-"
She mechanically closed the door be-
hind me before i had finished my ex-
planation. "No, no there is no place, y
she gasped, her ear catching the sound
of the coming horsemen. "This is all
there is this one room"
My eyes had been seeking for piece
of furniture, or else that might lie con-
cealed in-all in vain. Suddenly they
rested ON dark object in the far corner.
"But this whats this Z" L exclaimed.
making 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 n
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 is Dick here ?"
The woman threw her apron over
her head and opened the door.
Where's Dick ?"
He has not come back !" returned
.he woman. = -----------s
"Oh, not yet Jenny, have We heard
I horse go by yonder ?"
"Yes, Just but now. / looked out,
one of We might be coming
Seemed to have small man on it"
Driving on like the devil-eh ?"
"Going fast" she answered. "You
night, perhaps, hear its track still, " she
added, passing out and pulling the door
%. Listen y
But Bill Wolf must have been of sus-
)icious nature. heard him leap from
MS horse. For the life of me / could
not help pushing up the coffin lid by a
,air's breadth, and looking through the
think A fire was burning ON the stone
hearth. Bill Wolf had hand ON each
loor-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
If my retreat
'' 1t is Staffer's coffin" she answered
- Blue Rex left it here for Dick to take
over tonight"
Stuff p ejacs,lated Wolf, contemptu-
Dusly. "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 2"
Wolf, all suspicion. went up 10 the
rain barrel, and heard him shake il. /
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 ?" asked the woman in timid, care
less tone.
Gay. But what's it to you il we are !?
He can't have gone far either, on that
animal"
Riding away in search of me and of
what carried. Wolf clattered off. The
woman watched him join two comrades,
who had waited Mt little distance; then
she came III, and barred the door. / was
out of the coffin in trice.
"What shall do? what shall / do?"
gasped the woman. They will be back
in twenty minutes for L believe that
your horse is yet in sight; and my hus-
band is also liable to come at any mo-
ment.
Your husband might perhaps shell
ter me. He"
"Himl" she emphasized it i'm de-
spairing tones. He is Bill VOLTS
brother. 1 suppose you have managed
to atfront some of them. And they give
no quarter.
looked around in despair. To go
out was to meet this Dick to stay in
meant discovery, probably death. The
coffin was no longer available, for Dick
was coming for it.
"It is death for you, any way" she
"I hear the rattle Of Dicks
axle-wheels already"
"Stay, there's the rain barrel out
side, ;" said i, in desperation. They've
tried that once, they may not look in it
again.
And before you would be able to
speak a sentence, the water was dashed
out of the cask, stealing down into the
arid soil, and 1 was in the barrel, and
the woman dropping a tub half filled
with water in at the top as cover.
She had barely time to re-enter the
house, the door of which fortunately
opened on the side away from the moon,
when a rattling vehicle drew up at the
door, and j heard voice raving and
swearipar af fba uomau for somofbipC