Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-07-11


he brought the horse to halt. "I"-
His speech was cut short by couple
of loud reports. A lance-like line of
fire rushed from the hedge, and one, If
not two bullets whizzed close past my
ear.
ASH sprang to my feet in the gig, the
driver slid down to the mat, and lay
there moaning, care you hurt?" Iasked,
as [ strove to get the reins out of the
palsied hands.
"Pm kilt, Pm kilt intirely!" he
moaned.
Aisy, now, aisy there, your honor!"
cried voice from behind the hedge just
as [ had gained the reins. cts all a
mistake, your honor, all mistake!"
Give the mare the whip! give the
mare the whip!" cried the driver, as he
strove to crawl under the seat; "we'll
all be murthered!"
Instead of taking his advice, however,
[ held the mare steady, while a man
pressed through the thin hedge and stood
before us, a yet smoking gun on his
shoulder.
What's the meaning of this?' / asked
coolly, for the new comer's GOODNESS af-
fected me. "Did you want to murder a
person you never saw before?'
"Pm raale downright sorry, your
honor" replied the man in just such a
tone as he might have used had he trod
on my toe by accident;" "but We see
you're in Wolff O'NeiPs gig, an l took
you for him. Where's that fellow
Michael?"
AS he said this the man prodded the
driver with the end of his gun, while II
actually laughed outright at the strange
ness of the affair.
"Go away with We, go awayp' moaned
the driver, "Murther! thieves MUIR
therW
"Get up with We and take the reins,
you gomeril you," said the man, as he
gave Michael another prod that brought
him half out. You are as big a coward
as my old granny's pet calf. Get up and
take the reins or Tll-
ooh, don't; there, don't say nothin'
for the love of heaven!" cried the driver
as he scrambled into his seat again, and
took the reins in his shaking hands.
"Tll do anythin' We till me, only put that
gun away"
There" replied the man, as he low
cred the gun till its mouth pointed to
the ground; twill that please We? Now,
tell me where's Squire O'Neil?"
"He's in the town be this" replied
the driver. ooh, thin politics, them
politics.!
" Hum; so he's managed to get past us,
after all. Well, tell him from me, Capt.
Rock, that after he votes for the sarjint
tomorrow, it an ounce of lead out of
this he'll be after trying to digest Now,
mind"
cpl tell him, captain dear! I'll tell
him." replied the driver, as he gathered
the reins and whip nervously. "But
mayn't we so on now? Mayn't we go
on?'
Yis, whiniver the gintleman phase"
replied the man. can Pm raale sorry,
as [ told your honor, I'm raal sorry at
the mistake"
"Well, Pm pleased, not sorry" I re-
piled laughing, " for if you'd hit me it
wouldn't have been at all pleasant. But
let me advise you to make sure of your
man next time before firing. Good
night"
Goodnight, your honor; good
night" cried the man, as Michael gave
the mare the whip, and sent her along
at the top Of her speed to the now fast
nearing lights of the town. In less than
a quarter of an hour, we had dashed
through the streets, and halted opposite
a large hotel Here Michael found his
master, as he expected, and here [ put
UP for the night, very much to the as
tonishment Of every one.
Soon after my arrival, [ asked to be
shown to my room; but it was one
o'clock in the morning before the other
guests ceased their noise and allowed me
to go to sleep. Next day I slept rather
late, and might have slept even later, but
that [ was rudely shaken out Of a pleas
ant dream by wild howl,
as Of a thousand demons just
let loose. Starting UP quickly,
and looking out on the street,
[ saw that it was filled with a fierce
looking crowd, out of whose many
mouths had proceeded the yell that
wakened me. Dragging on my clothes,
[ rushed down to the coffee-room. There
l learned that the people outside had
just accompanied Squire O'Neil back
from the polling place, where he had
been the first to vote for " the sargint."
Now that this fact had become generally
known, they were clamoring that he
should be sent out to them, :" to tear him
limb from limb Presently, while their
cries rose loud and long, the squire en-
tered the room-a tall, military looking
man, with little of horsey tone; nose
like hawk, eyes dark, yet glowing like
fire.
"They don't seem over fond of me, I
see" he said with smile, as he bowed
to those in the room, and advanced to
one of the windows and cody opened it.
Waving his hand the crowd became in
stantly quiet.
CHOW, don't be in hurry, gentlemen"
he said in clear voice that must have
been distinctly heard by every one.
You shall have the honor of my com
pany SO soon as my horse can be har-
messed, [ assure YOU"
Eth, what! what does he mean?' I
asked OF a person next me. "Surely he
will not venture out among those howl
ing iends?'
"That is lust what he is going to do.0