The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-06-21

S1 fN'h NP viz ANSN |
Mari, you fetch TIE d)n's III totner
room; an ydU, stranger, come long o
me-"
The young man obeyed, a queer smile in
his full black eyes. In few moments
Maria followed them, bearing pipes,
homemade tobacco, glasses and a bottle
of " hiskey. Placing these upon the table,
she vanished from view.
"Stop thar % exclaimed Uncle Lie, In
his deep, echoing voice, as the stranger
was about to speak, and pouring out
glass of whiskey, he pushed it forward
Drink that, then take smoke. Wen
look to business afterwards"
"I'll smoke, with pleasure, but lseldom
drink"
81 reckon you'd better drink, stranger"
and Uncle Lie slowly arose from his
chair. GET Ak it as favor"
"That's another thing" hastily replied
the traveller, swallowing the liquor, though
it brought tears to his eyes.
"Good enough? No set down Nn' haze
smoke. | won't have one word ontel
you've did as say"
With another faint smile, I've trAvele"
oNeved the peremp+ory command Of his &c
centric host, and the twain sat blowing a
cloud in perfect silence. Quietly Mrs.
Merrill and her three chidren-all that
were alive and unmarried of sevent""0-
entered the room and sat down. Then,
emptving the ashes from his exhausted
pipe. Uncle Lie spoke:
"Now, stranger, we kin tNlk hrein"ss.
Who air ye, an what ye want o me or
mi0e?"
"Pm q drover, looking for cattle.
heard you had some to dispose Of, and
came here to see if we could not make
trade" was the prompt reply.
eyes, hearn you was likely to co"'o
This way, and 50, as meANe you noticed,
we was sorter on the lookout for We. l'7"
rot the ca tie. an I'm ALWAYS ready fer
trade efthe tarms suit. But fust--yon had
a GOOD supper-al you wanted to eat"'
"Certain'y, and am ready to
s'T don't doubt it mite, stranger; b"'
ieet hol' up bit. That was good whisky
nn' pretty far tohacco, seems I'raiSed 1t.
eh ? An we've treated you like white
man, hain't we? Jes' so! Waa that wa
all fer the feller you said you was-an'
yere's n the pizen critter you be J."
As he spoke Uncle Lie straightened
ont his arm, with huge fist at the en-
of it, and the drover lay quIvering in th'
opnogite corner of the room, knocked sense
less, and in twenty seconds more he wa
bound hand and foot.
How long it was before he recovered hi
senses he never knew, but he found him
self alone and in the dark. Az he tried to
remember what had happened, he heard
! the sharp explosion of a rife - fol
| lowed by another and another min
gled with wild cries and yells of pain and
anger. Then came more shots, and thr
confused sounds of fierce struggle taking
place upon the broad piazza in front o.
the building. This lasted for several
minutes, after which came silence.
81 give it up" muttered the prisoner.
pressing his throbbing forehead against
the floor, in the vain hope of easing the
pain left by Uncle Lies hard fist and
strong whisky. 81 was fool for coming
here, after what | heard. But who wouIc
have believed that he was such rul.
fan"
The door opened and bright ligh
flashed in upon the prisoner, as Uncle Ly'
entered, accompanied by Maria, bearing
candle. Blood was tricklng from cut
upon the old mans forehead, and his dres'
bore witness to the fierce struggle he had
so recently passed through.
"Youve woke up, hey p he said, witt
harsh langh, bending over the youns
man. "Inn right glad O. that, fer it'll
save me the trouble O. totin' ye. Now
your legs is free, git up an travel.
F'Not unless you tell me what yot
mean"
Jest as you say" and seemingly with
out an effort, he tossed the prisoner upon
his shoulder, and, preceded by Maria
passed through the hall and out upon th'
piazza. "Now then, stan thar he ad
ded. lowering the young man to his feet
Don't try none o. your tricks, or you'll
far the wuss. ! amt in the humor te
foolin', you hear me !"
An exclamation Of horror burst from thu
strangers lips as he gazed upon the blood,
scene before him. Two men lay deaf
across the doorstep. Two others, thei
garments torn and blood-stained, were ly
ing upon the porch, bound and helpless
while little Tom, the youngest son
crouched between them, a cooked revolve
in his hand.
"You don't pear to like the way you
speclation's turned out" laughed Uncl