The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-11-02
A NIGHT OF DANGER.

% -7'7TTI1'4 - 4
Riding hard and fast, almost as for dear
life, along the wildes Of vast prairie, ]
found myself, to my intense establishment,
entering upon struggling settlement, and
pulled up to reconnoitre and consider.
That I had missed my way was all too
plain; for on the course that l ought 10
have come, there was not cabin or a
single settler. q.
Almost any traveller in the border sec
tons would have been reioiced to thus
stumble unexpectedly upon place where
food and shelter might be obtained. Al
another time I should been SO myself.
Not now. .,all! te
In the breast pocket OF my closely but
toned coat carried five thousand four
hundred and ninety-odd dollars, United
States money: It was during our time Of
war. The money had been given into my
charge to carry it, without stopping, and
by the most unfrequented route, to one Of
the forts and place it in the hands Of
Colonel Southland who was waiting for II.
Bat there was, having lost my route,
and not knowing whether was safe OF
not-at least whether the money would be.
And now that1 had Numbered on to.the
verge OF this scanty settlement, what must
be my course? Should halt for refresh
ment as any ordinary traveller would or
should 1 ride straight through without
stopping? "l. 81.
The latter course might Of itself excite
suspicion. So, pushing on to tho house
OF entertainment with the most careless
air could assume, l got off my horse. ..lg
There were only two men in the bar
room when l entered-the landlord and
the hostler. l ordered supper, and sat
down. ;,
Two travellers rode up and ordered
drinks. One OF them went with the
hostler, the other threw himself down ON
a bench outside and began filling, q huge
pipe.
managed 10 glance from the window. My
hasrt leaped into my throat, for in the
man seated there recognized Bill Wolf,
one OF tho most desperate characters that
ever figured in the annals OF border rli-
fianism. Ha#. =.
/ sat down again and went through the
form OF eating my supper; but whatever
appetite Knight have felt on my entrance
10 the inn had vanished now. ui :,
Presently the men camc in together and
ordered supper. Mine was finished, and
now was my chance to leave. g1} u
Paving my score and saying general
good evening, | crossed the dim, smoky
bar room. They took no notice OF me
whatever, only the landlord look furtiyely
after me. My spirit rose; ! hoped my
fears had misled me, and that l should get
away safe. "
II was quite dark outside. but the host.
Ter was fiittering about the stable with his
lantern. He brought outmy steed, and l
trotted away. ~, ,,d, ~
i was feeling infinitely relieved at my
proyidential escape from contact with the
deparate characters whom had left at
the settlement, when my acute ears detect
ed the sound OF swift riding. tn's y
/ drew up my horcs one moment 70
listen. On they came. No chance travel
ers ever rode like that. II meant pursuit.
/ gave my steed the lash, and he broke
into q convulsive gait, hove his body up
with one or two plunges, stumbled, and
pitched me literally heels over head. .
What was the matter with the,horse?
He had white spot on his face, and this
seemed to come off on my hand as ltouch-
ed him. A wet, Shiny, sticky substance,
hearinv remarkable resemblanceto white
wash. With my heart in my mouth, !
STONED to feel his white legs and feet,
Yes thev were whitewashed too!i The
trappines had been taken of my ow sl
horse at the inn and transferred TO- thus
worthless animal, which had been white
washed over TO initiate mine.
h This discovery brought an appalling IN
terpretation OF the oncoming hofsemeps
/ 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 Q little
hollow / disccrned In the distance. ltpro7
we'd TO DO shallow, dry, rayine; and here
10 nv profound establishment, ldiscoy erj
ed 4 low cabin. or. hut, about the dimen'
sions OF an ordinary country log house. va
Dashing up to this, gave a rapid sue,
cessions 81 knocks. A shrinking, pale, and
covering woman opened the door -
TVhat was it2-was her question, notic7
ing my breathless haste. ~. .4ssl. ~
7is there any chance to hide hereY Ny
horse has thrown me, and ! believe q
party Of desperadoes are close UP win
me-
She mechanically closed the door be-
hind me, before / had finished my e&-
PLANTATION. ., u ia,
her ear catching the sound OF the coming
horsemen. "This is all there is-this one h.
NV eyes had been seeking for q place.ot
concealment, but in vain. Suddenly they
rested on dark object in the far corncs'
"But this-what's this? 1rexetamed;
making a rush for 1t. w. n i
ats q coffin. Get in quick. 9,
I had barely time 10 place myself u
this receptacle for tho dead, when the
hoarso voice of Bill Wolf was heard out
"Here, you Dickl Is Dick hereF'iq N II,
The woman opened the door. % ~
"He has not como back YETI she re- r.
,J;ad 7T .sN IH vf-i ~ ~
1Soh, not yet! Jenny have you li s. y !
horse 60 by yonder. t.o VI
"pfiying on like the devil-sh2" Nv, gs ! ~ ~
"Going iast,n she answered. You
might perhaps hear It's tracks 5stillf'
ahe added. ~ fllt ,ity sigf1l-ll
But Bill Wolf must have been Of Q sua.
picious nature. heard him leap from
his horse For the life OF me l could not
help pushing up the coffin lid and looking
through the chink. and a.i BE-
Are was burning on the stone hearth.
Bill Wolf had hand on each door post