Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-08-01

THE MONEY BELT

which was obliged to pass to reach my
destination. The purpose of my journey
to the frontier was to convey to my en-
ployer's agent in Fremont new settle
ment-a large sum of money, which was
concealed in belt about my person. An
unforeseen exigency neeessitated this mode
of conveyance.
| The Mexican war had just ended, and
in the unsettled condition of the country,
particularly the frontier ,outlawry fevery
kind was rampant. Organized bands of
robbers, horse-thieves, and murderers in
Tested the borders; and woe to the luck
less traveller who fell into their hands.
IA@ Z had been forwarued of the perils
| likely to be encountered i'll my transit to
the remote settlement, and as a precau-
| ton arrayed myself in welI-worn suit of
clothing which gave me quite Belisarian
appearance. My horses exterior was
fully in harmony with that. of his rider
a sorrier looking nag 1 never beheld, nor
one whose outward aspect so belied his
real capacity for speed and endurance.
Under these circumstances it was unlike
ly that should suffer annoyance at the
hands of theabove named gentry.
Before entering the forest, was met by
llamamwho ,sin1answer to my inquiries,
Informed me that the path I was then
pursuing wonld, by half an hours hard
riding, bring me to the settlement was
| seeking. As Tcontfnued my way the man
called after bidding me be sure and take
the left hand turning when 1 came to
where the road forked; adding that the
right branch terminated in a swamp,
which I should, of course, avoid.
II did not much fancy my informant's
appearance. He was large muscular
fellow; habited in the garb of back
woodsman, and with a belt around the
waist in which was stuck, with customary
frontier ostentation, a pair of heavy pis-
tolls, and huge bowie-knife.
Thus far he was in no wise different
from the class of men I had daily met dur
ing my journey. His countenance, how
ever,Twas remarkable. The. features were
good, but the black and bushy eye brows
formed continuous line from brow to
brow, imparting a peculiar, and sinister
expression. was at first impressed with
the belief that had seen this parsonage
under recent circumstances; but I in
vain endeavored to recall the time and
place, and at length relinquished the idea,
as it seemed more than probable that 1
had been deceived by fancied resem-
blance to another.
Three miles on found, as my inform
ant stated, the road branched at either
hand. Though l observed that going to
the right was by far the most trodden and
inviting of the two, yet as the man could
certainly haveno motive in deceivfng me,
did not hesitate to follow his directions.
must have ridden at least five miles,
and, according to all calculations, should
long since have cleared the forest, ere it
occurred tome, by the gradual narrowing
of the path and the Increasing density of
the woods, that had, either through stu
pidity or design, been misdirected. The
reflection was anything but pleasant
one. was uncomfortably wet, chilled to
the bone, and moreover, nearly famished,
for I had eaten nothing since an early
hour in the forenoon, and what susie
nance 1 then took was obtained at a sort
of wayside tavern, whose larder appeared
to be indifferently supplied.
If [ had been purposely misled, it was
obviously done with some sinister object
in view What could this be but to rob
and perhaps murder me? My very anxi-
ETY. to conceal the fact of my precious
charge may have led to its betrayal. Or,
possibly had been watched and followed
from the moment of my setting out upon
my journey, and an inkling of my mis-
sion perhaps surmised or discovered.
At this reflection, by natural associa-
Stion- of ideas, my mind reverted to the
circumstance which attended the meeting
with my director-namely, vague i'm
preston that he was not altogether a
strange to me. Like flash it now oc-
Cured to me that had seen this man for
moment at the tavern where I had
stopped for dinner. He was on the point
ofsetting out, in company with rough
looking follow, as drew up and dis
mounted, s It seemed strange thatI had
not recognized him at once.
My fears were now fully awakened.
Evidently my disguise had been pene-
trated by some unknown means, my true
character and purpose discovered; and
this fellow, either as principal or acces-
sorry, had dogged me, perhaps for days,
awaiting a favorable opportunity to re-
lieve me of my charge. 1 could easily
understand that he had arrived at the
| tavern first by some familiar sscut"
through the woods, probably anticipating
that L would stop there for refreshments.
On my arrival at the tavern he had
without doubt gone on in order not to
arouse my suspicious, and with the object
of wayIaying me at some favorable point.
There being but one road to Fremont,
there was little possibility of missing me !;
and he had undoubtedly arranged to in
tercept me at7the edge of the forest, lure
me into the depths, and then under the
| cover of night perpetrate his purpose.
Thus the circumstances of my situation
was sufficient to warrant my fears. In an
instance had made up my mind what to
| do. To advance was impractable-in
front at either hand was an impenetrable
thicket. TO retrace my steps would be
without doubt to fall into ambush; but
there appeared to be no alternative.
Mysonly hope of escape lay in the speed
of MY herse,. if my apprehensions were
true, Accordingly, after seeing that my
pistols were convenient to hand, | turned
my horse's head, and striking the rowels
into-llis flank, dashed back over the path
at rapid pace. l had deviated from the
main trail, and was congratulating my
self that my fears were not to be realized
when human form darted into the patl
and seized my bride. Ny horse thus
suddenly checked, sprang back upon it