The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-06-25
A NIGHT OF DANGER.

Riding hard and fast, almost as fol
dear lite, along the wilds of q vast
prair... found myself to my intense
astonIsL menI, entering upon a strug.
Cling settlement, and pulled up to re.
eonnoitre aud consider.
That had missed my way was all
too plain for on the course that |
ought 70 have come, there was not y
cabin or single settler.
Almost any traveller in the border
section would have rejoIced To thus
stumble Unexpectedly upon g place
where TODD and shelter might be OBJ
tanned At another time 1 should
have been SO myself. But now.
In the breast pocket of my closely
buloned coat carried i've thousand
four hundred and ninety odd dollars,
United States money. II was during
our time OF war This money had
been given into my charge to carry
without stopping, and by the most
nnfrequented route to one of the forts,
aud place it IN the hands of Colonel
SOutnsrd, who was waiting for il.
But there | was, having lost my
route, not knowing whether l was
safe or not--at least whether the
money would be. And now trst
had blundered on the verge of This
scanIy settlement, what must be my
course. Should | halt for refresh
ments; or should | ride straight
through without stopping
The latter course might Of itself
excite suspicion SO. pushing on to
tie house Of entertainment with the
most careless air | could assume got
of my horse.
Theie were oGly two men in the
barroom when | entered, the landlord
and the hostler | ordered supper
and sat down.
Two travellers next rode up and or
dered drinks. One OF them went
with the hosller, the other threw him
self down on bench outside and be-
gan filing huge pipe.
Strolling earelessly about the room
| managed to glance from the win
dow. My heart leaped into NY throat,
for in the man seated there l recog-
nized Bill Wolf, one Of the most des-
perate characters that ever figured
in the annals of border ruff anism.
sat down sgsin and went through
the form OF eating my supper; but
whstever appetite l might have felt
on my entrance to the inn bad van
isbed now.
Presently tie men came in sogeth-
er and ordered supper.
Nine was finished and now Was
nv chance to leave.
Paying my score aud saying Q gen.
eral good evening, ! crossed the dim.
smoky barroom.
They took no notice of me whatev-
er; only the landlord looked furitive-
ly st me. Ny spirit rose /; hoped
my fears had misled me, and that |
should get safe away
1t was quite dark outside, but the
hostler was fitting about the stable
with his lantern be brought out my
steed and trctted away.
l was feeling infinitely relieved ct
my providen.isl escape from contact
with the desperate characters whom
] had lett a. the settlement, when my
acute ears detected the sound of swift
riding
/ drew up nv horse one Toment
to listen. On they came. No chance
ever rode like that IL meant
business
gave nv s;eed lash and be
broke into q convulsive gait, hove bis
BODY up with one or two plunges
stumbled and pitched me literally
heels over head
What wss lie zlas,sF with the
horse de ssi . white spot on bis
face, and this seemed TO come of on
my hand as touched him. q wet,
shiny, sticky substance bearing are
resemblance to whi,ewash.
With nv heart in my mouth sloop-
ed to feel bis white legs and feet.
Yes, they were whitewsshed too.
The trappings had been taken of nv
own horse al the inn. and transferred
20 this worthless animal, sb;eS had
been whitew.sisa oFeE 10 initiate
mine.
This discovery bro1gh. an sppal-
ing Interpretation OF the oncoming
horsemen- ] gave the horse the whip
as soon IS his unstable legs we're sell
under him. and sent him securing
ahead while ! ran on ioot TO the
right, making for Q little hollow that
! diseerned in the darkness Ii prov
ed to be 8 shallow. dry ravine; and
here TO my profound ss,ouishmens,
. low cabin or hut, about
the dimensions Of an ordinary country
log house
Dashing up to this. gave . rapid
succession of knocks A shrinking
pale. and covering woman opened
the door.
What is it,n Was her question,
Noticing my breathless hastes-
lis there aay cbsncs to bide hsre ,
Ny horse hss ibsova NE and Be
lieys party OF desperadoes are eloee
up 9Th me-
She mechanically closed the door
behind me before bad finished nv
explanation - =
No, no; there 10 no place ~ che
gasped. her ear catching the sound Of
the coming horsemen- This Il all
there is; the one rooY-r
Nv eyes bad seea seeking Tor .
place OF coDceslment. bat ip vain.
Suddenly they rested on dark OBJ
ject in the corner
"Bui this what's this,- / ex
claimed, making Q rush for il.