Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-01-30
A NIGHT OF DANGER.

Riding hard and fast, almost as for dear
life, along the wilds of vast prairie,
found myself, to my intense astOnish-
ment, entering upon struggling settle
ment, and pulled up TO reconnoiter and
reconsider.
That had missed my way was all too
Plaon; for on the course that I.ought to
have come there was not a single shelter.
Almost any traveller in the border sec
tions would have been rejoieed to thus
stumble unex peetedly upon a place
where food and shelter.might be obtained.
at another time should have been so
myself Not now.
In the hreast-pOcket of my closely-but-
toned coat L carried five Thousand, four
hundred and ninety-odd dollars. United
States money. 1t was during eur 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 Col.
Southland, who was waiting for it.
But there was, having lost my route,
and not knowing whether was safe or
nOt-at least. whether the money would
be. And now that had blundered ON the
verge of this seanty settlement, what
must be my course? Should halt for
refreshment, as any ordinary traveller
would, or should ride straight through
without stopping?
The latter course might of itself excite
suspicion. So pushing on to the house OF
entertainment with the most careless air
1 could assume, got off my horse.
There were only two men in the bar
room when I entered-the landlord and
the hostler. I ordered supper and sat
down.
Two travellers rode mp and ordered
drinks. One of them went with the host
Ter, and the other threw himself down
on bench outside, and began filing a
huge pipe.
Strolling carelessly about the room, l
managed to glance from the window My
heart leaped into my throat, for in the
man seated there l recognized Bill Wolf,
one of the most desperaet characters that
ever figured in the annals of border ruff
anism.
sat down again and went through the
form of eating my supper, but whatever
| appetite 1 may have felt on my entrance
to the inn had vanished now.
Presently the men came in together
and ordered supper. Mine was finished,
and now my chance to leaye.
| Paying my score and saying general
good evening, I crossed the dim, smoky
bar-room. They took no notice of me,
whatever, ), ,only the landlord looked fur
lively after me. My spirits rose; hoped
my fears had missed me, and that ]
should get away safe.
1t was quite dark outside, but the host
Ter was fitting about the stable with his
lantern. He brought out my steed, and ]
trotted away.
was feeling infinitely relieved at my
providential escape from contact with the
desperate characters when my acute ears
detected the sound of swift riding.
Idrew up my horse one moment to list
en-. On they came. No chance travellers
ever rode like that. 1t meant pursuit
I gave my steed the lash, and he broke
into convulsive gait, hove his body uI
with one or two plunges, stumbled and
pitched me 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
touched him-a wet, Shiny, sticky sub.
stance, bearing remarkable resemblance
to whitewash. With my heart in my
mouth, stopped to feel his white leg,
|
The trappings had been taken off my
own horse at the inn and transferred t.
this worthless animal, which had beer
whitewashed over to initiate mine.
This discovery brought an appalling
Interpretation to the oncoming horsemen
1 gave the horse the whip as soon as hi
unstable legs were well under him, ant
sent him securing on ahead, while rar
off on foot to the right, making for lit
tie hollow Idiscerned in the distance. l
proved to be shallow rayine; and here
to my astOnishment, discovered a low
cabin, or hut, about the dimensions of al
ordinary country log house.
Dashing up to this, gave a rapid sue
cession of knocks. A shrinking, pale
covering woman opened the door.
'sWhat is it?' was her question, motto
ing my breathless haste.
is there any chance to hide here? NJ
horse has thrown me, and believe pal
ty of desperadoes are close up with me. ;
She mechanically closed the door be
hind me, before had finished my en-
planation.
No, no, there is no place y she gaspeG
her ear catching the sound of the comin
horsemen. This is all there is-this on
Eroom.'
Ny eyes had been seeking a place {
concealment, but in vain. Suddenly the
nestled on a dark object in far corne
But this-what's this?' 1 exclaime,
. making rush for it.
Its coffin. Get in quick
1 had hardly time to place myself
+ this receptacle for the dead, when tt
hoarse voice of Bill Wolf was heard ou
side.
The woman opened the door.
He has not come back yet,' she r
piled.
is 'oh, not yet Jenny, have you heard
horse go by yonder?'
yes, just now
Driving on like the devil-eh p
Going fast,' she answered You mig
perhaps hear its tracks still, she added.
But Bill Wolf must have heen Of ST
! pieious nature. 1 heard him leap frc
= his horse. For the life of me I could n
help pushing up the coffin-lid and loo
ing through the chink.
A fire was burning on the large sto
hearth. Bill Wolf had hand on ca
door-post. His brutal head was thrust
side the room, peering about.
whats that?' he questioned, pointi
to my retreat.
Its Staffer's coffin,' she answered