Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-03-13


they can tell the date of every mark upon
the ground. [ have heard them debate az
to whether blacks track was an hour
old, or two hours. Now, My Chairman
had seen the tracks of four horses in com.
pany, and he had carefully tracked the
fourth up to this ''huupy," /" close to which
it was standing quietly tied by the bride,
eff don't ride that horse away from
this today said My chairman to him.
self, ssmay I never have the blessing Of
st. Patricki''
The host was little man; the Bush
ranger was a tall and muscular villain,
with long black hair falling down his
shoulders bad sign, as it showed he had
been long "out."
They had been talking on subject that
had excited the Bushranger; and that
subject, as far as My chairman could
gather from the muttered words he over
heard at his entrance, was that the police
were on their way up, and not very far
off.
My Chairman gave the Masonic sign;
it was answered by the host.
''Hallo,' said the Bushranger, Ffwhere
do you hail from? ?''
81 have come down the roads
''HaYen't you got a horse ?''
There was no use shamming here, so
My Chairman at once replied:
''I was stuck up and robbed twelve
miles from this by the Bushrangers."
t'The deuce! Are they so near? Isn't it
fortunate, Casey, that 1 know this in
time?'' a
s'Why?' said Casey. seYou're not
going that way; you came from that di-
reetion yourself while ago.Y
The Bushranger at that moment was
lighting his pipe with burning coal, and
his back was turned. My Chairman gave
look and made gesture which were
perfectly understood by the shrewd little
host.
81 must be going, old man. said the
Bushranger, after his pipe had been sue
cessfully lighted. f'Let's have a glass of
grog all round first.''
"All right!'' said the little man. Three
| glasses of rum soon stood before the par
ty. My chairman put his hand forward
to take up one of the glasses, but Casey,
with an awkward apology about helping
the gent first, handed the robber that
very glass, gave another to My Chairman,
and drank off the third himself.
My Chairman understood all this, and
hoped that the stupefying potion would
soon take effect. But no. The rufian's
constitution was as sound as the founda-
tions of st. Paul's, and the drought only
increased his sharpness and penetration.
'tDo you think don't see through you ?''
said he with diabolical glance at Casey.
9FI'm not so sure of you (this was to My
Chainman); if I was, know what I
should do.'' .5e.-zss
''What have done, sirP'' said Casey.
"What have you done, you villain /?
Everything. I'll have your life 20
Now, although My chairman did not
think that the rufian meant the threat
literally, yet he made his little prepara-
tions. The fellow was armed to the teeth.
He had two revolvers in his belt, and a
double-barreled gun stood close to him.
A large sheath-knife hung on his hip.
Every second increased the rufian' g fury.
His curses and threats were appalling.
Casey, the other side of the fire, sat the
picture of dismay.
fFWhy don't you answer me ?'' the robber
at last shouted.
Because" gasped Casey, "I have
nothing to say"
Nothing to say?'' roared the Bush
ranger. s'Take .that!''
He drew a revolver, half rose from his
seat, and with wonderful quickness, lev
eled the weapon at Casey. But Ny Chain
man was quicker than he. He had quiet
ly picked up an American tomahawk
which lay on a block beside him, and,
just as the Bushranger had given the hall
turn to fire, down came the tomahawk on
the back of the neck. The pistol explod.
ed at the same moment. The wretehed
man gave hardly a culver. He was dead
in second. The two survivors looked
into each others faces.
F3Of course he was Bushranger ?'' in
quired Casey, after long pause.
"Of course he was,'' said Ny Chain
man; and he then told him the whole
story. 'sBut even if he were not, I did il
in self-defense, for he would have shot me
the next minute + ..
esYou saved my life, however," said
Casey, ''and that is everything to the
purpose
''I thought at first, !" said My Chairman
''that you were in the league with the
robbers.''
sProbably might have been forced tC
be so in time, y was the reply; ''but hav,
not been here long, and, rely upon it,
shan't be here long,
ssWhat is best to be done?'' said NJ
Chairman. ''Shall ride on and meet tn,
police, if they are on the way ?''
'FFor the Lords sake, don'ti" exclaimet
. the other. ellis mates are sure to be her,
in no time, and they'll torture me if the.
find this out.''
, ''Get up behind me, and we'n both rid
, off, said My Chairman.
''Then Ileave everything belonging
me to be plundered.''
s'WeIl, then, man, what is it you want
What's your advice ?''
''Let us throw the body down that roc
: into the scrub there, and then clean UP
You ride off. I'll pretend their mate wa
after you. Ifyou do meet the police, don
say a word about it,
ssBut the horse and saddle may be stolel
property
ssYou must chance that. It's the onl
plan.''
: My chairman adopted the only plar
rode down to Sydney, and sold the hOrs'
ssBut now, SIR" said he, "comes tn
strangest part of the story, and, if 1 didn
feel sure that you would believe me,
o would never tell it. Years passed, and
i happened to be travelling through a tow
!" where the assizes were going on. IheaT
: that a great murderer was to be tried, S
lt I ,,,ent TO hear the trial did hear Il