The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-11-25
LYNCH LAW.

l. Nor like dead leaf, tossed and whirled
L Z In nm eddy of wind. is'thc anchored soul.
LYNCH LAW. 1''A A''' ''-
The nightJwas closing in dark ani
stormy rs q stranger, mounted on
1 small pony-like horse, entered tn,
wood through which the main road tt
the town of Bolivar Law for severn
miles before it branched on UPON tlit
river bank. es1fe sshad stopped Eat tIi
tavern some distance back for severa
hours, which delay he now regretted
asheheard tile ifitfhl wailings f,of tht
wind through the tree-tops, and fell
in the heaviness Of the atmosphere an
indication of a coming storm. But il
was necessary that he should, reach
Bolivar that night; much depended
zupon his promptness in Ieaclling tho
isyiIlage before the fury Of the storm
Should be such as to impeile lis pro-
gress. Strapping a valise which he
carried moro firmly upon his saddle
bow, he urged his jaded horse into q
| painful trot and plunged into the for
est, the darkness increasing yisibly
with tho sudden, ,transition.a, II -
! , The person who journeyed thus was
the agent of wealthy landholder in
allyEasfern city, and was now bound
upon an expedition of impor tant basi-
ness for his principal. In the valise
upon his saddle were slowed away ten
thousand dollars III bank bills TO lbe
expended in the purchase of lands in
the neighbOrhood, from parties resid-
ing in BOLIVAR This long and tedious
journey was almost concluded, and as
he rode along the narrow forest path
his thoughts were upon the anxious
watchers at his firosiue at home who
would daily look for his return. He
had thus far encountered 10 perils and
hat scarcely observed any precaution
in arfling himself to meet them should
they come; the knife i'll his belt being
the only weapon visible Oh his per-
son.
AS he continued on his way, there
Psuddenly flashed across his mind o
thought Of impendiIig danger. In tho
hurry OF his departure from tho INN
he had not regarded it before, but now
~ suddenly rose before his ina1fna-s
ton, clad i'll the aspect of a formidable
danger. His thoughts reverted to- siie
little parlor of the InlF whelr hc had
been seated an houf before, waiting
for his supper, which his hunger de-
manded ere lie procecde,t,on his jour-
Mey.% As he sat by thezrould table,
tie bundles OF bank notes from it, he
had proceeded to count them Q ye,: that
he mnght be sure that al WIS safe.~ AS
his fingers threw tircrn- rapidly over
and his voice uttered their numbers in
allow tone, zhe was interrupted by the
thinking ola door. Turning hastily
lc SAW the hcs,d and siiq,Il lders of o
man Thrust into uiaiiDDlh, his eyes
fixc with n greedy expression upon
the money. AM dilated to their, full
extent. while the suifen expression of
his features Was changed for moment
into look OF savage, delight But as
the agent bent his eyes upon him, lie
mutiered in a grutf, apologetic tone.
something about the "wrOng room,"
and skunk away, closing the door after
him. 't 4"
The agent had thought no more of
this circumstance until sthe present
moment; butSnow, as his mind lost
much Of the feveiish exciteinent which
he had ex perienced during the last two
days, it seemed pregnant with evil.
The face of the intruder was one to
remember for life tiIne--a face over
spread with tho marks ofevil passions.
As he reflected upon this, he consider
ed that if the man had accidently ell
tered the wrong room he would have
LETT Immediately, Instead Of staying to
observe the employment in which he
Here wssa clue, which, followed up
step by step, alid event after event, in
his mind, resulted in q startling re-
membrance. That man the agent
had observed ia the bank where he
drew the money now In his valise, in
the city from which he had started q
could he draw from this fact, coupled
with the occurrence at tho inn,
save that this man had followed him
closely, from the first moment of his
departure from the city, with the in-
tention of robbing Ihhn2 He had seen
the money received by him at the
bank, and had observed where it was
placed and again, he had appeared to
ffin at the inn. And if it was his ill- ]
teution to obtain the money, what
other hour than the present would
there be for the accomplishment OF his
purpose? He lnigiIteven now be ioni
the traill su' 800 1896 sYGsfig AL II
Filled with apprehension at his
thoughts, the agent sendeayored to
force his horse into q gallop, but II few
painful efforts convinced him that he
was completely exhausted, therefore
he was compelled to make his way
slowly toward Bolivar, regretting that
he had left the inn at all before morii-
ing, as the storm now ragged fIIriousIy.
Perhaps ten minutes afler the agent
had entered the, foresE a man paused
ut its entrance and bent down to ex-
anime the tracks which had lately been
made. He followed them carefully
for few rods, to note that they. had
kept the main path, and then, retfac-
ing his steps, stood again outside the
forest. lie. looked doubtfully upon
either haiid, and, after considering fol.
a few moinents traced the edge OF the
woods carefully upon the lett of the
path, saying: ~ y - r.
: II should Know this place, although
it's ten years since L was here last.
But these woods haven't altered any;
and ii they doli't cut down tile trees,
then the paths III be all the same they
were then. But L must hurry. I
haven't Followed this agent ovcr SO |
much ground to lose him after all.
He's got heap of money-there must
be five OF six thousand At least in that
satchel of his, that he's SO careful Of. |
If he'll give ME chat, why, then lie can
go; if not"
The man heredrew wafpistolfrom be-
meath his coat, and, placing cap on