The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-11-25
the nipple, replaced it and continued

| ms Searcn. f---''i 4 HSf--- p
"Curious where the other path, is
II thought he had missed 1t 4 NIGH
dive straight through the bush, and
/. run tho risk of losing myself and tht
Sbiid too; but that won't do. Thi
sifeie hooks like it these two big track
with the bark peeled in a ring--yes
this is tho one. p Now tor making vi
| for lost tiine. rss NJ s. ;.s,au ,,-
And hc rose to his feet and dartei
swiftly through tho woods, his hand
T placed on the butt OF lis pistol and Iii
eyes fixed on the vista before him..
Tho agent had pursued his way
amid the storm ,whicn had now some
what ubated; aud, as he calculated
was about midway between the inI
where lie bad stopped and his des.ina-
tion. lie felt somewhat more assured
as the first half Of the way was passed
without the happening of eny thing i'll,
and congratulated himself that idhrce
miles more would end. his journey.
lie was passing a large oak. tree, which
he saw by flash of lightning a mo-
ment before marked the crossing of
two paths, when suddenly! his horse
reared violently and refused to pro-
ceed. He attempted to soothe and en-
courage him in vain; the next flash
which lighted up the scene showed
him, to his horror and dismay, the
figure of a mani in front of his horse,
holding him by 1 he bride, while with
his right hand he presented a pistol at
his own head. ,,,,,.,.. ....s ....,...... g.,
mo words, said the man. "give me
. that satchel, and you may goNrefuse
and your life isH't worth a amnlu to time.
That face was the same that had ap-
peared to him twice before; tlmtvoice
tie same that he had heard at the inn!
-'d''But you don't wish to rob me" :"
said the agent. ''This money is neither
mine;n nor yours, andA-Ylycaz
- srI tell you, noiwords! Whether it's
IlineiDr not, I'm dsterlniped to have
it; SO give it up Quick, 6r you die.
without sneity!'7 H9fn'iJ eij ~ u 81 g
"Neyefis1saidl tho fah hful agent, 81.
will defend it with my Iitei'' And he
drew the knife from his belt, but be-
tore he could strike the robber, the
latter had discharged his pistol, and
theiagent fell heavily from his saddle,
dead ere he reached the grouinl! loitesl
~ His horse snorted Wildly US The rc-
port of > The pistol was heard, aud
breaking from the grasp of the muf-r
dercr, fed wildly back toward the inn.
"ThaL L's bdd,"d said the man, as he
gnzedl after him. II meant TO get
away on uhisocbaok. And here--Ihe
fool forced me to it, he added, as he
turned his gaze upon, the form of the
dead agent. He turned the body over
to examine the featiires, but there was
no life in the look W hieh aestedo on them
= .TDead rs n nail p. lie "a tteled briefly,
rs he bent, down to search the body.
But where was the valisc? .,
: He had seen it but a moment before.
the dead man had perhaps thrown
it from him as lie leila little search
would find it.s,l- si no s'sSl E~u-ii
The murderer beat about among the
bushes and underbrush, but the va
lise could not be found. Where was
it when he saw it? OF q sudden he
was strapped to the
saddle And now his fe.lrftII crime 4
had been in vain-Lhc horse had borne
it away with him and thus deprived
him of the fruits of his murder! Rage
and the bafIled frenzy for gold over
mastered the niufdere1's prudence,
and with deep lctirses at his luck, he
hastjly followed the horse, who had
olily Just disappeared i'll turn of the
path. ,.,, =. -bf,.i,4 ...rt .,i f.,....,..-
animal" Nevertheless he
pursued iiisl,vay along the path until
be had cleared the woods, andr then
,at down to rest his tired limbs.I lie
was almost maddened by. his failure,
md in his desperation lie would have
followed che horse still further, but
that he feared to meet the men of the
Lie, 4
night, he turned and walked leisurely
pack toward the scene OF his crime i
intent only OH burying the body, and !
making his way as speedily as posi-
,ie from the locality. Lilo had trav-
.rsed perhaps half of the distance
when his car caught the sound of dis
ant Shouts. Il" Intent upon escaping
,efbre lie should be seen by those
whom he knew had become alarmed |
,y the return of the agents horse, he
tarted upon d feet run. But lie was
lestined to come to specify sretribu-
ion he reached the place OF the inur-
Ter only to fail into the hands of
,arty which had come by shorter
,ath III their scouting for the ciagent.
fiercely he struggled for a while, but
lis struggles were all in vain; he was
and securely held, and in
few moments the other party came
ID. 10 their CONSERVATION they be-
leld tile body OF the agent lying up
IL the ground, the water ali around
urned red by his blood. The life OF
he murderer was freely demanded by
he excited crowd. They were al
eady dragging him toward the oak
re when one of the men shouted: i4 -
'::Stay! hold moment! 1 think l
now him" -.-7l.' ,s- ah s'ss'- :
lie advanced to him as he spoke,
nd after examining his face, said, at
) Bin Larkin !"
I A general shout of surprise and hor-
or went up at this announcement.
William Larkin had been born and
cared i'm the neighborhood, and after
number of vili:linous acts had fled
cn years before, after committing a
obbery in this very forest. And
ow lie had returned to the scenes of
lis youth only to end his career by o
elon's death! .,.,.... -. d,
Forest justice is speedy. The mur-
ercr was i'll the hands of the back
and before them lay the
carful evidence of his guilt. A rope
vas liooscd around his neck and pass
d over the lowest boughs of the oak,
nd three sturdy men grasped it, ready
0 draw up the murderer at the signal.
The inn-keeper stood forth and adj
rcssed him in Il few words: ~
"Willian Larkin, have you ought
o say why you should not be hung
or your awful crime? You have TAX
IL the life of fellow creature, unpro-
okedly; what have you to say in de-
encc of your wickedness?"
t'Nothing;I would do it again if l
afi the chance?'
Haul him up!" shouted the inn
eeper.
The rope was drawn, and Larkin
7as struggling in the air. For a mo-
nent his limbs twitchcd in cOnvulsive
gony, but his struggles soon ceased,
nd his offence was expiated.
There was something terrible in that
xpiation. There, upon the very spot
there his victim had fell, his black
ned corpse was left to swing upon