Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-11-18
LYNCH LAW.

The night was closing i'll dark and
stormy as a stranger, mounted on Il
small pOny-like horse, entered the
wood through which the main road to
the town of Bolivar lay for several
miles before it branched off upon the
river bank. He had stopped at the
tavern some distance back for several
hours, which delay he now regretted as
he heard the fitful wailings of the wind
through the tree-topS, and felt in the
heaviness of the atmosphere an indiCa-
ton of a coming storm. But it was
necessary that he should reach Bolivar
that night; much depended upon his
prOmptness in reaching the village be-
fore the fury of the storm should be
such as to impede his progress. Strap
ping valise which he carried more
firmly upon his saddle-bow, he urged
his faded horse into a painful trOt and
plunged into the forest, the darkness
increasing visibly with the sudden
transition.
The person who journeyed thus was
the agent of a wealthy landholder in an
eastern city, and was now bound upon
an expedition of important business for
his principal In the yalise upon his
saddle were slowed away ten thousand
dollars in bank bills, to be expended in
the purchase of lands in the neighbOr-
hood, from parties residing in Bolivar.
This long and tedious journey was al
most concluded, and as he rode along
the narrow forest path his thoughts
were upon the anxious watchers at his
fireside at home, who would daily look
for his return. He had thus far en-
countered no perils, and had scarcely
observed any precautiOn in arming
himself to meet them should they
come; the knife in his belt being the
only weapon visible on his person.
As he continued on his way, there
suddenly flashed across his mind 4
thought of impending danger. In the
hurry Of his departure from the inn he
had not regarded it before, but now it
suddenly rose before his imagination,
clad in the aspect of q formidable
danger His thoughts reverted to the
little parlor of the inn where he had
been seated an hour before, waiting for
his supper, which his hunger demanded
ere he proceeded on his journey. AS
he sat by the round table, he had I'M
locked his valise, and taking the bun
dies of bank notes from it, he had pro
ceeded to count them over that he
might be sure that all was safe. AS
his fingers threw them rapidly over
and his voice uttered their numbers in
low tone, he was interrupted by the
crealIing of door Turning hastily he
saw the head and shoulders of a man
thrust into the room, his eyes fixed
with a greedy expression upon the
money. and dilated to their full extent,
while the sullen expression of his fea-
| lures was changed for a moment into q
look of savage delight. But as the
agent bent his eyes upon him, he NUT
tered a gruff, apologize tone, some
thing about the wrong rOOm," and
skunk away, closing the door after him.
The agent had thought no more OF
this circumstance until the present
moment; but now, as his mind lost
much Of the feverish eXciteme nt
which he had experienced during the
last two days, it seemed pregnant with
evil. The face of the intruder was one
to remember for life time-a face
overspread with the marks of evil pas
sions. AS he reflected upon this, he
considered that if the man had acct
IDENTITY entered the wrong room he
would have left Immediately, instead
of staying to observe the employment
IN which he was engaged.
Here was clue, which, followed up
step by step, and event after event, in
his mind, resulted in startling re
membrance. That man the agent had
observed in the bank where he drew
| the money now in his valise, in the city
| from which he had started a week pre-
viOus. What other inference could be
drawn from this fact, coupled with the
occurrence at the inn, save that this
man had followed him closely, from
the first moment of his departure
| from the city, with the intention OF
robbing him? He had seen the money
received by him at the bank. and had
observed where it was placed; and again
he had appeared to him at the inn.
And if it was his intention to obtain
the money, what other hour than the
present would there be for the accom-
| plishment of his purpose? He might
even now be on the trail!
Filled with apprehension at his
thoughts, the agent endeavored to force
his horse into a galIop, but a few pain,
full 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 morning, as
the storm now ragged furiously.
Perhaps ten minutes after the agent
had entered the forest, man paused
at its entrance and bent down to ex
anime the tracks which had lately
been made. He followed them care
fully for few rods, to note that they
had kept the main path, and then, re
tracing his steps, stood again outside
the forest. He looked doubtfully upor
either hand, and after considering fol
a few moments traced the edge of the
woods carefully upon the left of the
path, saying:
4 should have known this place, al
thoughts ten years since Twas here last
But these woods haven't altered any; ant
if they don't cut down the trees, ther
the paths II be all the same they were
then. But [ must hurry, T haven
followed this agent over so mucI
ground to lose him after all. He's go
a heap of money-there must be five
or six thousand at least in that satche
of his, that he's so careful of. If he'll