Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-05-14

whole busineSs.p said i. j am In no
hurry to go to Nevada City. win take
my time and find out all. II you have,
as you say, farm and arwife and child,
shall do you no harm--will cause your
wife no pain. Again / say, marchl"
made Reed shoulder my dust and
march some ten feet in advance. told
him 10 take a straight course through
the woods, as l wanted to see no one,
nor was he anxious to meet any of his
acquaintances.
We turned to the right from the road
and marched in southerly course. 1t
was long way through the forest, and
nothing worthy of note occurred while
passing through it. Little was said by
either Reed or myself. Reed tried to
talk to me about his wife and child once
or twice and beg me to be careful in
what should say before his wife, but /
sternly ordered him to shut his mouth.
81 am thinking,' said 1, "and that
is enough. l am thinking of every thing,
and shall do what is right"
We passed through the pine forests
and down into the foothills among
groves of live oak and among manzanita
thickets.
10
been some time among the low hills.
"But mile or so, ~ said Reed.
AT last, as we reached the summit of
little ridge, he pointed to cottage in
a field half a mile away, and said:
"There is my home" &.
"Good," said l. "Now sit down and
compose yourself, for you are not to APP
pear at all agitated We go now to see
your wife and little boy"
Reed began to weep.
"This is rough" said he.
at is" said L, "but there is no help
for it. l will now take the belt and put
it on. Leave it whereyo are and move
twenty feet further down the hill; then
sit down and dry your eyes, for the sun
is not half an hour high, and we must
go to your house."
Reed did as directed, and when the
belt was in place and L had given him
time TO compose his features, 1 ordered
him to get up and move on.
"My wife will think it strange to see
you carrying my gun. viii you trust me
with itP''
al have bought your gun, you know.
When leave your home shall carry it
away with me.'
Reed said no more. As we drew near
the house l told Reed to fall back by my
side.
"Now," said I, "pay attention. 1
am an old friend of yours, a man you
knew many years ago in-where are you
fromP"
"Near Cold Water, Michigan"
"Very well; l am from Cold Water,
Michigan; you knew me there; l have
come home with you to see your place,
and your boy. Now go on. am your
old friend, Mr.. Waldow; remember the
name-Waldow." eos.
So we went to the house. Reeds wife
met us at the door. was introduced
as Mr.. Waldow, and at once began to
play the part of an old acquaintance.
Mrs. Reed was woman about twenty
eight years of age and quite handsome.
She spoke with slight accent that
caused me to ask if she were not of
German parentage. She was. She told
me the name of her father-Jacob
Schroeder.
"Jacob Schroeder!" cried l. "Frc m
what place in GcrmanyP"
"From Dantzig," said she.
"From Dantzig!" cried L. "Good!
l also am from Dantzig. It is my native
town and knew your father well"
which in truth did. My heart went
out toward her, and said to ISyself as
l looked at her honest face: "Daughter
of Jacob Schroeder, you are married to
weak, bad man and robber, but l
will do you all the good l cam
AS for Reed, he said nothing, but sat
looking quite stupefed. Even when his
wife said: els it not wonderful,
Thomas, that Mr.. Waldow should be a
Dantziger and should know my father
he who is also an old friend and ac-
quaintance of yoursPn Reed muttered
something about there being strange
meetings in California.
Ipaid no attention to Reeds distress,
but went on and told his wife many
things that / remembered about her
father and her uncles, of not a few of
which she had heard her parents speak,
for her mother was also Dantzig
woman.
l was soon on good terms with the
boy, sang little songs to him, and, in
deed, made myself so much at home and
the friend of the family that Reed cast
at me stolen glances of astonishment.
He seemed to be saying to himself: 'Is
this the man tried to rob a few hours
ago, but who captured me and marched
me to my own house a culprit and a
prisonerp" lEl ias.s
But | gave heed only to become more
merry and talkative than ever with the
boy and his mother. Also with Reed
talked about his ranch and told him we
would take a look over the whole place
in the morning.
AS soon as found that he had actu.
ally conducted me to his home, and
once had seen his wife and child,
had no fear. knew it was safe-that
Reed would do no murder there had he
a score of guns and pistols.
After was shown to my room for the
night took off my belt, and carried it
to the room had just left, and telling
Mrs. Reed what it contained, asked her
if she had a safe place to keep it till
morning.
She begged me to keep It in my own
room, there was no knowing what might
happen, and she did not like to take any
responsibility.
Reed looked astounded. He also
begged me to take the gold to my room,
and said:
"Take your gun to your room-take
care of the gold yourself"
's" The gun!" said I. "You think,
then, there may be danger of robbers P''
"Oh, mol don't know. Take away
the gold. l will take no chances with it. .
Seeing a wood-box in corner of the
room, | threw the belt into il and laid
over it two or three sticks of wood, and
saying: "There is a better and safer
place for it than in my bedroom, "
turned about and left the couple, Mrs.
Reed gazing after me in establishment.
The next morning Mrs. Reed handed
me my gold-Reed did not seem to
want to touch it. l had given him a
dose of it, by letting him sleep in the
same room with it. l told her to stow
it away somewhere, as Reed and were
going TO look about the ranch little
before breakfast.