River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-11-18
LYNCH LAW.


stormy as Il stranger, mounted on 4
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 indic&-
ton of coming storm. But 1t was
necessary tEat he should reach Bolivar
that night; much depended upon his
promptness III reaching the village be-
fore the fury of the storm should be
such as to impede his progress. Strap
ping a valisc which he carried more
firmly upon his saddle-bow, he urged
his faded horse into painful trot and
plunged into the forest, the darkness
increasing visibly with the sudden
transition.
The person who journeved 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 valise 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 bis
lircsidc at home who would daily look
for his return He had thus far en-
countercd no perils, and had scarcely
observed any precaution in arning
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
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 Il formidable
danger His thoughts reverted to the
little parlor Of the inn where lie 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
a low tone, he was interrupted by the
creaking 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 EXPIRE ision of his fea-
lures was changed for moment into
look Of savage delight But rs 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; hut now, as his mind lost
much of the feverish excitement
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 acci-
IDENTIFY entered the wrong room he
would have left Immediately, instead
Of staying to observe the employment
in which he was engaged.
Here was Il clue, which. followed up
step by step, and event after event, IN
his mind, resulted in startling re-
membranee That man the agent had
observed i'm the bank where he drew
the money now in his vallSe, in the city
from which he had started a week pre-
yiousl 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 mt the bank. and had
observed where it was placed; and again
he had appeared to him nj the inn.
And if it was his intention to obtain
the money, what other hour than the
present would there he for the accom-
plishment of his purpose? He might
even now be on the trail.
Filled with apprehension at his
thoughts. the agent endeayOred to force
his horse into a gallop, but 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 Mt all before morning, rs
the storm now ragged furiously.
Perhaps ten minutes after the agent
had entered the forest, n man paused
ut its entrance and bent down to eX-
anime the tracks which had lately
been made He followed them care
fully for a few rods, to note that they
had kept the main path, and then, re
tracing his steps. stood again outside
the forest. lie looked doubtfully upon
either hand. and after considering for
a few moments traced the edge of the
woods carefully upon the left of the
path, saying:
II should have known this place, al
thoughts ten years since Twas here last.
But these woods haven't altered any; and
if they don't cut down the trees, then
the paths Il be all the same they were
then. But | must hur Y, ! haven't
followed this agent over so much
ground to lose him after all. He's got
Il heap of money-there must he FIVE
or six thousand ut least in that satchel
Of his, that he's so careful of If he'll
give me that. why then ne can go; if
not"
The man here drew pistol from be
Meath his coat, and. placing cap on
the nipple. replaced it and continued
his search
Curious where the other path Is. II
| thought ne had missed it l might
dive straight through the bush, and
run the risk of losing myself and the
bird too: but that won't do. This here
looks like it: these two big tracks with
the bark peele in a ring-yes, tins
IS the one. Now for making up for lost
time.
And he rose to his feet and darted
swiftly through the woods, his hand
placed on the butt of his pistol and his
ewes fixed ON the vista before him.
The agent had pursued his way
amid the storm which had now some
what abated; and, as he calculated,
was about midway between the inn
where he had stopped and his destina-
ton. He felt somewhat more assured
as the first half of the way was passed
without the happening of anything i'll,
and congratulated himself that three
miles more would end his journey.
He was passing a large oak tree, which
no saw by a flash of lightning a mo-