Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-12-30

IHG InO0tHs WUlCD was htl III pbnh .biiios
and divided into three packages, where
the deft hand of pick-pocket could not
reach IL.
Interested in q newspaper, time flew
by as the train flew west, and, at LENGTH
the hoarse voice of the brakeman
warned me that / had reached Grafton.
l had leaped down and was making my
way to the livery stable when l heard a,
familiar voice, and looked up to see
Raleigh. He was seated in buggy
and had, seemingly, waited for me to
come up.
"Don't express your surprise" he
began rs l stopped at the wheel. ~
did intend to go away, but changed
my mind, and Pike this section so we'll
that ! am. going out to-day to look at a,
farm, with a view of purchasing. Come,
ride up TO the hotel.p =.
We rode up, ordered a lunch, and
while we were discussing il Mr.. Raleigh
discovered that the farm he was going
to see was Just beyond the Scripts.
How fortunate! could ride out with
him. see the farm and return in his
company, and he would be greatly
pleased. r'
was also pleased If any one had
told me, as we got into the buggy, that
George Raleigh meant to return with
my money in his pocket and my blood
upon his hands, should have believed
him a lunatie. And yet George Raleigh
had planned to do that very same thing.
1t was lovely day in June, and the
cool breeze and the sight of meadows
and green groves made my heart grow
larger.
My companion was very talkative,
but he didn't even hint at my errand.
40, excuse me-" he exclaimed, after
we had passed mile or so beyond the
the village and were among the farm
houses, II should have offered you this
before"
He drew from his pocket small flask
of wine and handed it to me. Now, |
was temperate in regard to drinks. In
fact, detestcd the sight and smell of
anything intoxicating; but had not the
moral courage to tell him so and hand
back the flask undisturbed. feared to
offend him, and so l drank, perhaps,
three good swallows. He called my at
tention to the woods ON the left, as he
received back the flask, and when
looked around again he was just remov-
| ing it from his mouth, as if he had drank
heartily.
In about five minutes began to feel
queer. The fences, along the road
seemed to grow higher, and the trees to
grow larger; something got into my
ears, so that the rattle of the buggy
sounded long way off.
g How strange! why, believe | am
going to be sick! l exclaimed, holding
onto the seat with all my might.
"You do look strange" he replied, 9
sickly smile stealing over his face. "a ]
shouldn't wonder if it was apoplexy."
t. did not suspect the game he had
| played. His words were like an echo
and his face seemed twice as large as il
usually was. My head began to snap
and crack, and 1 was greatly frightened.
"You are badly off," he continued,
looking into my face. s'I will drive as
fast rs possible and get a doctor"
My tongue was so heavy could moi
reply. l clutched the seat, shut my
eyes and he put his horse at his bes
pace. We met farmers team, and
can remember that one of the occupant.
of the wagon called out to know wha
allied me. Raleigh did not reply, bu
urged the horse forward.
About three miles from Grafton was {
long stretch of forest, and this we soor
reached. The pain in my head was no
so violent, and was not so badly af
fected with opening my eyes, hat
settled into a sort of dumb stupor, witt
brain so benumbed that had to, sa,
to myself, ''this is a tree, this is :
stump" etc., before l could make sur,
that was not wrong. Half a mile dowl
the road, after we struck the forest, an,
then Raleigh turned the horse into tn
blind road leading back into the woods
could not understand what he intend
ed. tried to grapple with the question
but could not solve it.
, "Well, here we are,'' exclaimed Ra
leigh, when we had reacheda point fort
rods from the road.
, He stopped the horse, got out and fas
tened him, and then came around to tn
wheel.
"You don't feal just right; but CUES
you will be better soon," he remarked
i ''come, let me help you down"
He reached up his arms, and let 9
: of the seat and fell into them.
: Seclheu W liic us IL Wti1lcu toui ~
a he carried me along without an effo
n and laid me down within about rod {
: ! the fence which ran along on one sic
of an old pasture. Just now the effe,
3 of the drug was wearing off, and b
/ gan to feel q little better, and / got
N faint suspicion that something unusu
II had happened. But | was powerless
o move limb; the sensation was like tn
;, when your foot goes to sleep.
Is "Can you speakp" inquired Raleig
e bending over me, "because if you ca
it will save me some trouble. / wa
\ to know where you have slowed tn
~ money!
"a Now began to realize my situatio
'r His face looked natural again and i
le load was off my tongue.
a. az George Raleigh! are you going
~ rob mep" / asked, finding my voice
"A last.
Y, swell, some folks might call it re
id bing, but we dress up the term lit
s. by calling it the only correct financ
Or way of equalizing the floating current
so that each one is provided for, and
te one left out"
&c "You shan't have the money; I'll (
a, first' / yelled, rising a little
20 "Ah, see--you didn't take qu
u, enough" he coolly remarked. "We
ia l have provided for this"
amd m He went to the buggy, procured roI
:" and gag, and knelt down beside n
IT had but little strength yet, and he CO
" quered me in a moment. Laying /
on my right side, looking towards
rn fence, he tied my hands, and then fore
"a gag into my mouth.
- There, now, you see you are mic
~. fixed up, and all because you acted |
"a fool, instead of sensible young la
w yer soon to be admitted to the bar" "
er While he was speaking-indeed, WI
TO he was tying mel had caught ST.
ON of the white face of little girl look
he at us between the rails of the fence.
he could see her great, blue eyes. TIL
ad were red stains about her mouth and
he the little hand resting on the rails, q
j knew that she was some farme
nd daughter searching for strawberries.