The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-06-30

oMsly through the ,lnrk mir.
Thus, through tho night, they pro-
ccedct, the Itorm gradually abaiing IN
the DIM davn ot dry approached; and,
when tho cheering sun at last broke with
merry facc over tho Rlittering hills. the
drenchcd stranger VIVA far hcyond the
pcrplexing forest through which he had
ridden.
"Thank You for nothing" he ex.
claimed, mockingly salnting thu sun.
The world Ia full Of such friends. who
give their aid only when tho trouble IL
over. Tho sun should shine In tho night
such times."
The mare made the best Of her way to
the neighboring village, whore the rider
now determined u stop, recruit and pass
half a day at least.
Dirty, drcnched, sorc with travel
haggard ~ he was, II may DO supposed
that he did not feel oycr.c communicative
TO the people At the tavern, who stared
q tho stranger the harder. They
thought him not at MI prepossessing-
poor, proud, no baggage aud very likely
no money.
The mare, however, wns stalled; not
without being closely regarded by every
eye.
MAY never ct meat" said ono, iii
that isn't Amos Dunbar's marc julie"
wish may be shotif / don't think
40, too. White fore feet, and just such
a shape, height, head and gait; manc and
tail, ut any rate.
Couldn't 10 possible, said another.
He left yesterday to DO gone week,
he said; and he wouldn't allow any live
man hut himself To ride his mare"
!" But there abe il, howsomcver, IN.
sisted the others, and they went out to
the barn 10 reassure themselves.
Meanwhile the stranger, having gone
in to wash aud make his garments some.
what more tidy, disclosed to the land.
lord bloody gash upon tho side Of his
head, which he hathed, and, calling for
plaster, dressed II.
How did you get That wound,
fricnd?' asked the landlord. curiously.
"A falling bough in the storm last
night, was the answer, carelcssly. -
did not think it was SO severe cut. So
much to do TO manage my horse hard
" gave il = thought.
"Wherc might yon be from, sirg"
continued the landlord. not exactly ant.
listed.
II might be from any quarter Of the
world you choose" said the stranger;
and if told you from England don't
know that 1t would make You any wiser.
Don't begin to catechise tired man. Ii
pay my way that's all you need wish
Of me.
"Humph grunted the landlord. rs
he ordered table ready for his bluff
visitor. I'm not aure that this fellow
amt rough customer and suspicious
character. III keep an eye on him !"
While the stranger was ut breakfast.
those who had been 10 inspect the horse
reasserted that il was no other than
Amos Dunbar's mare and. whispering
10 the landlord about it, they agreed 10
ask the stranger how she came into his
possession as soon a. he had finished
his meal.
He had heap Of money about him
when he went away, yesterday" said
the inkeeper, shaking his head in sin.
lister manner.
"Look here, stranger" said one If
the villagers. rs he rose from the table
and came forth. "aint that same Dun.
bars mare. that yon rid hcms"
~ don't know him. Why 10 Won
ask" said tho stranger. fruwning ut
what he considered village impcrti.
nence
"Bnt We know his mare and that !
her, sure as snakes. He left here, wher,,
he lives, yes'dv forenoon On her back,
and You must have met him else how
came you by his horses"
have ridden her about 900 miles. and
AZ she couldn't well have been herr,
yesterday replied the stranger. vexe,l
at the suspicious glanees which were east
upon him, and attrihuting them IL the
| insolence which solid exterior some.
times invites from the low-mindcd.
Without staying 10 hear their replies,
he turned his back suddenly upon then,
and proceeded to the harm. where h.
took from the saddle large leathern
pocket-book, and, concealing IL about
his person. returned to the house.
| - had forgotten that" he rejected.
Without money might indeed give
cause for suspicion"
A boy in the harm hal noticed this
act, and, hearing that the man was \
suspected horse thief. he ran in and told
the landlord.
Suspicion now increased against the
stranger. Why didn't he tell straigh,
story? Where did he get tho wound o,l
his headg Why lid he falsiiv about tn,
mares Why was he SO close-minael
Amos Dunbar was widely known Us i
wealthy man. and his lavorite MARE,
julie, was equally well known to the vii,
lage. He had ridden away with her the
day before, with large sum vi money.
Now, a stranger had come hack with
her. pretending not 10 have seven HIM,
What did all this means
The landlord sent ut once for Mrs,
Dunbar, who came IN great haste AM
anguish, identified the mare, even Ia,
saddle, and now joined in the painful
belief that the traveller had murders.
her husband for his money and He'd up
on his beast, not aeemmg that he WA,
coming to the very place where h,
would be most easily detected.
| The ire Of the people at tho tavern was
aroused, and they again confronted the
stranger, having proear,a a constable,
and, h his dire alarm. the mare having
Il uSSA ukOuNnt IrNn the StAules he WaS
told to consider himself under arrest an-
less he could give satisfactory eA.
PLANTATION Of the mystery. The presence
If Mrs, Dunbar added solemnity to the
inquest. But the stranger indignation
still overmastelcd his alarm.
"The mare Was hind 10y me III III,
city. which is over 200 miles away,
have ridden her night and day since
then. Gully stopping for u few hours MS,
and rfreshment. and intend To do SC
until l reach b.. whittier important
business urges me TO this haste. Mer
you have no right ~ know. and more
viii not answer, unless compelled in da,
form by those who have right 10 lacs
ton me"
"Sarely / ought to know my ow,
, harse, which WAS brought up hy us fren
t,al - exclaimed Mrs. nanlar, pet
: ting the animal aff.etianatelv. whil
tears Of apprehension rolled down he
lace.
"Madam." said the stranger. in
i more soothing tone. lyon aro certainl
, mistaken in the identify III the animal