The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-08-02
heavily loaded wagon. drawn nv two


Hulstine's ewes glowed with an evi
light as he once more turned towart
his companions.
Gross the road, now: quick, Bob
in the shadow of that cloud passing
over the moon, and recollect. both O
you, not sound is to be given, not 8
word spoken. Spring out on them a.
they come abreast. Knock then
down and fasten their hands behind
them with the short chains. Put the
long chains around their necks, ther
tumble them into the road, secure the
chaise to the wagon, and while drive
YOU keep watch on them. and see tina,
they follow quietly. By Jover" he
muttered, with a harsh chuckle. 81,
will be a practical illustration Of the
way the heroes Of Olden times led
their captives at their chariot wheels.
Wonder how my good friend Charley
will relish being dragged along by a
chain? Not particularly, / fancy, even
though he does not know as ! do that
the foot of a precipice is hisdestimation.
A good idea of mine. that. There is
little chance of the body ever being
found, and if it is, who is to say that
he did not fall over himself? Capital,
capital! Ny revenge will be com plete.
and the road to May Morris left open
for me without the least risk ON my
part. 1t is rather a pity about Col
Inns. | have no grudge against him !;
but as he is with his master he must
go, too. Glorious, glorious revenge! !"
He rubbed his hands in diabolical
glee; then, as the wagon came abreast
Of his hiding place, the boot of an
owl gave the signal for the assault.
Five minutes later Charley Powell
and his servant, Collins, were help
less captives. So sudden and unex-
pected had been the attack upon them
that there had been no opportunity
for resistance. In fact, before either
Of the men realized that hostiIities
were intended, they had been cast
prone upon their backs and their hands
secured behind them. 1t was in vain
that young Powell vehemently de-
manded to know the meaning of the
outrage thus perpetrated upon him !;
not word could be drawn from his
captors. In silence chain was cast
upon his neck and that of his COM
paniOn in misfortune and then the
wagon to which they were secured
moved on, compelling them to follow
As best they might.
For several miles the party pro-
reeded along the rough road in this
strange style, one man driving. two
to the wagon like dogs, two
others marching behind, their rifles
ready for instant use. But after Il
while the order Of march changed !;
The driver, tired of his post, summoned
Dne Of the latter to take his place,
while he with fierce chuckle, silently
transferred the chain that bound one
If the prisoners to the wagon to his
,wn hand, and then the strange pro-
,eSsion moved on again. Sorely was
Charley Powell perplexed by the
strange predicament i'm which he so
Unexpectedly found himself; and aS
ne trudged on in hot Indignation, the
;old iron chatting alike his sensitive
flesh and proud spirit, his brain
itself in trying to find some
for it all. He did not
know that he had an enemy. and this
assault proved that he had, and
most bitter one; and after the chain
mad been removed from the wagon to
he hand of one of bis captors,
Charley felt that the occasional vicious
md unnecessary jerks that he received
anne direct from the hands of this
secret foe, though even yet he did not
recognize Dave Hulstine, so we'll was
ne disguised.
But to one thing Charley speedily
made up his mind amidst his perplex-
ties, and that to effect his escape if it
we're at all possible, as he believed it
o be {; for his hands, though confined
behind his back, were not idle and
lis busy fingers discovered that the
inks of the chain that bound them
we're made of strong, flexible wire.
he had seen his captors use pincers
o clasp the links together and later he
recognized the chain as part of the
wire chain of threshing machine,
UGH as was to be found in every
anche thereabouts.
So hurried had been the order to
march on after the capture that none
# Charley's ASSISTANTS remembered to
earch him for concealed weapons, or |
'erhaps they relied on the chains to |
ender them useless if he possessed
hem; however it may be, certain it
5 that our hero's pistol remained safely |
Il