Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-10-07

me--you know Texas Justice they IL
hang me to the nearest tree. and try mo
after I'm dead. For the sake OF all
that's good, and more than oil for my
dear mothers sake" and o sob checked
his words. "help an innocent stranger
10 escaper'
Martha looked at him rs he spoke.
Like all self-reiant people, she formed
her Judgment of persons quickly and
decidedly. No, he was not guilty, she
was certain. But even had ho been, for
his youth, and his mothers sake, IL is
probable Martha would have dono just
as she did
"rll help YOU" sho said. "No, you
can't hide in the house," seeing his
eyes turn to it. There are but two
rooms, and no loft, and they'll be
through them In no time. They'll
search the barn and stable too. The
woods back there arc not safe, for OF
course they'll go over the whole ground
If they track you here"
~ got away from them about noon"
he said. "Thoy were lying under the
trees half drunk, and asleep, and gave
them the slip. My pony was tied in
the woods, and | don't think they
missed me until they walked up. But
of course they'll track me here, or near
here. must lose no time"
Martha thought for few minutes.
al can think of but one plan" she said.
"You must disguise yourself. ] have
the dress of German woman who has
been at work for mo for short time.
She was about your height and size.
Hero it Is" taking dress from nail.
n int n, tho hnnsa nd - nl
will turn your pony loose in tho woods.
from here.
When she returned, the young man
was turned into tall, awkward woman.
Martha added to his toilet large hand
kerchief pinned across the breast, and
an immense green sunbonnct which
shaded his face completely.
"Anv one would take you for Ber-
tha," she said, survey ing him critical
ly. "Sho don't speak a word of En-
glish, so you needn't open your lips.
and she wore her sunbonnet even at
meals. Oh, 1 forgot your boots. Here.
put on this pair of fathers old shoes"
"Don't you hear horses gallopingp"
cried the youth, his face getting ghast-
ly.
Martha listened. Yes, there was no
doubt of it. Horsemen were coming
rapidly down the road The young
man was trembling in every limb.
=" It's not that Pm afraid OF DEATH"
he said; sim not coward; but such u
shameful, unjust death"
"This won't do" she interrupted.
"Your nervousness will betray you.
Here, take this rake, and scrape up the
dead leaves in the yard. No one will
notice then that you tremble so. And
look here, when the men como into
the yard, don't 60 on with your work
with your face turned away. That
would be suspicious. just put your
two hands on the rake-so; and rest
your chin on them, and look boldly at
the people. In that sunbonnet no one
can easily tell whether you're white or
black"
He obeyed submissiveTy, but Martha,
glancing furtively at him as four or five
men rode into the yard, saw the hands
folded over the top of the rake shaking.
The leader OF the party, short, stout,
elderly man, she had slight acquaint-
ance with.
"Good-arternoon, Miss Willis,~ he
drawled. "Well, now, has a young
fellow on a dun pony crossed the river
this afternoonP'
martha was delighted that the ques-
tion took this form.
mo, Colonel Gardner; no ono has
crossed the river. because, as you SEQ,
my father took tho flat to the Other
side, and there it is now. He went tc
Crosstown this morning, and hasn't
come back yet"
"Well, let's reconnoiter, boys; may.
be he tried to swim it. You johnson,
stay here till / come back"
In short time he was back agair
with the rest OF the party.
"No signs" he drawled. owe LOST
the track in that ar thicket, and certain
sure he amt thar"
Job Lyons and the fellars will come
up with him, reckon" said one Of
the men. "You told 'em to meet III
here. didn't you, Curnelp"
Eyes" and to Martha's dismay the
whole party. dismounting from theil
horses. secured them to the paling, ant
leisurely marched to the house 1ndiar
file.
You needn't be Uneasy, Miss vii
lis" said the fat leader. "Jist Civ,
us cheers out here under the trees ant
we'll sot here, and admire the pros
pect."
Poor Martha would have given worlds
to have got them into the house AM
ont of sight OF the fictitious German
woman, who, rs if her curiosity ha,
been gratillod, was now industrousl
raking the leaves in a pile. Havin,
nothing to do, all the mon gazed in
tently at her 10 take off their atten
ton, Martha forced herself to talk +
them.
"You don't often come this way
Colonel Gardner" she said.
"No, my dear; but oonfounde
horse-thief has stole my Romus and Re
mus-my two best horses-and we r
after him. you see."
"How do you know he stole themp'
, Martha ventured.
; , "Know! We'll. my dear. johnson h
seed a strange lad wanderin' about nea
|. my stable, bout nine o clock at night
He had come to the tavern that ever
ing, and he walked about town pro:
pectin', as you may say, and Johnso
, he says hos the moral of young Cave
, and he's the right hand man OF Amc
White, the boldest horse-tbief in th
county. Wen catch up with him."
9 "We aint sarched these premises,
, grumbled the dark-looking ruiiian the
, called Johnson. "Maybe he's hid
p the hen. house. or somewhar."
a "You are welcome to search, gentl,
men," said Martha, rising with afacrt,
!. The strain was too much for her, an
v she felt as II she was in danger {
y screaming aloud, or going into fit
4 Mysteries before them.
There's pony tracks up TO this hei
a gate. said johnson. scowling at her.
"Had anybody been here to-dayF
q drawled Colonel Gardner. who W,
% striving TO be courteous.
= 80 yes" she answered readily; 40
"a Mr.. Maxwell brought our meal. al
v Jim Pendleton rode here to get father
y scythe."
y, "Well, we'll sarch-m meanin' no