The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-11-16

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As the wheels came up felt some
thing besides the jerk of the hole.
l heard something roll or tumble
from one side to the other of my
wagon, and l could also feel the jar
occasioned by the movement, 1t was
simply a man in my cart. | knew
this on the instant. You may have
noticed my cart as | came up this
evening. The main part of it opens
behind, and there is room enough
within for quite party, provided
they'd stow themselves close enough.
OF course I felt puzzled. At last |
wondered if some poor fellow had
not taken this method to obtain a
ride. But soon gave this up, for |
knew that any decent man would
have asked me for ride and taken
it comfortably. My next idea was
that somebody had got in there to
sleep. But this passed away rs
quickly as it came, for no man would
have broken into my cart for that
purpose. And that thought, gentle
men, opened my eyes. Whoever was
in there had broken in.
"My next thought was Of Mr..
Dick Hardhcad. He had heard me
say that my load was all sold out,
and of course he supposed that |
had some money with me. And in
this he was right-ior | had over
two thonsand dollars. / also thought
that he meant to leave the cart when
he supposed l had reached safe
place. and then either creep over and
shoot me,or knock me down-or per-
haps slip out and ask for ride, or
something of that sort All this
passed through my mind before |
had got rod from the hole.
''Now, l never make it point to
brag of myself, but get have seen
a great deal Of the world, and am
pretty cool and clear-headed under
a difficulty. In very few moments
my resolution was formed. My horse
was now knee deep in the mud and
l knew / could slip off without
noise. So drew my reyolver-l never
travel in that country without it
it is six-barrelled one and sure
/ drew this, and, having twined the
reins around the whipstock, ! care
fully slid down into the mud, and as
the cart went on / went behind it
and examined the hasp. The door
of the cart lets down and is fastened
by hasp which slips over the sta
pie, and is then seured BY a paddock.
The paddock was gone and the hasp
was secured in its place. by a bit OF
pine stick-so that slight push
from within could break it. Ny
wheel wrench hung in q leather
bucket on the side of the cart, and
quickly took it out and slipped it
into the staple, the iron handle just
sliding down.
'.Now l had him. My cart was
almost new, with stout frame Of
white oak, and made on purpose for
hard usage, heavy loads and service
/ did not believe that any ordinary
man could break out. ] got onto my
cart as noiseless as | got off, and
then urged my horse on. still keep
ing my pistol handy. | knew that
at the distance of half mile fur
ther / should come to hard, good
road, and allowed my horse to pick
his own way through this mud. II
was about ten minutes after this
that / heard motion in the cart,
followed by grinding noise as
though some heavy force was being
applied to the door. This continued
some moments, and then heavy
thump as though the sole of boot
were applied to the door. | said
nothing but the idea struck me that
the villain might try to judge about
where ] sat and shoot up through
the top of the cart tat me, SO | sat
down on the footboard.
'sOf course / knew now that my
unexpected passenger was villain,
for he must have been awake ever
since ! started, and nothing else in
the'world but absolute yillainy would
have caused him to remain quiet SO
long, and then start up in this par
ticular place. The humping and
pushing grew louder and louder and
and pretty soon L heard a human
voice.
"Let me out of thisr he cried,
and he yelled pretty loud.
Il lifted my head so as to make
him think / was sitting in my usual
place, and then asked him what he
was doing in there.
"Let me out and I'll tell ye,' he
replied.
"'Tell me what you're in there for
l said.
az got in here to sleep on your
rags, he answered.
"sHow'd We get ing asked.
"'Let me get ont, or I'll shoot yon
through the head he yelled.
"Just at that moment my horses
feet struck the hard road and Iknew
that the rest of the road to jackson
would be good going. The distance
was twelve miles. l slipped back
upon the footboard and took the
whip. / had the same horse that
I've got nova tall, stout, powerful
bay mare-and you may believe
there's some go in her. At any rate
she struck gait that even aston
ished me. She had had mess of
good oats, the night air was cool, and
in fifteen minutes we cleared the
wood and away we.went at a great
pace. The chap inside kept yelling
to be let out, and threatening to
shoot if l didn't let him out. Fl
nally he stopped, and in few mo-
ments came the reports of pistol
Observation-Disclosures after
the other, and heard the balls
whiz over my head. If ! had been
on my seat one of those balls, if not
two, must have gone through me. /
popped up my head again and gave
a yell, deep groan, and then l said,
llO cara mo I'm n dnnd nnn,,r II. n,,