The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-11-10
THE MYSTERIOUS LIGHT.
A BORDER ADVENTURE.

A BORDER ADVENTURE.
The close of August, IS4o, found me
by one of those strange freaks fortune
is ever playing US poor mortals, alone
and on horseback, following one of the
widest. drearlest roads l ever chanced
upon. l need not stop to relate the
occurance of events that led me to take
this trip to the far West, as 1t in no way
concerns my story. Suffice to say, 1t
was necessary tor me to carry cocealed
in belt around my person several
thousand dollars in hard cash. As may
be supposed, this did not tend to les
sen the vague sense of fear. that | had
held from the start, especially when l
knew we'll the fact that the route through
which / was to pass was infested by a
band of lawless desperadoes, who would
hesitate to commit no crime that might
place them in the way to enrich them
selves. l was armed to the teeth, how
ever, and l resolved not to yield my
treasure.
Among the band of outlaws who in
tested the route was a wild, swarthy
half breed, known as Red Guilmont
he was leader of the company. 1t was
well known that he was the perpetrator
of countless murders and though heavy
rewards were offered for his capture
and delivery at Burkesville, then small
frontier settlement, he had as yet eluded
all pursuit, and seemingly safe in his
unknown retreat still followed his illegal
calling. This, as may readily be ex-
pected, served to place me more on my
guard and l had reached the halfway
point of my journey unmolested. had
begun to entertain the hope that |
should reach my destination safely,
when an event occurred which aroused
my suspicious, and sent shade of
doubt through my mind.
Late in the afternoon of a dark,
gloomy day found me thirty miles from
my last hating place. AS yet l had
noticed nothing that excited my sus-
PIGEONS, save, indeed, a solitary horse
man who came on behind me at slow
pace, nov and then disappearing entirely
around some thickly wooded bend in
the road. He might be traveller like
myself, whom business had sent in the
direction of Burkesville.
Having thus settled this point, 1 dis
missed the subject altogether from my
mind, till the low growl Of thunder be-
hind me gave warning that the storm
that had SO long been gathering was
about to burst upon me. Looking back
on the level road | had passed, l was
somewhat surprised to find that the
strange horseman had disappeared, and
not human being met my gaze. For
the first time during the day a feeling
of grave suspicion crept over me.
What had become of my fellow-t -trav-
elier? Stay; perhaps he had halted at
some of the lonely cabins that were
scattered along the route. This thought
furnished me some satisfaction till |
remembered, with a desponding heart,
that he had passed no cabin for the last
two hours. The little struggling settle
ments that had thus far cheered my
route seemed to have vanished, and
nothing met my gaze save long, dark
stretch of thickly foliaged wood, pene-
trated alone by the narrow road l was
following. | gave hasty glance at the
lowering aspect of the sky behind, and
dashing the spurs into my noble horses
flank, rode smartly forward, solely IN
tent on gaining some place of shelter.
l had proceeded but short distance
in this way when my horse started
sharply back, pricking up his ears and
snorting wildly. l drew up the bridle-
check tightly, and looked carefully
around me in the vain attempt to learn
what had started my steed So violently.
Dismounting, 1 led my horse slowly
ahead, cautiously pulling aside the
bushes that skirted the road on either
side, and peering through into the for
est. Nothing of suspicious character
met my gaze, and coming to the con-
clusion that my horse had been fright
ened at some passing object, possibly a
squirrel, | was about to leap into the
saddle again when bit of paper,
fastened to bush, caught my attention.
Hastily advancing, l grasped the paper,
and unfolding it read:
"About three miles ahead is the old
Three Oak Inn.' Do not turn at fork
of the road which you will find about a
a mile on from here. If you do, look
out for trouble"
"Well, must say this is strange
eplstle. Who, wonder, has taken SC
much trouble to warn me of danger
Ha This might be only a trap to gel
me into danger. l will turn at the fork
in the road. Come, Rover" l kept on
as l vaulted into the saddle, 1--WE must
wait here no longer. There is storm
gathering over the hills, and we mus
be looking for shelter"
Even as l spoke gust of wind, ac
eompanied by few drops of rain, pre-
cursor of the coming storm, greeted u:
from behind, and touching Rover
slightly on the side with my whip, We
bounded forward into the fast gathering
darkness. intended to reach "Three
Oak Inn," if possible, before the