Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-08-01
the horse, sale

"Ah, Mr.. Firestone, you are horse
thief as well rs Il moonshiner! It's
strange to me if that is not Judge FL
bridges horse"
The captured man now spoke for the
first time. "Idiotv' he said; lido you
know what risk you are mourning In
coming herep You are right, / am
Hank Firestone, and you can not take
me hundred steps, hardly, before my
friends will see us. And if they do
your life will be snuffed out in as
quick time rs it takes to cock and pull
a trigger. Go, fool, while you have
chance, and don't tamper with Hank
Firestoner'
"Ah, replied John, coolly enough,
you seem to forget, Mr.. Firestone, that
just now / hold the trump cards in this
game. l know these roads pretty well,
and l think we can get to Smithville
in about three hours without meeting
any of your friends. 1t is Just ten
miles to town, and we will walk and
ride, turn about. You have just been
riding, so l will take rest, and you
can lead the horse. Get up and 60
ahead. l will be the guide and in
struct you which way to turn"
Slowly enough, Firestone arose and
did as he was told, while Thurber, pis-
toll in hand, mounted the horse. 1t
was queer procession, but Thurber
decidedly had the most of the fun.
After awhile they changed off; John
walked, but he took care to have his
man well covered and, as he told him,
he would have shot him instantly if he
had attempted to ride the horse faster
than a walk. All the way to Smith
vile the captured outlaw spoke never
n word.
1t was midnight when they reached
town, and on their way up the deserted
street they passed Judge Eldridge's
house.
"Have you any objection to stopping
hereP" asked the moonshiner.
"What forP"
"Oh, / have fancy to see the Judge.
Maybe he will arrange for me to have
better quarters than one would get
down at the courthouse.
81 don't think he's home, but we'll
see. Indeed, | would just as soon 60
in, if he is home"
"That is his horse" said the outlaw,
"and we may as we'll leave it in the
barn."
So the horse was led TO the barn,
and Thurber and his prisoner walked
up to the house.
As is often the case in country houses,
especially i'm the South, no doors were
fastened, and the two men entered and
walked into little room near the en-
trance, which the Judge used rs Ii
brary and office. Thurber was famil-
lar with the room, and ordered his man
to strike light, which he did, awk-
wardly enough.
Before you call the Judge" said
Firestone, 81 would like to ask you
two questions. First, what are you
going to do with me; and, second, what
brought you out after me tonight"
First. them" replied Thurber, II
am going to land you safely in Jail in
the care of United States Marshal
Second, l came after you to do myself
q good turn"
perhaps know more than you think
do" said the prisoner "You Want
to marry Sadie Eldridge, and with that
surety you wouldn't care q d
whether / was in Jail or not"
John Thurber stared at his man.
"Well, / don't know how in the devil
you read my thoughts so well, but
you're pretty nearly right"
While Thurber was speaking, Hank
Firestone bent his head down within
reach of his hands, which were at
short range IN account of his pinioned
arms. With his hands he removed his
dark, long beard and his wig of jet
black hair, and, as he raised himself to
his full height, he revealed the gray
head and smooth shaven face of---Judge
Eldridge!
al have played this game success
fully for twenty years, John Thurber,
but you have euchrea me at last. l,
Amos Eldridge, am also Hank Fire
stone-though not one of my men up
in the mountains have even suspicion
of the fact. You played risky game
tonight, John Thurber, but you won
the trick. l am in your hands, of
course"
In view of the fact that John Thur
Der married, few weeks later, Sadie
Eldridge, and that the highly respected
Judge Eldridge was present to enter
tain the wedding guests, it is to be pre-
sumed that the young lawyer showed
some clemoncy to the captured Hank
Firestone. 1t Is certain that the cap
ture remained profound secret in the
town of Smithville. To this day there
are old citizens who wonder what be-
came of the bold Hank Fircstone, and
there are even some who regret the
sudden decline, twenty years ago, Of
the Illicit shisky stills in the neighbour
hood of Smithville.