Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-06-14

There were tears in her voice, but 1t
was too dark to see whether they
dimmed her eyes.
'1t's too badp' said Griggs; "but 1
couldn't let Digby go on any account;
because, you see, If Mrs. Griggs SIould
be took, she'd die afore we could git DIR.
Lumston here on foot You see, when
she has these spells she's awful! Hello!
Who's coming now!"
| A close carriage drawn by two dark
horses had come up and halted by the
side of the overturned COACH 1t was
| just light enough to show me that there
were two men in the carriage, and that
they wore caps with the visors we'll
down and were mufiled we'll about the
throat; but it was chilly, raw evening,
and one needed to be muflled.
"What's the difIiculty?' asked one of
the men, in hoarse voice.
"Stage upset." said the landlord;
"axle-troe broke, and every thing went
to thunder"
"Well, you'll get your house filled to-
night, if you're the landlord of the
place back yonder," said the stranger
"Any gentleman hore that would like
to go on to Raybury? We would take
one down"
stepped quickly forward, and said l
should be greatly indebted if they
would give me a seat. And then / in
troduced myself-Henry Marsh.
"And here's young woman as is GO
ing, too" said the landlord; "her pas
sick, and she must git there, and 1
wouldn't think of having Digby out on
account of Mrs. Griggs uncertain
health. what's your name,
my dear?"
"Axtell," said the girl, Madeline
Axtell. My father is Howard Axtell,
of the Raybury bank"
The president of the bank for which 1
worked. ] knew Judge Axtell very
we'll, and was able to tell Miss Made
| line that his illness was not considered
dangerous. But still she insisted upon
going on, and at last, after some con-
siderable conversation between the two
strangers, inaudible to us, they consent
ed to take us both.
assisted Miss Axtell into the car
riage and took with her the back seat,
our companions occupying the front.
Only one lamp of the carriage was
burning, and that gave very dim light,
and the farther we went the deeper
seemed to grow the darkness. 1t was
a lonely road at any time to Raybury,
but now it was particularly gloomy, and
l was confident that Miss Axtell showed
to some degree the vague forebodings
which could not prevent myself from
experiencing, for she drew closer to me,
and once she asked me how long it
would be before we reached Monville-
the next village.
We came at last to Hemlock reach-a
long stretch of timber which intersected
the country at that point, and was some
three miles wide. There was not a house
for the whole three miles, and both sides
of the road were wooded almost to the
wheel rut.
AS the horse plunged into the black
ness of the place and painted and strug-
gled through the mud under foot
was confident that the two men spoke
together in subdued whispers, and
that L distinctly caught the words:
ID the girl" and "Fifty-fve hun
dred"
grew cold with dismay. Fifty-five
hundred dollars was just the amount l
had about me, and it seemed very pos
sible that these fellows had got informa-
tion to that effect, and that / was to be
robbed-perhaps murdered. If 1 had
been alone l should have felt no fear,
for am naturally what is called dare
devil sort of fellow, and ] had conf
dence in my courage and strength, as
well as in the pair of trusty revolvers 1
carrie in my breast-pocket.
But Miss Axtell? What would be-
come of her? If they conquered me she
would be wholly in their power, and if
they were what l took them to be-then
God help her!
We had travelled about half the dis
tance through the woods when the
horses were stopped abruptly, and one
Of the men rose up in his Sc at and faced
us.
Miss Axtell grasped my arm, and 1
knew that she was terrified by the
quick way in which her breath came,
but she did not Cry out, as most women
would have done.
''There is no need of mincing mat
| ters," said the man, with admirable
| coolness, land will come to the point
at once. You have SIS, 500 in your pos
session, and my friend here and myself
are in want of it, We planned the ac-
cident to the stage by saving the axle
half in two, and we happened along ex-
| pressly to take you down to RaySury.
The lady we did not reckon upon, but
could not we'll be ungallant enough to
refuse so much beauty in distress. And
now the question is, will you or will you
not give us this money!"
"Most decidedly 1 will not" was the
reply.
Then We must use force" said the
man, land l warn you now that will
murder you before 1 will allow you to
escape with the money! Give it up
peaoeably, and / pledge you my honor
that both yourself and the lady shall
be left at the next village safe and un-
molested."
al will never give up cent of the
money" said l, feeling my Indignation
| rise at the scou ndrePs ooolness; mot "a
cent of it, unless it Is taken from my