The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-04-03
A TRAP FOR AwITNEss.

meeting OF human being. /,
One day came upon two men who
had dismounted at the wayside, and were
seated on log chatting, while their !
horses browsed socially at little dis |
lance. Is
One of the two like myself, was evil
IDENTIFY traveller, while the tow cloth
hunting shirt and coonskin cap of the
other-to say nothing of his long rifle
and weather-beaten face-betokened the
genuine backwoodsman.
For some time had been waiting an
opportunity of inquiring the way to dis
tant settlement, at which proposed to
make temporary stop, and here, doubt
less, was the very man to supply the in
formation.
Jest light and rest your critter fer
minit,n said the woodsman, when l had
put my question; ''men this gentleman
II be through presently"
Accepting the invitation soon dlscov-
cred that the business that | had inter
rupted was horse trade, which, OF
course took precedence over every other
matter.
The swap, which had already made
substantial progress, was speedily COM
pleted. The traveller, whose animal was
somewhat iaded-his reason probably
woodsman $50 boot" and, mounting
his hackney, took hasty leave, appar-
emily DESTROYS not to give the other
party time to rue"
| repeated my inquiry, and was told
there was no road, not even a b1dle-
path within many miles of where we
were, leading to the place where
wished to reach.
| offered to pay the man literally to
guide me to some point whence l could
find may way alone. A bargain was at
once concluded, and in less than half an
hour we were jogging along like old &C
quaintances.
That night we camped out supping on
some jerked venison my guide had in his
pouch, and lettering our horses IN the
edge of small prairie which afforded
good grazing; and the next afternoon
about one we struck travelled track,
which my companion assured me, had
only to follow straight ahead to reach
my destination.
Here we shook hands and parted and
it was a month afterward at my own
home that nv western Journey was WV
idly called to mind by the following par
agraph;
"A traveller Murdered-By our last adj
vices from we learn that an I'M
known traveller was found murdered on
the first June last. The act was at first
attributed to some marauding bands OF
Indians who have lately shown them
selves troublesome. But later develop
ments fasten the crime on John Slower, a
white man found in the possession of the
dead mans horse and some money lden-
titled by tavern keeper who had given
the traveller change for note the day be-
fore his body was discovered. The lat
ter was last seen alive in Stover's COM
pany. the two having ridden away to-
gether from the strangers last stopping
place. The criminal barely escaped
iynching and will have little to expect
from a jury of the vicinage."
John Stover!" / exclaimed. why,
that the name of my late guide"
The recollection of the horse trade
came back like flash. 1t had taken
place on tina last day of May, and from
left my company.
1t was impossible he could have com
mitted the crime for which his life stood
in peril. The swap explained his pos
session of the horse, and the boot money
that of the bills found upon him.
There was no time to lose if an inno-
cent man was to be saved from the gal
lows. The mails were too tedious and
roundabout to be trusted and the tele'
graph was yet uninvented. There was
nothing to do but to stage it as far as
practicable and make the rest of the way
on horseback. At any cost, felt com
PEELED to prevent the wrongful taking OF
fellow creatures life.
1t was dark when l reached settle
ment twenty miles from where the trial
was to come off. 1t was set dawn,
learned, for the following day, and to bt
in time must proceed that night.
The road is hard enough to find by
daylight" said the host of the little inr
at which had ordered supper and bali
for my horse. Besides, there are In
dams prowlings about and they're ugly
customers to meet with at night"
Il have no choice" | replied. "A
man is to be tried for his life tomorrow
whose innocence l can prove; for hi
was in my company, miles from thu
scene of the crime he is charged with a
the time of its commission"
But if you miss your way" returned
the other, "you will lose instead of gain
time"
Perhaps one of these gentlemen
said, turning to group of three who
had been listening attentiyely, "wll
agree to guide me. ! am willing to pa!
literally for the service"
The three conferred apart for few
moments.
I'm summoned as witness myself,
said one, "but hadn't intended startin
Jest yit. However, if you're in hurry
don't mind keepin' you company"
| thanked him for his friendly offer
and we were soon in our saddles.
There is a shorter cut than goin' b!
the road" said my companion, when w
were clear of the settlement.
gave myself into his guidance, and HI
led the way into the woods, which wert
open to be ridden through without diff
Guilty.
We had gone but mile or two, whel
the man whispered:
"Hushr'
A sound of galloping behind was plain
lyaudible.
Indians" We must ride for on
lives!' said my comrade, in the SAINT
low whisper. Put your horse to hi
best. and keep straight ahead, while
bring up the rear and look out for thu
rascals.h
Clapping spurs to my horse, on who's
speed and spirit knew / could safely
count. | was soon considerably in ad
vance of my companion. There was NJ
moon, but the starlight enabled me t.
avoid the trees, needless of the scratches
from the thick underground l dashed
on.
Suddenly, with frightened snort, M
horse reared till he stood almost up
right The quickness Of the motion
threw me from his back. Then losing
his balance, the terrified animal, with ;
shrek more piercing than human voice
ever uttered, plunged headlong over thu
precipice which the foliage had con
cealed, and went crashing down upon thu
rocks far below.
That was the victim of treachery wa
the first thought that flashed upon me
and the next was that the safety Of my
life depended on the belief Of my enc
mics that it had already been destroyed
Quietly as possible | crept beneath the
shelter Of a thicket and lay perfectly still
Before long | heard voices, and soon 9
light was struck; and with a torch o
dried bark, which one of them held,
distinguished the features of the three
men seen at the inn, one of whom haC
volunteered to be my guide. The!
found the tracks of my horse where h,
had gone over the brink, and gave
laugh of satisfaction.
'Now, Slower must hang beyond
doubt" said one, ''and we may breath,
freely: for had his innocence beel
proved the suspicion more than onct
whispered against ourselves would b.
revived, and who knows what nigh
have happened?''
Then they discussed among them
selves the sickening details of the mur
der, of which they had been the real au
thors, and chuckled over the money the.