St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-26

more, | was aroused by not unpleas-
ant voice calling on
Hello, stranger! Where be you trav-
cling to ?'
10 Brookvilie." [ replied to man
sitting on the canal bank.
wait, and I'll join you" he replied,
adding, dad company's better than
none, as the wolf said to the sheep"
[ halted, while he picked up his loot
ton trunk" and came across the road.
"Well. sir. which of us Is bad COM
pany, and which the wolf ?' l de-
manded.
stranger, Pm bad company, but Pm
not wolfish, no more'n you're sheepish.
I'm gentle gazelle."
land soft as geutle ?'' l asked.
"Ihey call me a hard case, and fear
that ann
lyon need have no such fear; but
where are you going? what's your
business? and why do you travel afoot ~
inquired.
Though it don't concern you to
know, Pll be civil. Pm a jour. timer,
going home to visit my folks. My kit Of
tools is III this bundle. | travel afCot
and work enough along the road to pay
my way. At most all the houses | find
tins to mend, so l pay my way like
gentleman"
l reciprocated the tramp's conf
dence, i'll measure, ana Oh further ac-
Quaintance found him fairly well in
formed and possessed of ineXhauStible
humor. but deficient in useful common
sense. He soon pointed to double
cabin short distance head, and re-
marked:
"l'll bet you they've got tins to mend
at that house."
He was right; and quickly earned
three bits and two drinks of whisky,
soldering leaky vessels. Further along
he maze half dollar, being. he told
me. two dollars and half III that day.
About o'clock we reached the east
ern end of the bridge across Whitewater
river, opposite the city, aud at store
here we inquired for liquor. The mer-
chant sold us quart mot to be drunk
on the premises), suggesting, as it was
raining, that we drink it in the shelter
of the covered bridge, and lending us
pitcher and cups. We found three
other men with 4 Jug of whisky OH the
bridge, and were invited to join them.
but l didn't fancy their looks. After
we drank what we wanted of our liquor
my companion poured the remainder
into the other party's jug, and on re-
turning the pitcher and cups L waited
reSuming my journey, | called my fell
low tramp to come on, but he delayed
until l had nearly reached the further
end of tue bridge, when he came up,
saying:
"Say, them fellers offer me pretty
good thing. They start for Strawtown
tomorrow and have got five horses. If
We'll go along they'll let US ride the
extra horses for nothing"
I'M not going to Strawtown."
They'll go through Raineville, which
is close to where your folks live. You
can ride there.''
But | must wait here for my brother,
and have besides to see parties in Rush
vile. More than that, I'd advise you
not to go with them"
why not?'
You don't know who they are. and
1t is not always best to associate with
strangers"
"But they are real good fellers. l
guess Pll go with 'em. and l wish you
would. Where'll you stop in town?''
"At the White Horse tavern"
''Pll como round, for L want to see
you again."
You'll find me there, but come
early"
He now returned to the group, while |
h"iilCu W liie Ihll. ABOUT y CLOCK
my tramp called upon me. He was
still undecided, aud l again warned
him against the strangees, though |
dared not tell him all thought about
them. He seemed to have decided
against going with them. telling he
that he had $500, sewed in the waist
band OF his trousers, which he was
anxious about. | retired early and sup
posed that he followed my example
While at breakfast next morning. a Mr..
Holt came in and asked the landlord.
Ibid You lose any horses last night?"
mo. Why"' was responded.
"Mckane lost his pair of blacks, and
Lester his big bay and the roam mare"
Lost them? How?"
"Why, stolen; and Bile Marvin's sor-
rel was found saddled and bridled in his
Stable this morning. l guess one of the
| gang got left"
Imagine my feelings while listening.
Was that horse Saddled and brldled for
me? Was | the zone of the gang" who
got left? Would be suspected of COM
plicity with the scoundrels?
Landlord" asked. has that man
who was with me last night break tasted
yet?".
No, sir; he went away with sandy
WhlSkered chap, soon after you went to
bed"
''What has he to do with the stolen
horses" Mr.. Holt inquired.
"a good deal, perhaps" l returned,
"but hope not, for believe him nom
est, though simple"
had arisen from the table and start
| ed towards the door while speaking
but now added:
us Mr.. Berkeley still sheriff."
Inc reply was affirmative. Suspect.
ing that Mr.. Holt intended delaying me,
l seized his arm. as exclaimed,
Il must see him at once. Come with
me, please" and forced HIM along as
far as the door, when my brother
entered.
After brief explanation, the four OF
us mounted his wagon and drove to the
Sherltf'S house, where | related all that
had passed between my tramp and N.Y.
self, about the others. telling especially
what had been said about the road thew
intended following through the woods
to deserted house.
They Must mean Polly Strong's old
cabin. That's the only deserted house
III that direction" said my brother.
IL thought of that" l added.
After short parley, the others ac-
cepted our surmlSe, and it was not long
until the sheriff had a posse of twelve
armed. mounted and in pursuit. The
road we followed was little used, aflC
the fresh tracks of our ga Hoping horses
were easily seen. We continued il
this about nine miles, then turned tt
the left into a BRIDE path, through
dense wood. About two miles distant
this brought us into road leading due
west, on which we travee some three
miles, until we crossed a rivulet anC
ascende q slight elevation. We were
now less than mile from the cabi1
and Determined to IN owe cautiously, les
the thieves should take alarm. The
force was divided into four squads O.
three men each, which were directed t.
stations on its four sides and within
about half mile of the cabin, where
they were TO halt until 10 o'clock. A
that hour all were to move briskly for
ward upon the house and completely
surround il. This maneuyer. though