Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-06-28

| Oner; that scene would follow, and
the prisoner, escaping, would seek safe
ty in the Shiny caves which penetrated
the sides of the limestone ledge. He
even dreamed about it and awoke one
night imbued with the idea that the
house was surrounded by mounted
horsemen. Day by day his suspicious
increased, until finally from fear of
Jessie's falling in love with villain he
decided to drive him away.
Hayes was an ordinary looking nan
of about 8 feet 10, hair brown, eyes
blue and rather quick and nervous in
his speech. 1t was suspicion of en-
barrassment in'the latterJrespect when
| questioned as to his business that first
| led Mosby to observe his actions, and
his preference for the old quarry road,
which was rough and ,swamIy and led
through "a tangled growth of under
brush, seemed evident enough that he
belonged to those who prefer darkness
rather than light.
These suspicious made ,Mosby, nat
nrally a hospitable man, cold and sa-
tirical, and many an arrow of sarcasm
was plumed for his victims breast but
Hayes usually seemed perfectly obliv-
ionsof their meaning, fact which only
further determined Mosby in the belief
that he was q bad one.
The season had been exceedingly dry.
For nearly month not drop of rain
had fallen. The sand lay in drifts in
the middle of the road and blew away
from the roots of the trees. During the
Previous weeks q great fine had been
raging to the northward, several towns
being razed to the ground and wide
stretch of timber ruined. The ledge of
rocks referred to ran in a crescent and
acted as barrier to the flames, 80 that
the country over which Mosby presided
was left unharmed.
This great northern section, however,
where the fires had been so destructive,
was inhabited by wolves, which now.
goaded by fire and hunger, sought safe
ty to the southwark. Mosby saw them
frequently, and their baying could be
heard at night while prowling through
the woods in search of food.
When Mosby went on the tramp, he
invariably took his rifle with him, hop
ing to obtain enough pelts during the
season for a robe.
Wolves" he used to say to Hayes,
"are about all the game you will find |
about these quarters, but if you want |
to kill any you'd better throw away
your six shooters and get a rife, for all |
the things are good for is to kill men,
and ! reckon the people around here are |
apeaceable lot. OF course, it might be |
q good thing If one wanted to escape |
from constable, but we are presuming
that you want to kill animals" But |
his arguments as to the relative merits |
and uses of the two weapons had little |
effect on Hayes, who still continued to |
carry the pistols and make excursions |
not into the woods-where, Mosby ven-
tured, there might be a stray deer if |
one happened to see it"-but toward the |
quarry and the hills.
Whether Mosby wanted to keep watch
Of his strange boarder's actions that
day or whether his business led in that
direction we cannot say, but he spent
the afternoon exploring the timber
abutting the highlands. His observa-
tions were quite minute, and the sun
was beginning to redden the clouds in
the west when he started for home, and
by the time he reached the road it had
become quite dark. He had about |
eight miles to cover, but the way was
50 rough that he made slow progress.
Here and there moonbeam glistened
on sandy opening, but for the greater
part of the time the foliage of the trees
entirely obstructed the light, so he
slumped wearily along, musing upon
the events of the previous weeks and
wondering where Hayes had gone to
spend the night.
A warm breeze swayed the tops of
the huge pines; this and the sticks
which cracked under his feet were all
that broke the silence of the night-all
until from the distance came suddenly
to his ears the hoarse baying Of wolf.
From time to time it was repeated, un-
til from another direction arose an an
swering howl, prolonged and mournful.
Mosby plodded along, giving little
heed except wishing that he could get
sight on one of the varmints in bright
spot of moonlight. The bowling Of the
wolves gradually became more frequent
and began to sound nearer and nearer.
Mosby came to a halt and examined
the condition of his gun, and then, al
though feeling that the rife insured his
safety, began to hasten his steps. By
the time he had covered another half
mile he knew that there was danger be-
hind, for the weird sounds had in
creased into din and an uproar. They
were evidently on his trail and rapidly
approaching, dozens Of them perhaps,
courageous at last from strength of
number. He realized that there would
be scant time for reloading gun after
once firing and looked about for tree
which he could climb and pick them off
one at a time, but where there were
trees the darkness was so deep that the
project had to be abandoned as imprac-
ticable, and he could not endure the
thought of remaining prisoner all
night in the uncomfortable branches of
pine tree on account of few wolves.
This decision was scarcely reached when
he would gladly have changed it, for
moment later the wolves reached the
road behind him and were coming along
at long leaps, filling the air with their
mournful screams.
Mosby, still cool and confident, raised
his rife to his shoulder. A gray form
flashed in the light little distance
away, and he fred. The bowling of the
pack suddenly ceased as one Of their
number rolled in the sand, and Mosby.
after reloading, started on trot to-
ward a small opening. Before b
reached it they were in pursuit again.