Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-04-04

That Will do i nave as mucn more
to add TO 1t. We must push for Carson
City through the mountains You had
best wake Lucy. Il is as well that the
servants do not sleep in the house.
While Ferrier was absent preparing
his daughter for the approaching jour
ney Jefferson Hope packed all the eata-
bles that he could find into small par
eel and filed stoneware jar with wa
ter, for he knew by experience that the
mountain wells were few and far be-
tween. He had hardly completed his
arrangements before the farmer return
ed, with his daughter all dressed and
ready for start The greeting between
the lovers was warm, but brief, for min
ntes were precious, and there was much
TO be done.
Eve must make our start at once, |"
said Jefferson Hope, speaking in ID low
but resolute voice, like one who realizes
the greatness Of the peril, but has steel
ed his heart to meet it. THE front and
back entrances are watched, but with
caution we may get away through the
side window and across the fields. Onos
on the road we are only two miles from
the ravine where the horses are waiting.
By dayGreak we should be half way
through the mountains.
"What If we are stoppedr' asked
Ferrier.
Hope slapped the revolver butt which
protrnded from the front Of his tunlo.
''If they are too many for Us, we shall
take Two CT three Of them with u.s. he
said, with a sinister smile.
The lights inside the house had all
been extinguished, and from the dark
ehed window Ferrier peered over the
flelds which had been his own, and
which he. was now about to abandon
forever. He had long neryed himself to
the sacrifice, however, and the thought
Of the honor and happiness of his daugh-
ter ontweighed any regret at his ruined
fortunes. All looked so peaceful and
happy-the rustling trees and the broad,
silent stretch of grain land-that it was
difficult to realize that the spirit of
murder lurked through il all Yet the
white face and set expression Of the
young hunter showed that in his ap-
proach to the house he had seen enough
to satisfy him upon that head.
Ferrier carried the bag of gold and
notes. Jefferson Hope had the scanty
provisions and water, while Lucy had
IA small bundle containing few of her
moro valued possessions. Opening the
window very slowly and carefully, they
waited until a dark cloud had some-
what obscured the night, and then one
oy one passed through into the little
garden. With bated breath and crouch
ing figures they stumbled across it and
gained the shelter of the hedge, which
they skirted until they came to the gap
which opened into the eornfield. They
had just reached this point when they
young man seized his two companions
and dragged them down into the shad-
ow, where they lay silent and trem-
bling.
Tt was as we'll that his prairie train
ing had given Jefferson Hope the ears
of a lynx. He and his friends had hardly
erouohed down before the melancholy
hooting Of mountain owl was heard
within few yards Of them, which was
Immediately answered by another hoot
at small distance At the same mo-
ment a vague shadowy figure emerged
from the gap for which they had been
making and uttered the plaintive signal
cry again, on which second man ap-
peared out Of the ebscurity.
Tomorrow at midnight, said the
first. who appeared to be in authority,
when the whippoorwill calls three
times.
"It is well," returned the other.
"Shall I tell Brother Drebber2"
Pass it on to him and from him to
the others. Nine to seven,
Seven to five, repeated the other,
and the two figures fitted away in DIFF
ferent directions. Their concluding
words had evidently been some form of
sign and oountersign. The instant that
their footsteps had died away in the
distance Jefferson Hope sprang to his
feet. and helping his companions
through the gap led the way across the
fields at full speed, supporting and half
carrying the girl when her strength ap-
peared to fail her.
Hurry On, hurry on," he gasped
from time to time. I'VE are through
the line of sentinels Everything de-
pends on speed Hurry on. -
Once on the high road, they made
rapid progress Only once did they meet
any one, and then they managed to slip
into field and SO avoid recognition
Before reaching the town the hunter
branohed away into rugged and mar
row footpath which led into the noun
tains. Two dark. jagged peaks loomed
above them through the darkness, and
the defile which led between them was
she Eagle canyon, in which the horses
were awaiting them. With unerring
instinct jefferson Hope picked his way
among the great bowlders and along
the bed OF dried up water course until
he came to the retired corner, screened
with rocks, where the faithful animals
had been picketed. The girl was placed
upon the mule, and old Ferrier npou
one Of the horses, with his money bag.
while Jefferson Hope led the other along
the precipitous and dangerous paths.
It was bewildering ronte for any
one who was uot accustomed TO face
nature in her widest moods. On the
one side great crag lowered up |, ,o00
feet or more. black. stern and menac
ing, with long basaltic columns apou
his rugged surface like the ribs Of some
petrified monster On the other hand
wild chaos of bowlders and debris
made all advance impossible. Betweer
the two and the irregular track, SO mar
row in nlaoeg that they had to trava