The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-05-16


''I don't know. I'm sure. was the
Indifferent answer. ''for I'm not at all
interested in the matter ;"
Apparently satisfied with this reply.
Captain Smith withdrew from the cav
ern and sought a resting place in Sc
cluded crevice of the rocks.
$50 there is to be a council of officers
to decide upon the plans for this raid,
unused Polly after he had gone. "Well.
I'll make it point to be present at the
meeting and hear what the outlaws
have to say. Then 1 will tell Edward
ell. and together we may be able to out
wit them.
With this idea in view she quietly
left the cavern and began carelessly
promenading the platform outside. She
observed with feeling of satisfaction
that the outlaws were so busily engaged
in making preparations for their excur-
sion that they accorded her but pass
ing notice Some were examining the
| locks of their muskets others were pre-
pairing cartridges. while others again
were grouped around grindstone
awaiting their turn to sharpen their
sabers Richard Smith was sitting
apart from the rest cleaning huge
horse pistol and knowing that he would
be present at the council Polly deter
mined not to let him out of her view.
Several hours passed by, and she was
beginning to grow weary of waiting
when Claudius Smith appeared among
his outlaws and commanded the officers
to follow him. Then he led the way to
the place he had fixed upon for the
council. AS this was in part of the
rocks outside the camp. Polly feared
that she would not be able to reach it
unobserved Watching her opportunity,
however. she managed to steal away
unseen and by making a wide circuit
to reach the place of conference unmo-
lested.
Fortunately for her. the Tory officers
had chosen for their meeting place a
kind of basin surrounded on all sides by
huge bowlders. This enabled her to
creep within hearing and to watch
them without her presence being sus-
pected Glancing through an opening
between two powders. she observed
that Claudius Smith was talking eager
ly to his officers. who were grouped
around him with an expression of close
attention upon their evil faces.
The cheeks of the bandit captain
were flushed. and his eyes glittered
cruelty. while the ferocity of his coun-
tenance was heightened by livid scar
which extended diagonally across il
from his forehead to his chin. He was
explaining the plan of his intended
campaign. and this is what Polly heard
him say:
'sI'm out for rich haul this time,
lads. and 1 know just whar to make it.
There's no use wearing ourselves out
on wild goose chase for plunder whe1
!, enough may be got by one bold stroke
to enrich us all Now, while was il
Jail at Kingston fellow prisoner told
me of rich old miser who lives neal
Shawangunk mountain. He said the
old rascal had thousands of pounds
concealed somewhere about his house
and it's my intention to seize him ani
make him show me the hiding place.
''But s'posing the old miser won't
tell?" asked Richard Smith. with {
growl.
"I'n find means to make him blab
my son, his father answered grimly
81 reckon he'll come to terms quicl
enough after I've stretched his neck ;
bit. 4"
This answer seemed to remove al
doubts from his sons mind, for after ;
!, brief pause he inquired: ''But what i
: : this miser's name. dad? If we dom
! know that, we are likely to fail. afte
: all. for there's many rebel farmer liv
!. !. ing near Shawangunk mountain.
Polly bent forward eagerly to catcl
2 . the chieftain's answer.
For a moment the miser's nam
seemed to have escaped his memory
Then a CLEAN of sudden recollection
shot from his eyes, and he cried out tri
: umphantly:
"Caleb Shurker's the varlet's name
: my boyl Blarst me. if l warn't nea
forgetting itl''
Without waiting to hear more Poll,
stole back to the cavern.