The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-05-30
him, for he found himself face to face
with his relentless prosecutor, Farmer
Price
CHAPTER K.
ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL

this moment Zad1e came out OF her
swoon, for Farmer Price had flown in
to towering rage on recognizing her
former lover. He had learned of his
escape from Jail, accompanied by Joe
Westbrook's pretty daughter. and had
heard it darkly limited that they had
taken refuge with the Tories in the
mountains. and now he jumped at
the conclusion that Robin had led the
Tories hithor for the purpose of carry
ing off his daughter. 1t would be an
effectual way of wreaking his revenge,
he argued, and at the same time pro-
curing plunder for his comrades.
"You Internal desperadol" he bawl-
ed loudly. $50 you thought to run off
with Zadie, after ALL Oh. never fear,
We'll not kill you. for it would be
shame to rob the gallows of its preyl
No. you thieving varletl Well put you
back in prison and keep you there until
the hangman calls for you. That s what
We'll do
Robin glared at his prosecutor def
antly and replied:
Whatever may be, old man, am
not perjurer l never kept man in
Jail on false charge. And, as for wish
ing to steal your daughter, have risk
ed my life to protect her.
eyes, indeed" broke in Zadie, who
had at last found voice to interpose,
''this man has defended me bravely
without letting me know who he was.
Then. turning to Robin. she continued
in a sorrowful tone of voice: $50 it
was you. Edward. who so bravely de-
Tended me from the Tories. Strange
that did not guess it beforep
| gazed at her in bewilderment, for her
words had cooling effect upon his
| rage.
"You say that this man defended
you, Zadie3'' he stammered out at last
eyes, father, she answered eagerly
"He fought the whole band for my
| sake.
"But he came here with the Tories.
He was one of them, returned Farmer
Price obviously. .
81 can explain all that. broke in a
sweet voice from the direction of the
staircase.
| And a moment afterward Polly came
| tripping into the attic.
| She carried a lantern in her hand.
and her countenance was illumined by
| its light. 1t could be seen that her
cheeks were flushed with excitement
and that an expression of triumph gilt
tered in her eyes.
"Come. =" she said gayly. beckonine
10 the group surrounding Robin. "Fol-
low me into the kitchen, and will tell
the story of this nights doings. The
Tories have fled to the mountains and
we need not fear disturbance 4"
'But my husband-Caleb-h he
escaped unharmed2'' asked Zadie in a
tone of voice which suggested the sus-
Ipicion that a negative answer would
not have broken her heart.
"Mr Shurker has been brutally NAL
treated" answered Polly, "but he will
soon be himself again. 1 will tell you
all about him when we reach the kitch-
en-.
'sThank you" returned Zadie faint
ly, with just trace of disappointment
in her tone
So they all followed Polly into the
kitchen. where the remainder of the
rescuing party were already gathered,
resting from the fatigues of the battle
and administering to the needs of Caleb
Shurker For, as Polly had said, this
unfortunate man had been very rough
ly treated by the bandits and was much
nearer dead than alive.
| While passing down the stairs from
the attic into the lower part of the
house they stumbled over the bodies of
several Tories who had been thrown
into such panic by the sudden onrush
of the rescuers that they had scarcely
raised hand in defense of their lives.
Evidences were nowhere wanting that
the surprise had been complete. On
reaching the kitchen Polly bade the
others be seated, while Zadie, like du-
tiful wife, went over to soothe and con-
sol her moaning husband. Farmer
Price, who was familiar with the do
mestic arrangements of the household
brought great jug of cider from the
cellar and also store of more substan
tial refreshments. These he placed OF
the table, saying:
, "Fall to, my lads, and eat and drinl
your fill. Yell find that cider most ex
cellent and the corn bread and baco1
very strengthening.
, The frontiersmen did not wait for ;
, second invitation, but fell to with ;
, will. and while they were disposing O
the eatables Polly told the story of he
ride
"Thank you. kind friends" she be
, gan, ''for the service you have rendered
: me this night. Perhaps you are no
} aware of the great obligations you hav
) placed me under. Well. listen, and
l will tell you'll
3 ''This man," pointing proudly a
3 Edward Robin, "was a captive witt
me in the mountains / had helped hin
} to escape from the Jail in which he wa
3 wrongfully confined, and we had fie
together to get married and begin lif
g over again in another part of the world
9 But unfortunately we were induced t
D accept the protection of Claudiu
Smith He promised to see that W
a were married and offered US retrea
q with his outlaws until the ceremon
was performed. But we soon foun
that we were his prisoners. He kept
guard placed over us and deprived u
!, of our liberty, and so it happened tina
t we were in position to become ac
e quainted with his designs
= "This morning." she continued, ''h
a returned after long absence to hi
camp and. after resting until late i
d the day, called council of his Officer
to lay the plans for this nights raid
t Realizing that he was up to some mi.