The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-03-24
NUMBER "a.

steep. smooth bank and tumble It
somehow into a broad. low sided boat
ought to be possible for him
lie took hold of one of the strong
handles of the chest and dragged it
little way. Then he stopped and sat
down on it.
NO said he aloud; mot IL it was q
million"
Horton sat down on the chest and
waited. Ten minutes passed. and then
he became aware of two men In the
mouth of a patti through the bushes.
Even in the uncertain moonlight they
were Creekers beyond a shadow Of
doubt
Horton raised his useless weapon.
''Don't you fellers come any higher"
he said.
Its the express carr cried one Of
the men excitedly. Its the car they
put the gold in, The wind must "a
blown her loose"
Horton reflected upon what Banks
had said about the amount of informa-
ton possessed by the Creekers.
Never mind what she is he said.
on one knee behind the chest. You
| fellers stand back"
| A parley ensued which seemed mean
| ingless to Horton until en- unexpected
| and painful explanation of it was
| thrust upon him. \ third member Of
| the gang who had been making a
strategic detour willie the others held
Horizons attention suddenly precipi-
tated himself upon the young mans
4 N..s. all
upon him. and he was helpless. His
arms were strapped behind him with q
leather belt. and his legs were similar
ly secured
"Its strong box. boys" said one OF
the Creekers. bending over the chest.
"We can't open it here. We amt got
much time"
Load it into the boat and take It
down stream" said another. That's
our only show
They began to struggle with the
chest and Horton with his bonds.
Tears of rage were in the young mans
eyes.
'If get loose" he said to himself,
I'll slaughter the whole three of 'em.
It's in me to do it"
The belt around his arms snapped
with loud noise. He sprang to his feet,
forgetting that his legs were tied, and
fell in heap. An instant later, how
ever, he was free. He ran down the
bank, but the chest was already In the
!; boat. and the men had pushed out into
the swift current
For a moment Horton meditated the
folly of plunging in. hoping that be
might reach the boat and upset it
Then a cry from the top of the slope
arrested his attention
r Wiggin and half a dozen others came
running down the slope. Horton plod
e ded up to meet them
r q couldn't hold EN-" he said In q
tone of despair. They got away with
, it,
D "Ye done jest rightv' exclaimed 81
E las, grasping him by the hand 'The
: gold is safe
S SAFER echoed Horton. amazed.
b "It never was in the chest" said 81
f las. ITS in them three sacks"
q He dragged away a bit of the wreck
age and exposed the sacks to view.
e "For the love of heaven Hortol
began.
I look here. Joe Horton" said Silas
interrupting. there's two ways o.
workin' in this world Ones with We
J. hands. the others with yer head Her
e was this gold. an no way to guard il
i A slit with knife would "a got it
S knew the Creekers was comm, an
d couldn' stop 'em. l had to go fer hell
an leave ye here. an We was under {
d cloud. joe. They said ye'd stole money
l. $50 what did l do? Findin' =
L thought the gold was in the chest,
d let We think so. an give We schem
n TO git away With it. If ye'd done II
the Creekers would "a caught We bt
I fore We could have loaded the ches
into the boat. If We stayed here ar
made a bluff for the chest. the Creel