Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1907-09-11

1t Is along u lonely road. passing
through Il lonely forest. No light Is
visible save that from stray moon
beams percolating through the closely
woven boughs of trees and overgrow-
ing shrubbery. The band assemblies
in silent conference for n few mo-
ments. The leader utters few words
I'm mysterious lingo. Instantly all but
four OF their number disappear In the
forest These have been chosen TO
perform the deed. They confer eager
" with each other for few seconds.
then depart In opposite directions,
two each way along the roadside. vt
a given interval each man halts. lies
fat on his stomach ON the ground and
with suppressed breathing awaits his
unsuspecting victim.
The wait is n long and tedious one.
But that matters little. Long school
ing in the art has taught the thug the
virtue OF patience. and he lies as i'm
movable as n statue of bronze.
Suddenly II long laugh is heard above
a bend in the road. following a chorus
OF lnughrer The travellers are having
IA good time. Wine Is flowing freely.
and they know no care. Little do they
suspect the danger that awaits them.
Their laughter will soon be changed
to the death rattle.
The clattcr OF ponies feet. already
audible. sounds nearer, and the thugs
begin 10 evince signs OF eagerneSs to
proceed with the job. They are anx-
ious 10 5e up and doing. An Increased
lbrilliancy illumines their eyes. and n
callous hand flies TO each muscular.
slim waist. But the travellers carouse
and make merry I'm the face OF death.
And now the party has turned the
bend. Their jollity increases tenfold.
and they whip their frisking ponies
Into n gallop. They are racing with
each other AS they near the spot
where the men are concealed the speed
OF the ponies increases. The first
thug, fearing lest they pass him, ut.
ters groan of dismay. The riders,
who are now opposite the strangers,
halt at the sound Instantly another
sound Is heard, like the cry OF n wild
pheasant. Another follows, then an.
other, but this time less audibly. rs
II the bird has already winged its
flight to n distant tree.
The thug has thus made amends for
his imprudence. BY initiating the cry
or bird he has deceived his victims.
With still louder laughter the riders
whip up their ponies. Like specters in
the night. four forms rise out OF the
darkness. -Four cords are unwound
from their girdles, and the strangers
fling the nooses at the travellers. Like
the sound OF a stone from n sling. each
cord whizzes through the air. The
moose encircles the neck, and q small
oval ball OF lead strikes the back of
the head. The blow has been of such
violence that the rider Is stunned. He
looses his reins and falls to the ground
Immediately the loop is frightened
The eyes bulge, the lips swell, and the
tongue rigidly protrudes. The cord is
drawn still tighter. Two minutes later
I the four merrymakers are dead
Quickly the murderers rush to their
victims, loosen the cords and carry the
bodies TO the forest, where the re
mainder of the band is. They receive
congratulations and feast In honor OF
their success. Later the bodies arc
stripped of their valuables Shallow
holes are then dug in the, ground; d
short ceremony Of thanksgiving Is of
fered to the all powerful goddess Kali
the corpses are dumped into the holes
and covered with dirt. The gang theI
moves TO its next field OF action, leav
ing the bodies for the jackals.-Cincin
natl Enquirer.