Evening journal., 1912-10-07
Saved In the
Nick Of Time
BY RUTH W. MALTBY


worked out their lands there. moved
on down the Ohio river TO appropriate
the virgin soil Of Kentucky.
Among those movers was a family
named Martin. the father and mother
being elderly persons. their elder chill
dren grown. A daughter. Hester, was
a girl OF eighteen. They settled not
far from where Bowling Green Is now
situated.
The war OF 1912 was being fought.
and soon after the arrival OF the Mar
tins in their new homo the battle Of
New Orleans was fought and won by
the Americans. or rather. the woods
men Of the west. among whom the
hunters Of Kentucky were conspicu-
ous. The war had been ended by
treaty before the battle. though the
news Of peace had not yet got across
the Atlantic. and soon after It was
over the troops came marching home.
A company OF Kentuckians recruited
from the region about where the Mar
tins lived was disbanded. and a young
man, Abner Armstrong. who had
marched away and returned as lieu
tenant, was among the number. At
the time Of his appearance John Bart
let. man Of forty years Of age. had
asked Martin for his daughter Hester's
hand. There were many mouths to
feed I'm Martins family, and Bartlett
was the only eultor who had establish
ed himself In the now country; there
fore Martin persuaded Hester to marry
him.
But before the wedding had taken
place along came the soldiers whose
rifles had won the battle OF New Or
leans. Young Armstrong was strap
ping, faxen haired. blue eyed boy with
every appearance OF mnnllness, but
withal an engaging smile. Hester look
ed az him and surrendered.
There is but little reason in youth.
Instead OF confessing to her father ana
her betrothed that she had not known
what love was and that having dis
covered il In the young soldier, she
had changed. Hester resolved on the
most desperate course to be conceived
OF. She told Armstrong. who was as
deeply smitten with her as she was
with him. that she could never face
either her father or her bctrothed to
tell them OF the change in her and the
only course left for them was to run
away. II was not likely that one who
had but recently helped to win battle
should show the white feather.
The only means OF conveyance in
those days IN Kentucky was a horse
Armstrong had but one animal, but il
served for both. They started on an
afternoon. and their fight was discov-
cred about o'clock the same night
Bartlett was notified. and when he
learned how he had been treated he
said
"I'n go after 'em and bring 'em back.
Then III tell 'em they kin cit married
for all me as soon as they like"
with this he mounted his horse his
rife slung 10 his saddle and pistols in
his holster. for no one went about un-
armed in those wild days. and. assum-
ing that the fugitiyes would make for
the Ohio river he rode straight north
ward. About midnight he saw a lurld
light on the clouds to the northeast
ward. and. thinking the fugitives had
bivouacked and built a FIRE, he turned
his horses head in that direction.
suddenly he refined IN 10 a stand and
listened A distant confused barking
fell upon his ear. He shuddered. 4
picture came before his minds eye
painted by the hand OF experience. A
Kentuckian. he knew that the harks
he heard were those OF wolves and
that one Of the ways OF fighting wolves
was by fire lie saw the girl he had
hoped to make his wife and the man
she had cloped with besieged by hun
rry beasts.
Urging forward his horse. guided by
the light, the barks growing more dis
tinct as he approached. he finally
burst in upon the very scene he had
pictured. Armstrong and Hester oc-
cupied the center Of a circle Of FIRE
tney had built 70 keep OF the pack.
Armstrong; ammunition had been ex-
pended. and whenever wolf snaried
too close he beat II back with the bar
rel OF his rife or with a burning brand.
Hester. like n true daughter Of the
forest was braycly arranging the wood
they had gathered TO keep Il burning.
Having ridden as far ms his terrified
horse would 60. Bartlett disrdountet
and. aiming at a wolf. shot him dead.
Then. while the pack were deyouring
their companion. the rifle was reload
ed and another wolf was brought
down. Drawing nearer 70 the besieged
couple. Bartlett called upon them 10 run
toward him while he covered their re
treat They started Hester in ad-
vance. The wolves sprang after them
and Just as their leader was nbout 10
spring upon Armstrong who was NOV.
ing with his face 10 them. Bartlett shot
the beast dead. This gave Armstrong
time to make good his retreat. and be
fore the wolves had finished eating the
carcass already slain the throe per
sons had got away.
The next morning all appeared al
the Martin home Bartlett. without o
word Of reproach. released Hester from
her engagement TO him. and her father
consented to her marriage with Arm
strong as soon as he had a cabin e
put her in. But the latter proved a
J better soldier than pioneer and never
, got the cabin. In time Hester married
> Bartlett Of her own free will.