Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-08-11


might go. l suggested that she say to
Mccormick that she was interested in
her fathers buying property and ask
him to point out any that he knew
was for sale.
When Belle came back from her ride
she told me that her companion had
made violent love to her, telling her
that it was case of love at first sight.
that the moment he saw her he knew
they were made for each other. She
had responded so far as her indigna-
ton would permit and acknowledged
that she was very much pleased with
him.
Several days passed, during which l
was laying a plan for The EePS cap
ture. / knew he was armed to the
teeth and, unless / could cOntrive to
get his arms away from him, / could
not take him without fight. On one
occasion a sheriff had got drop on
him and called on him to throw up his
hands. The Eel had obeyed, but had
swung his right arm up so vigorously
as to throw a derringer into his hand,
with which he had shot the sheriff. l
must either kill the rascal or take him
alive. If took him alive l proposed
to effect the capture through the mach
nations OF Delilah.
1t was well l had announced that l
had money, for l learned that Nc
COrmick had been counting another
girl In HobsOn, and bait was needed
to draw him away from her. My funds
succeeded. Belle very soon Informed
me that she had promised to marry
him-provided l gave my consent.
held an interview with the propOSer,
in which told him that Belle was the
apple of my eye. and / wouldn't give
her to any man who couldn't give a
good account Of himself. But when he
came to his account Of himself l &C
cepted it without asking for references
and told him that l would give my
daughter the money l had brought
with me for a dowry and that had
plenty more in Missouri, where had
come from. asked him when he in
tended to be married, and he said the
sooner the better. l told him l would
talk with my daughter, but she might
do as she pleased in the premises.
1 conferred with Belle. and 1t was
she who laid the plan we carried out:
Having been already married to him,
she had no objections to marrying him
again. AS his wife she could the more
easily enable me to land him, and she
did not see how she could do so except
as his wife. All possible suspicion OF
her or me would be averted by a mar
rage ceremony.
Mccormick being in great hurry
for the ceremony, after pretending to
demur at the suddenneSs Of the affair
l consented that it should take place
at once. A justice Of the peace was
called in. and Belle, after embracing
me while i wiped forced tears from
my eyes, stood up with the man be-
side whom she had once stood under
similar circumstances before. and the
justice performed the ceremony.
As soon as 1t was over ! wiped away
some more tears, and, taking out the
packages of blank paper, each faced
with a bank bill, handed them to the
bride. She threw her arms around
me. then. tossing the packages on a
table, turned and embraced her hus-
band
1t was arranged that the pair we're
to spend their honeymoon at the tavern,
and the landlord had prepared the best
chamber in the house for them. Belle
had arranged, with nae that ] should
take position In the hall near the door
of their room, and by signal she,
would indicate that she had secured
the grOom's arms. Then l was to en-
ter the chamber with. O. pistol In each
hand and make, the capture. The sig
nal was to be a fit of coughing on the,
part Of the bride.
The pair had been In. the bridal room,
for about fifteen, minutes when l
heard the signal. turned the knob
of the door and threw it open. The
groom was standing near the door.
Belle was beside the bureau ON which,
hay two bulldog pistols, which She
was examining with, feigned curiosity
/ sprang between her and him, a re-
volver in each of my hands, and told
him that if he. moved a finger he was
a dead man. Belle took up the bull
dogs and also, leveleG theno at him.
'sYOu don't know me. DO yOu?" She
said f1ercely. I'm Sarah Simpson
We've beeni married before. The first
time l didn't know you. This time
know you well. This gentleman who
has been playing my father Is the
sheriff Of Union county. | saw You
come into this town to play some
more Of your games and laid a. trap for
you. Reckon you won't marry any
more wives"
She. burst into a food OF tears, while L
motioned the man to leave the room,
and marched him downstairs. with q
pistol pressed between his shoulders.
The landlords surprise was sight to
behold When told him that had