The Crittenden press., 1920-09-17

against the flinty roadway Tn,
mule had struck a trot, his favorit
gait, and we were making rapit
progress along our way.
We had travelled thus for perhap
a mile when the mule came to a sud
den halt. From behind high cluml
Of trees bordering the road q MAJ
stepped out before us. He was al
evil looking man, wore buckskil
trousers and leather jacket and car
ried a gun and an ugly looking knife
"Pardner," he spoke up, "whithe
do you go at so early an hour?"
His words were friendly enough
but his looks were sinister and threat
ening. ! thought his purpose wa.
probably to raise a quarrel with m,
and ! had no desire to have an,
trouble with him. so ! answered hin
evasively.
"Oh," ] replied, I'm just riding
around bit to get fresh air ant
to give old Ben little exercise ;
"Then why steer you toward Cave
ir-Rock? Do you not mean to cross
to the Illinois side? The stranger
returned with an evil look.
well, what IL ! do?" | said 81
am at least following my own nose
and minding my own business" and
] started old Ben forward and at
the same time showing the intruder
my gun.
Don't be impertinent, young man
he said with wicked scowl, an
see you again" And stepping back
he disappeared in the dense woods
Of Panther Hollow.
Knowing the treschery Of such
scoundrels as ! thought this man
to be, forced old Ben into q gallop
and In short time we were miles
away from the scene Of our holdup.
| again brought the mule to a trot
and in half an hour We had left
Panther Hollow behind US.
We had now emerged into the
road leading to what was then Ba-
kers Ferry. II was q more travel
ed thoroughfare than the one we
had left, and though II was woods
on both sides Of the road, the growth
was not so dense.
! felt relieved. as my. wife intimated
well know the character Of the des-
perate men injecting the country
along the Ohio River. Making their
headquarters at Cave-in- Rock, an
organized band of robbers and cut
throats had spread terror through
but the country. Travellers had been
held up. robbed and murdered. Flat
boats going down the river had been
seized, the crews murdered, and the
boats with their cargos, run down
the river to New Orleans and sold.
II is no wonder then that my wife
was fearful Of my safety. yet had
little fear. as such things are most
ly done under the cover Of darkness.
while ] meant to make my trip in
the friendly light Of day.
On down the road we went, Old
Ben still in a trot. We had met
no one, excepting the stranger of
our holdup. and no one had overta-
ken us. There was evidently lit
tie travelling going on. Still on we
journeyet old Ben's ears topping
In the breeze as he trotted along.
Finally after we had travelled about
ten miles, we came in sight Of the
river. There was no town there
at all, only a ferry, where the road
crossed the river.
The wind had now arisen, blowing
strong gale from the west and
could see that the river was very
rough, The waters seemed in tur-
moil. Great mountain waves, chas-
ing each other lashed and dashed
and crashed against the shore.
Barker" said to the ferryman,
AS rode up, "Can you row me over
to the Illinois side :"
"Not against those waves" he
replied, looking at the surging wat.
Frs Of the Angry Ohio.
at is urgent, my wife being ut
home alone. | will pay you dou.
Die, II you take me across at once"
said, hoping to overcome the fer.
'yman's objections.
my boat could not withstand
hcse waves" he replied, I'VE would
ose our lives and your wife would
probably be alone the rest Of her
ife."
ut may be-" the ferryman went
IN, shat by noon the wind will lie,
hen ] can take you across"
much regretted being away from
,ome over night, my wife. brave as
knew her to be, there alone. But
know Of nothing else to do so Il
old the ferryman would wait.
Barker was a good man. He offer.
ID me the use Of his stable, and there
took old Ben that he might rest
Ind refresh himself on a supply Of
,ay. | removed the bride and sad.
lie and placed them on the Aoor In