Year: 1864

trouble IN arranging the dress Ia uiNN
light as a tolerably respectable female
and then, having agreed upon the story J.
was to manage matters,and the signal that
would assure my accompicc Of being right
we went forward together, till we came in
sight of the house to be robbed, when L
made my nearest way to the road, and
continued on alone, reaching the dwelling
about an hour after dark and just as the
fami y were about concluding their evening
meal.


Had my design been really what had
led my villianous companonto to believe,
certainly would never have gone forward
with such confident boldnesg but feeling
my conscience all right, and knowing
was acting upon good motive, kept up
wonderful assurance, feeling curious to see
how well l could play my part, and to
what extent could carry the deception


asked for lodging for the night, and
something to eat, and was kindly and hos
pitality received. The first thing that sent
the ush of shame and confusion to my
cheeks was the coming forward of a young
lady, about eighteen, beautiful as an houri
aud in sweet, gentle tone, asking me if
had walked far, if was much fatigued,
Offering to take my hood, telling me
should soon refreshed with hot CUP OF
tea. This was little too much for my
eqaunimity. | could have have got along
with all the rest without being especially
disturbed; but was then young, un.
married man, and, though not particular
| ly susceptible to female attractions in gen.
eral, thought l had never looked upon
SO lovely and interesting creature before.


| stammered out some unintellgble re-
plies, keyt my hood well drawn over my


face, asked to be permitted to have few


minutes private conversation with the mas.


ter Of the house.


Of course this request caused consider


able surprise-but it was gransed-and as


soon as we were alone together, told in u


few words who and what was the strange


adventure l met with, aud disclosed in full


tue plot of my road acquaintance to mur-


der and rob him. He turned pale at tho


recital, and seemed much astonished, but


begged me not to mention the design 10 his
wife aud daughter. He then called his


two sons--strong, determined fellows-re-
!: countered the plot to them, aud arranged


to have everything 60 forward as if the


scheme were being carried out as its vile


author designed.


1t took some shrewd management to


keep me TO my part without letting the fe-


males into the secret; but it was effected;
and before midnight cautiously opened the


door and looked out. There was my man


regiy and waiting.


is all right :" he whispered.
> 'Hes come in L


: AS qe crossed the threshold, the father
and son sprung upon him. Bnt the fellow
was strong and desperate, and perhaps
} mad some slight suspicion of the truth.-
} With wild yell he cleared their united
} grasps at bound, leaving large portion
of his rags in their hands. The next mo-
ment the whsle four Of US wsre in chase of
the william, as he ran across the road to
gain the cover Of wood about twenty rods
, distant,


"lire ~ shouted the faIh "shoot down


the scouudrel ~


We wers well armed and prepared, and
at the word four revolvers began to era.k
behind him. But he seemed to lead /.
charmed life, and still he ran on, keeping
short distance ahead Of US. Once fau.
cied saw him stagger; but he gained the
: woods and disappeared, and we reluctant
l ly and with deep shagrin gave up the chase.


When we returned to the housethe wife
and daughter were both terribly alarmed.
; Ol course an explanation followed the


host being disappointed in making the


capture, as he intended, without exciting
their fears. There was ma more sleep in
that night.


r The next morning we went out to tho
5 wood and discovered a trail orblood We
s followed on for halt mile, and found the
8 rufian lying dead, face downward, his
a hands firmly elinchod upon some bushes.
i One Of the sons recognized him as a sus-
r pected murderer, who had couple OF
d years before left that part OF the country.


He was buried with ceremony. l was
: warmly thanked for the part had played
d to save the family; but from no other did
u the words sound SO sweet 10 me as from
l. the lips of the beautiful mother,
s. The family pressed me to stay with
y them for awhile, and stayed long enough
n to lose my heart and win another. Strange
e as it appears, in looking back to it, the
o event OF that william loaping into the road


before me changed my whole fortune and