Year: 1874

The three murderers, after they had left st.
Louis, made the best Of their way to Belleville,
Illinois, where they arrived on the following
night. They rested for a few hours at tav-
ern kept by one Of their associates, and rose
two hours after midnight to pursue their jour
ney. II would certainly have been to their in
terest to have gone quietly along, without the
commission Of any new depreciation, but habit
overruled all judgment, and perceiving an op-
portunity they could not forbear from stealing
three fine horses, which were feeding in
meadow on the outskirts OF the town. They
felt the more emboldened to this act, as no
person had seen them enter Belleville or knew
they reposed there in the tavern OF their old
friend and as they had made calculations for
taking shelter in a wood ten miles further on,
when daybreak might exhibit the suspicious
nature of their cavacade. In due time they
arrived at the wood, slowed their beasts under
leafy stalls, and laid down 10 resume the slum-
bers which prudence had shortened in Belle
vile. At midday their knapsacks gave them
meal of bread and meat, and flask OF whiskey
which latter article received very little aid from
the water of the pure rivulet that ran near by.
While they were thus engaged. they were
alarmed by rustling sound in the leaves, and
Long, turning his head quickly over his
shoulder, perceived pair Of eyes shining
through clump Of bushes. which on a steady
look, he percelred were set in the ebony frame
work Of negro's head. AS he and his CON-
pauions had been talking pretty freely. as we'll
about the Davenport business as other exploits
it was necessary that this observer should be
made safe Immediately; so jumping on his
/ feet. he hailed him to come forth. The negro
however did not obey the signal. AL he had
heard, had not prepossessed him in favor Of
the party, and fearing the fate Of the drover,
be struck his feet into the ground rabbit fash
ion, and rushed for an escape. But Longs
finger was quicker than the negro's legs. and
before his fight was well begun. his pistol
cracked, and the dusky runner fell to the
ground. Birch and Fox started forward at the
same moment, and graphing the negro by the
collar, led him back. He was not wounded.
With the sagacity OF the ostrich, who sticks his
head in bush to hide from the hunter, he
dropped after he heard the pistol shot, in order
to escape the ball, and then found himself too
frightened to get up. lie had cause--for after
few questions, the replies to which convinced
Long that he had overheard all their converse
tion he made motion to Birch, who at once
placed his pistol to the negro's ear and shot
him through the head. The body was then
dragged to a close underground of bushes near
by, and as well concealed by their united la
bors, as the means at their command would
permit. This being done, they returned and
resumed their eating.


" ! should like to have made better disposal
of that niger" said Fox, as he took his lips
from the whiskey flask after long draught,
% he would have brought good nine hundred
dollars in New Orleans"


eyes and put all our necks in a halter be-
fore we had got him half Of the way there"


ooh" said Fox, - merely made supposi-
ton in regard to his value. I've seen too much
OF the trouble and danger OF running nlggers,
to want anything more to do with that kind OF
employment when we are as closely hauled as
we are at present, 10 have had wish for any
|
that thicket than Oh his feet, whatever his
value might be-


1.-The Judge will never forget the mob at
Belleview, Iowa, L reckon" SAID Birch with
slight but significant smile.


Fox looked sharply at the Dandy Captain as
he made this remark, and for a moment dan
gerous fire flashed fercely In his eye. BY an
effort which might have been observable in his
throat, he subdued it, however, and answered.
mo, nor would you forget 1t, if YOU had uu-
dergone the same kind of treatment. They
shot Jack Brown. and tied me up and whipped
me like dog, but ! got even with them. FOR
since then-and it is but three years ago-I
have had two of the principal ones by the
throat and have felt the satisfaction OF seeing
their lives 60 out in these fingers"


As Fox spoke these words, he held up his
large and powerful hand and his eyes flashed
with the ferocity OF tiger. Long, perceiving
that be had been wounded by the tone of
Birch's observation, here broke upon the SUBJ
ject and changed it to a consideration OF their
future course. Upon this, Fox expressed de-
sire to 60 to the Den OF Thieves, which was
Tue TcSluouCc VI Olu hOthCi i+OhBs tuc duuI VI
john in Owen County, Indiana. John at first
objected to this, as three years before he and
Owen Long, the father of Aaron had committed
series of depredations in that county which
had obliged them to fly for their lives, and
which, he ascertained was recolected in that
ountry ever since.


Well, there is one thing certain, answered
Fox we have here four horses and we must
dispose Of them speedily somewhere. Now if
you1l mention any place better than the old
womans, say co.


IL confess ! don't know any better place,
said Long.


Besides, added Birch, who wished to con-
ciliate Fox by taking sides with him" besides,
there is Shack Phipps, who is always on hand :
and probably your brother, Hiram, who wlll'
either of them, run down with the horses to
\ Bowling Green, and dispose of them in jiiY'


g Yes, that is very true, replied Long, but
you will not forget at the same time, that the
officers may run up just as easily from Bowling
Green. and take us in our den, but shall make
no opposition If both OF you are favorable
We have enough experience among us 70 take