“But you must see the blooded stock I have…
source date: 1891
availability: public-domain

. He quickly swallowed a cup of coffee, took a few mouthsful of bread and slipped what he could into his pockets. Then he prepared to leave. “But you must see the blooded stock I have before you go,” said Moody, “Probably I can trade one of the animals for a silver watch.” Mr. Hardy felt that if he ever went into that barn he would never come out of it alive, so he made a weak excuse and started down the road, keeping a sharp lookout. The old man was much enraged, and just as Mr. Hardy stepped out of view he saw his host enter the barn. Mr. Hardy went into a grove a little further down the road and stood where he could see what was going on at the barn. He saw Moody and his son come out of the barn, each armed with a rifle. They walked into the woods, not far distant from where Mr. Hardy was hidden, evidently aiming to head him off further down the road. He is sure they meant to lay in am- bush for him and shoot him down as he passed. Instead of going the way he intended Mr. Hardy went in the opposite direction, passing the house in the woods so the women could not see him. He kept close to the road, and when about half a mile from Moody’s he met two trappers. They looked like honest men and Mr. Hardy confided his fears to them. The first comment one of the men made was: “I always believed that old wretch was a murderer.”