The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1854-04-21
JOHN PUTNAM, OR THE SPY.

.
rude dwellings, IN the northern part Of
New York, and bsiling the decriPid Look
ing inn kesper, cried odb simultaneously,
with many barbaric oa.hS, "tlalloa, old
wine -bibber! hast thou noticed any cheat
iug,lying and sneaking pedlar at thy door
to-day?n
"By my spurs" pompously added Cap
tain Dick, the elder of the two, 1--WE have
ridden these last thirty miles in vain, II
the scoundrel be not caught lurking in
this hamlet. Hast thou seen him, Bonl-
face; Speak, man, we be in great haste,
bid ,hee answer by the Kings COM
mand.' st
The hesitating landlord held on to the
horse post, and replied, "Sirs, | be half
deaf, yet msthinks I guess your mean
ing. Be ye gallant troopers of his maj"
Ssly after stray pedlar,ehs Whist would
ys with himi'
"'Sdea,h! the rascally grey-beard ques-
.ionoth u.s." interrupted the younger Of
the horsomsn, braggadocial private
and wheeling his horse around, he 'ouch-
I'd ihe tavern-keeper rather roughly with
> his cloved hand and continued--"We de:
sirs no questioning, old dotaid. Has.
thou seen the psdlarS We would know
this, and right quickly, TOO"
80 be no, rough | pt''hes. A pedlar,
saycsi ,houi Had he a packs'
"Pack OF no pack, hast thou seen him!'
6ercely cried Dick. '7l7'
"Ps,ience, masters! Blu, memory is
ueacherous, and must reflect. A ped>
lar with staff did yo say?"
"l'll break your skull with a staff, il
thou be>fool u.s." said the bully, striking
at the old man, who rather nmbly for his
looks, leapod oui of the troopers r',ch.
The Captain then seriously threatened
with violence, and s,ernly demanded
reply. As if frightened into submission, !,
he then hesi,alngly said, ,"No-yea-yea
now I be.hink mysalf. ] did observe
a 'sneaking pedIar' pnss here this mora
ing on foot, and in extreme haste"
"WhicIl way-wh'ch road took her.
exclaimed both Of the others.
"Tha,, ,,''del'bsrately answered the man,
pointing 10 a travelled lane; that led from
the one in which they stood. sai 81
aAr, surei If thou lie to us, BY ST.
George thou shal, hang al, thine own door,
like sigu." a.
GAY. an' that be NOT tho tcad,thou may
ss, hang me,' obsersed Bonifacs.
$40 horse then; lie is six hours in ad
vance; 10 horse, aud brovet TO the ont
that catches tho fire, sigh, Of the Spy!
shouted Captain Dick, and rapidly the!
dashed away, leaving clouds ol dust be
hind. But ete they had gone twen,
yards, the inn-keeper shook his fam
like a strong man, and muitered, GAY
when they catch ME ,they may hang me.
He then glanced curiously arsund, an
quickly entered the house. li'
Meunwhile, Captain Dick and his CON
panion spurted their steeds to race 'tl'
would have injured animals unused
their hardy life. Mile after mile wasle
behind, un,iI aithin three hours they ha
covered every step that man could hav
walked III d whole day Then, unsue
cessfal, they thought Of returning. to
85 aFhe Internal rebel bath eludsd u.s.
We calculated tia, he would hasten
.he camp ofWasbineton.We are hisled,'
have passed him secretsd ir the iores.
nPerhaps tha. inn.keepef hsth dscei
| ed u.s. Me,hodgh, he was not so imb'
cile as he pretended" sas 'at''s
.By my souls salvation! thou has. !
n! Dolts-asses that We are! va
thou no, note the nimbleness OF his LEI
when thy hand was lifted against him.
Judas! how will this william triumph!
Ride back for thy life, ride like ligt
ningv'
10 "Na,, not back-ifhc BE sry he ha
taken the other road, and sentu foo
,errand on this road. A league henc
We passed a by.path that doubtless init
sec,s the highway some distance 70 Z
west, along the rivef." 80 sshta
a"Well, tina, be our direction. Eco
how We have idled; nor would y ha
credited the clown with such wit"
zg.Ay,lan''now that l,suspecs him, r.
collect the quietude Of tho village. ~
place was solitary. Nor even p'oasr
the man taste Of his wine"
t.Ugb! didsl no.s bis kesa sIsm