Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1856-06-26
An Upwelcome PASSENGER.

An Unwelcome Passenger.
\ cold winters night found stage load of
us gathered about the warm fire of tavern
bar-room in New England village Shortly
after We arrived, pcdlar drove up and ordered
that his horse should be stabbed for the night.
After we had eaten supper we repaired to the
bar-room, and as soon as the ice was broken the
conversation flowed freely. Several anecdotes
had been related and finally the pcdlar was
asked to give us story, rs men of his profession
were generally full of adventure and anccdote
He was short, thick set man, som, where about
forty years Of age, and gave evidence of great
physical strength He gave his name as Lem
eul Whey, and his home was in Dover, New
Hampshire.
Well gentlemen, he commenced, knocking
the ashes from his pipe and putting it in his
pocket, suppose | tell you about the last thing
Of any consequence that happened to me =
You see | am now right from the far West.
and on my way h"me for winter quarters. 1t
was about two months ago, one pleasant even
ing, that l pulled up at the door of small
village tavern in Hancock County, Indiana
said twas PLEASANT meant twas warm,
but it was cloudy and likely to be very dark
went in and called for supper aud had my
horse taken care of, and after had eaten |
sat down in the bar-room 1t began to rain
about eight o'clock, and for while it poured
down good, and it was awful dark out doors.
Now | wanted to be in jackson early the
next morning, for | expected load of goods
there for inc, which intended to dispose of on
my way home The moon would rise abont
midnight, and | knew if it did not rain | could
get along very comfortable through the mud
after that So asked the landlord if he could
not see that my horse was fed about midnight
as wished to be off before two. He express.
ed some surprise at this, and asked me why did
not stop for breakfast | tod him that had
sold my last load about all ont, and that new
lot of goods was waiting for me at Jackson,
and l wanted to be there for them before the
express agent left in the morning There was
a number of people sitting around while told
this, but / took but little notice of them, one
only arrcsting my attention. had in my
possession a small package of placards, which
was to d, liver to the Sheriff at jackson, aud
they were notices for the detection of a notori-
Gus ro5ber named Dick Hardhead. The bills
gave description of his person, and the man
before me answered very well to it. In fact it
was perfect. He was tall well formed man,
rather slight in frame, and had the appearance
of a gentleman, save that his face bore those
hard cruel marks which an observing man can
not mistake for anything but the index to a
villainous disposition.
When l went to my chamber asked the
landlord who that man was, describing the sus-
pic;otiS individual He said he did not know
| him. He had come there that afternoon and
intended to leave the next day. The host aAc
nae why | wished to know, and simply told
him that the mans countenance was familiar,
and merely wished to know if | was ever &C.
q:ainted with him. | resolved not to let the
landlord into the secret, but to hurry on to
Jackson and there give information to the
sheriff, and perhaps he might reach the inn be-
fofe the william left for | had 10 doubts with
regard to his identity
| ] had an alarm watch, and having set it to
give the alarm at one o'clock, went to sleep
| was aroused at the proper time, and immed;
atcly got up and dressed myself. When
reached the yard | found the clouds all passed
away and the moon was shining brightly. The
hostler was easily aroused and by two O'Clock
l was on the road. The mud was deep and
my horse could not travel very fast-yet il
struck me that the beast made more work thai
there was any need of, for the cart was nearly
empty.
However, on We went, and in the course Of
half an hour | was clear Of the village At a
short distance ahead lay large tract of forest
mostly of great pines. The road led direct,
through this wood, and as near as Icould re
member, the distance was twelve miles. Yet
the moon was in the east, and as this road raj
nearly west, should have light enough.
haI ont he mood arI haI aha h,l
a mile when my wagon wheels settled, with {
bump and jerk, into deep hole. uttered al
exclamation of astonishment but that was no
all. heard another exclamation ffom anothe
source
What could it be9 looked quickly around
but could SEQ nothing Yet knew the souns
that had heard was very close to me- A
the hind wheels came up / felt something be
sides the ierk Of the holes heard someti,in:
tumble from one side to the other Of my wagon