The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-09-06
AN CNWELCOME PASSENGER.

ern har-room in New England village
shortly after we arrived, apc,ller drove up
and ordered his horse stabbed for the night
After we had eaten supper we repaired to
'"e "ar-room' and rs soon as the ice was bro
ken' the conversation flowed freely. Sever.
al anecdotes had been related, and finally
the Pedcr was asked to give US a story. as
men OF his profession were generally full of
adventures and anecdotes. III, was a short
'"'ck' set man. somewhere about forty years
OF age, and gave evidence OF great phvsiral
strength. lie gave his name as I.emuel Vi
ney. and his home was in Dover, New Hamp
shire
"Well, gentlemen" he commenced,knocE
Ing the ashes from his pipe and putting it in
his pocket. suppose tell you about the last
thing that happened to me of any ronsc-
qurnre? You see am now right from the
tar West, and on nv wav home for winter
quarters. 1t was about two months aco. one
pleasant evening, that pulled up at the door
"t a small village tavern in Hancock Coun-
tv, Indiana. said it was pleasant meant
1t was warm. but it was cloudy and likely to
be very dark. went in and called for sup
per and had nv horse taken care of, and af-
ter bad eaten sat down in the barroom.-
Ii began to rain about eight o'clock, and for
while it poured down good and it was aw,
tul dark out doors
"\ow | wanted to be in Jackson early
next morning. tor expected load of goods
there for me-. which intcrded to dispose of
on my way home. The moon would rise a..
honf midnight. and knew if it did not rain.
could get along very comfortable through
the mud after that. So asked the landlord
IT he could not see that nv horse was fed a.
bout midnight AS wished 10 be off hv two.
Tie expressed some surprise AZ this and ask
cd me why did not stop for breakfast
told HIM had sold nv last load about all
out. and that new LOT ot goods was waiting
for me at Jackson. and wanted to get lhr,e
before the express AGENT left in thc morning.
There was A number of people sitting round
while said this but took bat little notice
OF them, one only attracting NV attention.
had IN my possession a small package of pla-
cards which was TO deliver to the sheriff at
Jack k<on, and they were for the d,,ecfion of a
notorious robhrr named Dick lI,rdhcad The
bills gave a description Of his person. and
The man before me- answered very well TO it
In fact it was perfect. He was tall. we'll
formed man. rather sli.ht in frame. and had
The appearance of a gentleman. save that his
face bore those hard cruel marks which an
Observing man cannot mistake for anythiny .
hut the index to vi!ainouS disposition.
"When went to my room asked ih" land
lord who that man was. describing the su>pi-
cious individual He said he did not know
him. He had come that afternoon and in.
tended to leave the next dav The host ask
ed why | wished to know. and simply told
him that the man countrnancc was familiar
and merely wished to know if | had ever
been acquainted with HIM resolved not &c
lrt the landlord into tie secret. but hurry or
TO Jackson. and there give information {, the
sheriff, and perhaps he might reach the inn
before the villain left, for had no doubt.
with regard to his identity
! had an alarm watch, and having set it e
Hive the alarm at one O'clo,k | went TO sleep
was aroused at the proper time. and immc
diateIv got up and dressed myself When
: reached the yard found the clouds had al
passed away, and the moon was shnin.
.. brightly. The hostler was easily aroused
and by two o'clock was on the road Th
/. mud was deep and NV horse could not trave
very ta>t-yct it struck me that the beast
mad. more work than there was any nce'
ot. for the cart was nearly empty.
i However on we went, and in course of
half an hour was clear of the village A
a
!. est, mostly OF great pines. The road lay di
: rertly through this wood, and as near As
could remember, the distance was twev
miles. Yet the moon was in the east, and a
i the road ran neatly west. should hav" ligll
. enough. had entered the woods. and ha
J. gone about half a mile when NV wagon
o Wheels settled with bump and jerk into
deep hole. uttered an exclamation of SUI
prise. but this was not all. ! heard anothe
exclamation from another source
s. "What could j: be? looked quickly a
It round. but could see nothing. Yet | kne,
r. that the sound heard was very close to me
,. As the hind wheels came ont tel. somethn
I. besides the jerk of the hole. | heard some
q thing tumble from one sie to the other OF
J. my wagon. and could also feel the jar occa
y stoned by the movement. 1t was simply
=. nan in my cart. knew this on the instant
n OF course felt puzzled. At first imagir
ed some poor fellow had taken that metho
T. to obtain a ride; but soon gave that up, 70
% knew that any decent man would have ask
u T. ed me for ride. My next idea was tba
p some '".y had got in to Sleep bat this pas.
u ed away as qni' ky as it came, for no ma
q would have broken into my cart for that pur
pose And that thought gentlemen, open
I'd my eyes. Whoever was there hal broke