Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-12-19
The PedIar's Prize.

A cald winters night, found q stage
load Of US gathered about the warm FIRE Of
tavern barroom of New England will
age. Shortly after We arrived, pedlar
drove up, aud ordered his horse stabbed for
the night. After We had eaten supper, We
repaired to the bar room, aud as soon as
the ice was broken the conversation flow ed
freely. Several anecdotes had been rela-
ted, and finally the pedlar was asked to
give US story, as many of his profession
were generally full of anecdotes and adyer.
lures. He was short, thick.set man,
somewhere about forty years of age, and
gave evidence of great physical strength.
He gave his name as Lemuel Viney, and
hi. home was in Dover, New Hampshire I
"Well, gentlemen" he commenced,
knocking the ashes from his pipe and put
ting it in bis pocket, suppose l tell you
abou, the last thing of any consequence
that happened TO me. You see am now
right from the West, and on my way for
winter quarters. 1t was about two mouths
ago, one pleasant evening, that pulled
up at the door of a small village tavern in
Hancock county, Indiana. l said it was
pleasant-I meant it was warm, but it was
cloudy, and very likely to be dark. l
went in and called for supper, and had my
horse taken care Of, and after had eaten
sat down in the bar-room 1t began to
rain about eight o'clock, aud for a while it
poured down good, and it was awful dark
out doors.
Snow, I wanted to be in Jackson early
the next morning, for | expected load of
goods there for me, which l intended to
dispose of on my way home. The moon
would rise about midnight, and l knew, if
it did not rain, l could get along very CON-
fortably through the mud after that So
I asked the landlord if be could not see
that my horse was fed about midnight, as
l wished to be of before two. He ex-
pressed some surprise at this, and asked
me why l did not stop for breakfast. 1
told him 1 had sold my last load about all
out, and that new lot of goods was wait
ing for me at jackson, and l wanted to be
there before the express agent left in the
morning. There was number of people
sitting around when told this, but took
no notice of them, one only arrested my
attention. had in my possession small
package of placards, which l was to deliver
to the Sheriff Of jackson, and they we're
notices for the detection of notorious
robber, named Dick Hardhead. The bills
gave description Of bis person, and the
man before me answered very we'll to it.
10 fact, it Was perfect. He was tall, well
formed man, rather slight in frame, and
had the appearance Of gentleman, save
that bis face bore those hard, cruel marks,
which an observing man can not mistake
for anything but the index of villainous
disposition.
"When l went to my chamber, I asked
the landlord who that man was describing
the suspicious indiv dual. He said that
be did not know him. He came that af. |
ternoou and intended to leave The next
day. The host asked why l wished to
know, aud l simply told him that the mans
was familiar, and l merely
wished to know if WAS ever acquainted
With him. resolved not to let the land
ord into the secret, but to hurry on to
Jackson, and there give information to the
Sheriff, and perhaps he might reach the
nm before the william left; for | had no
ioubt in regard to his identity.
l bad an alarm watch, and having set