The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-03-26
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An UnWelcome Visitor.
The PEpLAR's STORY.


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lOae cold winters night, several years
since, found stage load Of travellers gath
cred around the warm fire OF tavern bar.
room, in New England village. '..
Shortly after we arrived, q. peder drove
up and ordered that bis horse should be sta-
bled for thebi .ht. After we had eaten sup
per, we repaired to the bar room, and us
soon as the ice was broken, the conversa.
tion flowed freely. Several anecdotes had
been related, and finally the pedlar was
asked 10 give US story, as men Of his pro-
fession were generally full Of anecdotes -
He was a short, thick set man, evidently OF
great physical strength. He gave his name
asL"muel Whey; aud his home was in Do.
yer, New Hampshire. rs.
."Well, gentlemen" he said, knocking
the ashes from his pipe and putting il into
his pocket, "supposeI tell you shout the
last thing Of any consequence that happen
ed to me-, You see, ] am now right. from
the far West, and on my way home for
winter quarters. It was during the early
part Of last spring, one pleasant evening,
pulled up at The door Of small village
tavern in Hancock county, Indiana. | said
it. was pleasant, / meant it was warm. but
ii was cloudy, and likely to bevery dark
went in and called for supper, and had my
horse taken care Of; after had eaten | sat
down in the bar,room. II began to rain
about eight o'clock, and for awhile it poured
down good, and it was very dark out doors.
HNow wanted to be in jackson early the
next morning, for | expected load Of goods
there for me, which intended to dispose oi
onfsmy way home. The moon would rise
about midnight, and knew it II did not rain
could get along very comfortably through
the mud after that. So I asked the landlord
if he could not see that my horse was fed
about midnight, as wished to be of before
awo, He expressed some, surprise. and asked
me why L did not stop for breakfast told
him had sold my last load about oot, and
that NEW lot Of goods was waiting for me OF
Jackson, and wanted to be, there before the
express agent left in the morning. There
was . number ofE.persops sitting around
while told this, but took little notice oi
,i,em--o ono only arrested my attention. !
had seer, that week, notices for the detec.
tioh Of notorious robber. The bills gave
description Of his person, and thu, man be.
fore, me answered very well toit; He was
tall, welLfermed man, rather slight in
frame aud had the appearance ofa gentleman
save those hard marks which an observing
man cannot mistake for anything but the
index to yillainous disposition.
"When 4 went to my, chamber, asked
the landlord who that man was, describing
The, suspicious individual, He, said be dis
not know him; be had come there that after
noon, and ibtended ,osleave the next day.
The host asked why Iwished 70 know. an'
IsimPly told him that tbs mans counter
snce was familiar. and ! merely wished 4
know if wss ever acquainted with him.-'
I,resolyed NOT to- let the landlord into N
secret, but to hurry on 10 Jackson and Civ
information 10 the sheriff, and perhaps b
might reach The inn before the villain left
fsrlh DO doubt withresard ohis identity