Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-05-10
ADVENTURE BY THE ROAD
SIDE.

A short time ago l had occasion to be
travelling some distance in the interior OF
| New South Wales, in order to visit a friend
| whom had not seen for many years.
! The evening before | expected to reach
the dwelling Of my friend, put up at an
inn on the road, where remained during
the night.
| On the ensuing morning my first care
was to see that my horse was properly fed
and ready for the long journey he had be"
| fore him. Having satisfied myself on this
! point, returned TO the house. ! was much
surprised, upon arriving at the door, to
! find it aiar, as | distinctly remembered
closing it, on account Of leaving several
valuable trinkets On the dressing table
Silently opening it. however, | was amaE-
ed at perceiving the stranger. whom | had
particularly noticed the preceding eve
ming, standing at the toilette table with his
back to the door, and diligently engaged in
drawing the contents of my travelling piss
tolls.
My FIST impulse was to rush forward
and seize the feIlow by the collar. A no.
ment's consideration, however, determined
me on following a different course Care,
fully placing the door in the same position
that found it, | retired, undiscovered, to
the public sitting room where J ohm Brown,
with several Of his neighb1rs, were CONVEX
sing relative to the murder Of the school
master, an occurance of which they had
just heard. Immediately afterwards the
stranger entered the room.
1T appears to me, them said I, after
listening to the details of the murder, that
travelling in these districts must he exceed
ingly dangerous. However, have an cxr
cellent pair of pistols; and if any one in
terferes with me l will give him, or them,
O warm reception
Yes observed the stranger, ct would
be stupid, indeed, for auy man to ride
through the bush, in times like these, with
out being we'll armed. / hear, too. that
Donobue is somewhere near Patrick S
Plant. As I'm travelling that way, hope
be will not treat me to an ounce of lead
only wish that ! could meet with q
| comrade, and then there would be no
fear
perfectly understood the offer thus in
directly thrown out for my acceptance; hut
as / would rather have had his room than
his company, did not pretend to compre-
bend the allusiOn.
Il would advise you to be careful, Mr.
Stanfeld,' observed the landlord, and see
that your pistols are well charged aud
primed.
l glanced at the stranger, and, despite
his best ezertions TO appear unconcerned,
the contraction of his brOws fully dis
covered how interested he felt in the re-
ply.
'Oh there is no occasion for fear on my
account replied /, carelessiy; l took the
precaution to load my pistols yesterday
evening, and they only require being plac-
ed in the holsters
You're travelling towards the Upper
Districts, then, l presume, sir?' said the
stranger, addressing himself to me, would
you have any objection to me as q compan-
ion? IF two heads are better than one,
then surely four arms are better than
.two.'
+ 'Holloa Mr.. Holder (for that now
found was the gentleman's name, said the
landlord what, are you bound to the Up
per Districts? Why l thought you had
settled on the Hawkesbury =
Mr.. Holder, at this unexpected address,
appeared greatly confused Quickly recoV.
ering his cOmpOsure, he coOlly observed
that being DESTROYS of purchasing maize,
be was unable to do so unless he attended
in person
l remarked that slight shade of suspic-
ion spread itself over the frank counte-
nance Of the landlord on hearing this OBJ
servatiOn. He was, however, silent and
as Mr.. Holder did not renew his offer of
companiOnship, which proposal was not
seconded by any individuals present, re-
tired to my own room.
Silently fastening the door to prevent
intrusion, proceeded to examine the piss
tolls, and found that the balls had been ex-
traoted, while the powder had been suffer-
ed to remain. Fearing, however, that
some trick might have bOen played with
the latter. Withdrew the charges and
carefully reloaded the instruments, which
/ placed IN the holsters in such manner
that, if they had been meddled with,
must instantly have perceived it.
Having completed these arrangements, ]
proceeded calmly to consider of the best
measures to be adopted under these circum
stances. That | was to be attacked en-
tertained not the least doubt. This, how
over, could with facility be remedied Big
informing the landlord, who was consta-
BILE, of my suspicious. together with the
circumstances of the charge of my pistols
having beec extracted. / could, too, wait
for the detachment of mounted police,
which was daily, nay, hourly, expected
But none of these alternatives would
embrace. felt an irresistible desire to
punish Mr.. Holder, who l was innately
| convinced was the murder Of the aged
school master, aud strongly suspected Of
| William Clementine, too. Besides, was
only nineteen years Of age, and, having
followed sea-faring life. was literally
imbued with that spirit of daring and en-
terprise with that profession is SO we'll CAL
cuIated to,induce. |, therefore determin-
ed to keep strictly silent regarding all that
had passed, knowing that the most advis-
able plan was to impress Mr.. Holder with
a conviction that bis artifce remained un
discovered Should l come in collision