The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-11-23
Che 8elford GazRtte.
An UNwELCOME PASSENGER.
A PEDDLER's STORY.

gathered together around a warm fire
OF a tavern bar-room in u New Eng
land village. Shortly after we arrived
a peddler drove up and ordered that his
horse should be stabbed for the night.
After we had eaten supper we repaired
to the bar-room, where conversation
flowed freely. Several anecdotes had
been related, and finally the peddler
was asked to give us 4 story, as the
men of his profession were generally
full of adventures and anecdotes. He
was short, thick set man, somewhere
about forty years Of age, and gave evil
dence of great physical strength. He
gave his name as Lemuel Vinney, and
his home was in Dover, New Hamp-
shire.
well, gentlemen" ;" he commenced,
knocking the ashes from his pipe, and
putting it in his pocket, Suppose |
tell you the last thing of any conse-
quence that happened me- You see l
am now right from the West, and on
my way home for winter quarters. 1t
was during the early part Of last spring,
one pleasant evening, that | pulled up
at the door of small village tavern in
Hancock county, Indiana. 1 went in,
called for mysupper, and had my horse
taken care of. After | had eaten. I sat
down in the bar-room. 1t began to
rain about eight O'Clock, and it was
very dark out Of doors. Now, l want
ed to be in Jackson the next morning,
for | expected load OF goods there for
me, which l intended to dispose Of on
my way home.
The moon WOuldrise about midnight
and l knew if it did not rain | could
getalong through the mud very well
after that, So l asked the landlord if
he would see that my horse was fed a.
bout midnight, as l wished to be off a
bout two. HeeXpressed some surprise
at this and asked me why l did not
stay for breakfast. ! told him that l
had sold my last load about out, and
that a new lot Of goods was waiting
for me at Jackson, and | wanted to get
there before the express agent left in
the morning.
There were a number of persons sit
ting around while l told this, but
took little notice Of them; only one
arrested my attention. | had seen
that week notice, for the detection of
notorious robber. The bills gave a
description of his person, and the man
before me answered very well toit. He
was tall, well formed man, rather
slight in frame, and had the appear
ance of a gentleman, save that his face
bore those hard, cruel marks which an
observing man cannot mistake for any
thing but the index Of villainous dis
position.
When / went to my chamber I ask
ed the landlord who that man was, de-
scribing the individual. He said he
did not know him. lie had come there
that afternoon, and intended to leave
the extday. The host asked me why
l wished to know and | told him that
the mans countenance was familiar,
and merely wished to know if was
ever acquainted with him.
| was resolved not 10 let the landlord
into the secret, buttO hurry on to Jack
son, and there to give information to
the sheriff and perhaps he might reach
the inn before the villain left, for | had
no doubt as to his identity.
[ had an alarm watch, and having
set it to give the alarm at one O'Clock,
| went to sleep. l was alarmed at the
proper time, and Immediately 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 was on the road. The mud
was deep, and my horse could not travel
very fast. However, on we went, and
in the course of half an hour was clear
Of the village. At short distance a.
head lay large forest, mostly Of great
pine. The road lay directly through
this wood, and, us nearas | can remem-
Der, the distance was twelve miles
Yet the moon was in the east, and as
the road ran nearly in the West, l
thought | should have light enough.
| had entered this wood and had
gone about half a mile, when nay wag-
on wheel settled with a bump and
jerk into a deep hole. | uttered an eX-
clamatiOn of astOnishment, but this
was not all. ! heard another eXclama-
ton from the same cause. What could
this mean? / looked quietly around
but couldsee nothing; yet | know that
the sound was very close behind me.
As the hind wheelscam up l felt some
thing beside the jerk from the hole. l
heard something tumble from one side
to another of my wagon, and | could
also feel the jar occasioned by the move
ment. 1t was simply man in my
cart. | knew this on the instant. Or
course | felt puzzled. At first | imag-
ined that some one had taken this
method to obtain ride. My next idea
was that somebody got in to sleep
there but this passed away as soon as