The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-09-06
ADVENTURE IN AN OLD INN.

A storm had overtaken me and had SO
increased the darkness of the cloudy night
that could proceed no further on my way,
and accordingly put up at this crazy inn,
in which | now found myself. l cannot
say that fancied the appearance of the
landlord, when he came forward with his
obsequious greeting-too obsequious for
so piercing an eye, altogether. l was
naturally ola suspicious turn of mind but
| must say that if had been the most
trusting person in the country, that man
would have aroused my suspicious Not
that would have expected robbery or NAL
treatment from him, but would have sus-
pected that be did not mean exactly what
he said. Then, again, the lady, mine host
ess, was not a very prepossessing woman.
While the landlord was gifted with broad
round head, pale face, and thick neck, the
landlady had long bony neck and face,
square jaw, and an angular head, very
broad at the ears. Mine host was an I'M
scrupulous looking man, mine hostess a
dangerous looking woman. Around the
mouth Of the former was smile Of COM
placency, around that of the latter was a
sinister grin The eyes of this pair were a
marked feature. The color Of the woman S
| could hardly describe; the best idea l
can give of them is to term them green
hazel, varied by light ring of almost i'm
perceptible yellow around the pupil. The
man S are easily given. They were light
gray, and looked like steel in certain rehec-
tons of the light They were an interest
ing couple. Did [ tell you that the woman
was the taller of the two? If did not |
think that by my description Of them you
have guessed it.
| was treated to fine supper for mine
hostess was superb cook, and knew how
to awaken and satisfy your appetite. |
only thought that if my horse was enjoying
his supper as well, | should feel contented,
for | had strong affection for Ready, as
| called him.
Some glances. between mine host and
hostess | did not quite like, but the supper
was good, the fire was warm, and the rain
beat against the windows; so | settled my
self down at my meal, with something of a
contented spirit. Not so, when | locked
myself into my chamber. There | was
alone, and had nothing to do but think,
while the rain poured down upon the sky
light, and the thunder shook the chamber.
With each fash of lightning the faces of
the pair below, and their sinister glances,
were pdluteu ucCpcI dlu ucCpCi upou Ly
imagination.
A man need not fear, but he may be
cautious f; and by the dim light Of the lamp
| carefully examined the walls, the door,
the window and skylght, the fire place,
and lastly the bed. 1t was only two days
before that | had read of an inn in France
where it had been discovered that missing
travellers had been disposed of by machin-
81 ~ IoI I
the bed with critical eye. l could not
help smiling to myself during the whole
performance, and would have felt like a
sheep if my landlord had knocked at the
door on some Grand. But you know how
it is; if man once get his suspicious
aroused under such circumstances, he is
very apt to do as | did.
Although | felt little foolish while 60
ing through with my examination, yet L
would have been decidedly foolish, under
the circumstances, if [ had not done it ::
and the sequel will show that [ was not far
out of the way.
| had discovered nothing unusual in. the
walls, door, window, skylight, or bed-on
the latter of which had thrown myself
without undressng-and yet | was uneasy
as [ tried to give myself into the arms of
Morpheus. The face of the man was bad
enough, but there was such deviish look
in the woman's / could not get rid of it !;
and let me close my eyes or open them
those eyes with the yellow rings would
haunt me. | grew more nervous from the
fact that the unceasing noise of the rain and
thunder prevented me from catching the
least sign of any other sound ; and | tho t
that if there should possibly be mischief
brewing below, my ears would be of no SER
vice to me.
AT last, from sheer fatigue, I fell into a
titful slumber-a slumber which nearly cost
me my life.
| had slept half an hour or more, troub-
led continually by the most hideous dreams,
when | awoke as if BY the touch of man
| had left my light burning but when [
was thus awakened it was out. A vivid
fash of lightning lit up the room through
the window, so that | could have seen a
man had he been at my bedside. / could
see no One. A SILVER ran through me as |
peered into the darkness, and could feel
the touch that walked me as though hand
lay y, on my body still. ~ 49,
The thunder that followed the lightning
was terrific but the beating of my heart
was louder to me than that / was un-
armed, and there was man in the room
vi this, not my mind but my heart was
Certain. 1t was not thought, but feeling
1t was possible that I was awakened by
simply a twitching of my body, which, in
my waking dream, would seem like the
touch of hand and It was possible that
the light went ont for the want of oil, or
by the wind that howled at periods through
the cracked boards at the windows, Yet
[ knew that man was in the cham
Der; and. for a moment, held my breath,
for fear of bringing him upon me by even
the sound of my breathing.
In that brief moment bethought me Of
some means of defence. Thanks to the
picture ] had often drawn to myself, while
living awake in the night and that was, if
/ should ever be attacked while in bed
would raise the pillow and receive the at
tack upon it. / did this now, and not too
soon, for form leaped from the side of the
bed next the wall, and threw itself upon
me, At the same instant the chamber was
lit by fash of lightning, and revealed to
me the inn keeper. | saw a large knife
in the air above me, and then it descended
with almost hiss
Hod nj ,,,, ,,;JJa- L.. LII Al