The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-08-01
An Unwelcome Passenger.
A PSddIer's story

a cold winters night several years ago.
found stage load of passengers gathered
together around warm fire of tavern
bar-room in New England village. Short
ly after we arrived peddler drove up and
ordered that his horse be stabbed for the
night After we had eaten super, we re
paired to the bar-room, where conversation
flowed freely. Several anecdotes had been
related, and finally the peddIer was asked
to give us a story, as the men of his profess
sion are generally full of adventures aud
anecdotes He was short thick set man
somewhere about forty years of age and
gave evidence of great physical strength
lie gave his name as LenueI Vinney. and
his home was in Dover, New Hampshire
'Wel, gentleman he commenced,
knocking the ashes from his pipe, and put
ting it i'll his pocket, suppose | tell you the
last thing of any consequence that happened
to me- You see, | am 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 tav
ern 10 Hancock Co, indiana, went in
and called for supper and had my horse ia
ken care Of After | had eaten sat down,
in the bar room 1t began to rain about
eight o'clock, and it was very dark out Of
doors Now wanted to he in Jackson the
next morning for expected load of goods
there for me. which intended to dispose of
on my way home
The moon would rise about midnight,
and knew if it did not rain conld get
along through the mud very well after that
So asked the landlord if he would see that
my horse was fed about midnight, as |
wished to be off about two. He expressed
some surprise at this and asked me why |
did not stay for breakfast. told him [
had sold my load about out and that a new
lot of goods was waiting for me at jackson
and wanted to get there before the ex
press agent left in the morning
There was number of persons sitting
around While | told this, hut | took little
notice of them; only one arrested my atten-
ton. | bad 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 TO it
He was a tall, well formed man rather
slight in frame, and had the appearance of
a gentleman, save that his face bore those
hard cruel marks which an observing man
cannot mistake for anything but the index
of vIlainous disposition
When went to my chamber asked the
landlord who that man was, describing the
individual He said he did not know him
He had come there that afternoon and in
tended to leave the next day. The host
asked me why | wished to know. and sim
ply told him the mans countenance was fla.
miliar, and | merely wished to know if
ever was acquainted with him
| was resolved not to let the landlord in
the secret, but to hurry on to Jackson, aud
there to give information to the sheriff vino
might perhaps reach the inn before the vii,
Ian left, for | had no doubt as to his iden
tity.
had an alarm watch, and having set it
to give the alarm at one o'clock, went to
sleep. was alarmed at the proper time,
and Immediately d essed myself When |
reached the yard found the clouds all
passed away, and the moon was shining
brightly. The hoster was easily aroused
and by two O'Clock was on the road. The
mud was deep and my horse could not trav.
ell very fast. However, o. we went, and
in the course of half an hour was clear OF
the village. At short distance ahead lay
large forest, mostly of pine The road
lay directly through this wood and, as near
as | can remember the distance was tweI We
miles. Yet the moon was il the east and
as the road ran nearly in the west, thoSght
! should have light enough
had entered the wood and had gOne
about half mile when my wagon wheel
settled with bump aud jerk into deer
hole | uttered an exclamation of astonish
ment, but this was not all heard another
exclamation from the same source. What
could this mean? | looked quietly around.
but could see nothing; yet knew that the
sound was very close to me. As the hinC
wheels came mp felt something BESIDES the
jerk from the hole. | heard something
tumble from one side to another of my
wagon. and | could also feel the Jar occa
stoned by the movement, 1t was simply
man in my cart | knew this on the Instant
Or course | felt puzzled At first | imag
iued that some one had taken this methec
to obtain ride. My next idea was tina
somebody had got in to sleep there; hu
this passed away as soon as it came for III
man would have broke i"tO my cart TO
that purpose And that thought gentle
men. opened my eyes. Whoever was ther
had broken in My next thought was 0
the suspicious looking individual had sec'
at the tavern He heard me say that m
lold was all sold out, and # Curse he SUP
posed had some money with me- IN thl
he was right for had over two thousan
dollars thought he meaut to leave tn
cart when he supposed had reached sal
place aud then reach over and shoot me
or knock me down All this passed through
my mind by the time had got rod fron
the hole.