Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1867-03-14
Select, 5torD.
AN UNWELCOME PASS.
i. ENGE R. ta9
A PEDDLER's STORY.

!. A COLD winters night, several year
since, found stege load Of passenger
gathered together around the warm fire
Iof, a tavern bar room in a New Eugland
Village. Shortly after we arrived, 9
peddler drove up and ordered that biz
horse should BE- stabbed for the night
After we had eaten our supper we re-
paired to the bar-rSom, whege conversa'
tion flowed freely. Several annecdotes
had been related, and finally the peddler
was asked to give us a story, as men of
his profession were generally full Of
anneedotss and adventures. He was a
short, thick-Set man, somewhere about
forty years of age, and gave evidence of
great physical strength. He gave his
name ss Lemuel Vinney, and his home
was in Dover, New Hampshire.
well, gentlemen he commenced,
knocking the ashes from his pipe and
putting it in bis pocket, suppose l tell
you the last thing OF auy consequence
that happened me. You see / am right
from the West, and on my way home for
winter quarters. It was during the early
part of pleasant evening, that I pulled
Eup at the door of small village tavern,
in in Hancock county, Indiana. l went
in, called for ny supper, and had my
horse take care Of, After l had eaten 1
sat down in the bar room. 1t began to
rain about eight O'clock, and it was very
dark out of doors. Now l wanted to be
in Jackson the next morning, for l ex-
pecteda load Of goods there for me,
whien | Intended to dispose Of on my
way home.
'The moon would rise about midnight,
and | knew if it did not rain could get
along through the mud very we'll after
that. So | asked the landlord if he
would see that my horse was fed about
midnight, as I wished to be off about
two. He expressed some surprise at this
and asked nae why did not stay for
breakfast. / told him that I had sold
my last load about out, and that a new
lot of goods was waiting for me at jack
son, and l wanted to 60 there before the
express agent left in the morning.
'Thele were number OF persons site
ting around while | told this, but took
little notice of them only one arrested
my attention, l had seen this week
notice for the detection Of notorious
robber, The bills gave a description Of
his person, and the man answered very
well to it. lie was tall, we'll formed
'man, rather slight in frame, and had the
appearance Of gentlemau, save that his
face bore those hard, cruel marks which
an observing man cannot mistake for
anything but the index Of a villainous
disposition,
0tWhen | went TO my chamber ! asked |
the Landlord who that man was, Gescrib,
ing the individual. He said he did not
know him.. He had come there that af-
ternoon, and intended to leave the next
day. The host asked me why l wanted
to know, and simply told him that the
mans countenarce was familiar, and
merely wished to know If was ever ac.
quaintsd with him. .s .ugf
Il was resolved not to let the landlord
into the secret, but to hurry on to Jack
SON and there to give information to the
sEerif who perhaps might reach the inn
before the villain left, for | had 60 doubt
as to his identity,
II had an alarm watch, and having set
i to give the alarm, I went to sleep
was alarmed at the proper time, and
dressed myself. When |
reached the yard l found the clouds all
passed away, and the moon was shining !
brightly. a la, K
'The hostlor was easily aroused, and by
,wo o'clock was on the road. The
mud was deep, and my horse could not
ravel vegy fast, However, on we went,
md in the course Of half an hour were
lear of the village. AT Q short distance
head lay a large forest mostly Of pine.
The road lay directly through this wood; {
IS near as I can remember, the distance
vas twelve miles; yet the moon was in
he east, and as the road ran nearly west,
thought / should have light enough. I
II bad entered this wood, and gone |
bout bali, d mile, when my wagon wheel, 9
nth d bump and q jerk, went into deep
Iole, i uttered 90 exclamation Of as q
opishment, but this was not al, II q
Ieard another reclamation from the same q
ourcei What could this mean ? l 2
ooksd quickly around but could see
Iothing; yet | knew that the sound was
cry close to me. AS the hind wheels {
anne up, ] felt something besides the {
ERIK from the hole. heard something Q
unbIe from one side to the other in my I
Eagop, and l could also feel the jar oci q
aaioned by the movement. IL was sim'
,ly man in my cart. ] knew this on I