The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1867-10-17
TIE PEDLER'S STORY.
Ag the summers pass away |"

A cold winter nlght, several years
since, found n stage-load of passengers
gathered together around the warm fire of
a tavern bar-room in New England viii
Iage. y pedler drove up and Joined the
party, ordering his horse to be stabbed for
the night.
After supper had been eaten, all hands
repaired again to the bar-room, where
the conversation flowed freely. Several
anecdotes had been related, when fUaly
the pedler was asked to tell story, as
members of his profession were generally
full Of adventures aud anecdotes.
"Well, gentlemen" he commenced,
knocking the ashes from his pipe, sup
pose l tell you of the last thiug OF conse-
quepce that happened to 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-E pulled up at the
door of small Village tavern in Hancock
county, Indiana. l SAID it was pleasant
| | meant warm. | went in and called for
supper, and had my horse taken care Of.
Alter / had eaten, sat down in the bar
room. 1t began to rain about eight
O'clock, and was very dark outdoors
Now, | wanted to be il jackson the next
morning, for [ expected a load of goods
there for me, which l Intended to dispose
Of on my way home.
"The rDooE would rise about midnight,
and | knew if it did not rain that / could
get along through the mud very well after
that. SO l asked the landlord if he
would see that my horie was fed about
-, I N-,icb boI IN ho
lie expressed some surprise, and asked
me why did not stop for breakfast. l
told him that | had sold my last load
about out, and that new lot OF goods
was waiting for me at jackson, aud /
wanted to be there before the express
agent lett in the morning.
"There were number of persons sit
ting around while told this, but I took
little notice of them; only one arrested
my attention. | haG seen that week no.
tices for the detection of notorious rob-
Der. The bills gave a description Of his
person, and the man before me answered
very well to 1t. He was u tall, well built
man, rather slight in frame, and lad the
appearance of gentleman, save that his
face bore those hard, cruel marks which
an observing man cannot mistake for any
thing but the index Of villainous dispo-
sition.
"When l went to my chamber, I asked
the landlord who the man was that had
attracted my attention. He said he did
not know him he had come that after
noon, and intended leaving the next day.
The host asked me why [ wished to know,
but L simply told him that the mans
couDtenance was familiar aud [ wanted to
find out if had ever been acquainted
with him.
Il was resolved not 20 let the landlord
into the secret, but myself to give infor-
nation to the sheriff concerning my sus-
picious.
81 had an alarm watch, and having set
1t at one O'Clock, l went to sleep. l was
aroused at the proper time, and immedi-
ateiy rose aud dressed myself. When l
reached the bar-room, l found the clouds
all passed away and the moon shining
brightly. The hostler was aroused. and
by two o'clock l was on the road. The
mud was deep, and l could not travel very
fast. However, on we went, and in the
course of half an hour | was clear of the
village. At a short distance ahead lay a
large tract of forest, mostly of pine. The
road lay directly through this wood, and
as near as | can remember the distance
was twelve miles. Yet the moon was in
the east and the road ran nearly west, so
/ thought L should have light enough.
81 had entered this wood, and gone
about half mile, when my wagon wheels
settled with jerk in deep hole. ut
! tered an exclamation of astonishment-
but that was not all. I heard another