Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-10-15
WANTED AT THE CROSS ROADS.

NNlultuuu1 1RuAttA IetN Va fffHf"o
WANTED AT THE CROSS ROADS,
was in a hurry to reach home.
No wonder, for it was the widest
night i had ever known in all my life,
and the country over which | took
my way as bad as country roads in
general Consequently ] was walk
ing at great rate, with the collar OF
my rough coat over my ears, and a
comforter tied over my soft hat and
under my chin, TO keep it on and to
protect my ears, when suddenly man
stood full in my path and caught me
by the arm.
"Hullo p said he; you're just in
time; you're wanted at the Cross
Roads to-night~
The voice was the voice OF a ruffian.
fancied myself attacked by high
wayman. l stood quite still, and
strove to show him by my manner
that ! was able TO protect myself.
'TWhat the deuce am / wanted at
the Cross Roads for" said l. "Unless
l choose, it will be a very hard matter
to get me there"
But instead of producing a pistol
and demanding my money or my life,
the man answered in an altered tone
"Beg pardonj l mado a mistake.
/ thought it was my brother, and |
wanted to frighten him, Bad night,
sir"
Every" said I.
"You don't know the time, siri" he
asked.
'lt was seven when / left the train
-a.'-.ssrco l y sirTsf \ n tfin ,'.--7---
"Thank 5iA.--i-5'' ''iu the man.
"Good night"
"Good night" said l.
If his object had been robbery, pro
baby he had decided from my rough
appearance that | was too poor a man
to be worth the trouble. But, after
oil, | thought, probably he spoke the
truth. A man may have such voice
without being a highwayman, no
doubt. So l went homeward, and
soon found myself under shelter, al d
taking of warm and savory supper
My mother was there and my bro.
ther Ben. Ben was a great strapping
fellow, who could beat any other boy
of his age for miles around, if it came
to wrestling or boxing, and as good
humored a boy as ever lived; boy
always to mother and |, though he
had exercised his right to vote already
in one Presidential election. When
supper was over, and we had chatled
for an hour, we went up stairs TO-
gether. We share one room together.
The moment Ben's head touched the
pillow he always went to sleep. That
night l followed his example. But /.
did not sleep long without dream
a dream in which l felt a rough grin
on my arm, and was aroused by tho
cry in my ears:
awake upl You are wanted at the
Cross Roads, p
1t was SO real, so palpable, that
when started broad awake, / actu.
ally believed that some one was in the
room the man who intended robbery
or violence. But when had arisen.
and lit my lamp, the room was empty, |
except myself and Ben, who lay snor. |
ing on his pillow.
went to the door; il was locked. |
! went to the window; the rush oil
rain against the panos was all that | |
heard. even went across the pass. |
age to my mothers room. She was
awake; there had been no unusual
sound, she was sure.
Only a dream born of my meeting
the strange man on the road. | felt
had awakened me. went to bed and
iell asleep again. Again | was awals.
ened by the same words, this time
shrioked in my ear by an unearthly
voice:
wake up wake up You are
wanted at the Cross Roads,
l was on my feet once more and
caught Ben's hand as he came over
toward my bed.
Wv hat ails you p he cried
"Nothing," said l. oDid you hear
n voice?
yours" said Ben; ayour yelling
w woke me upj you fairly frightened
"Bon,' said ], "wait till l light a
lampj heard enothcr voice. There I
must be song 'one in the house or I
outside
l again lii the lamn I'm, vo .o.... {
cd in vain. ~ S"' ' s
him my story.
"Don said ], "what is there at the
Gross Roads p '