The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1869-05-20
Wanted at the Cross Roads.

Wanted at the Cross Roads.
wa, !. in hurry Z i reach home. home No
wonder, for It was the widest night l
had ever known In all my life, and the
country road over which took my way
was - bad as country roads in general.
Consequently ] Yves walking at great
rate with the collar OF rough coat over
my ears. and comforter tied over my
soit hat aud under my chin, TO keep 1t
on and SO protect my ears, when sud
denly man stood full in my path and
caught me by the arms. .
"Halioo,' said he. "You're just in
time; ,n;s,'9 y9g,re Ire wanted at the Cross Roads
The voice was that Of rufrian and l
fancied myself attacked by highway
man. IstooA quite still, and strovs to
show him by my manner that was
able to protect myself. Zt4s
.What the duce am l wanted at the
Crose Rpsds S0r2n aaid !. "Unless7
shosSe, i wbold be hard work to get
me thGre.nrcTT 1Et gtf
But Instead of producing pistol, and
demanding my money or my life, the
man answered in an altered tone:
Beg your pardon, made mistake.
/ thought 1t was my brother, and
wanted to frighten him. Bad night
SIR" ~.t,.,,..,
ts.You dont know the timer he ask
ut was seven when left the train at
l." I replied.
Thank ye," said the man. GOOD
night"
If his object had been robbery, he had
probably decided from my rough muff-
lers that was too poor man TO be
worth the trouble. but after ALL" /
said, probably he spoke the truth. A
man may have such voice without be-
ing highwayman, no doubt"
So went homewart, aud soon found
myself under shelter and partaking of q
warm savOry supper.
My mother was there and my brother
Ben. Ben was great strapping fell
low, who could beat any other youth of
his age for miles around, if it came to
wrestling or boxing, and as good hu-
good to his mother; and think he had
exercised his right to vote at one elec.
ton. r.r
When supper was over aud we had
chatted for an hour, We went up stairs
together and where we shared one
room. s.~. -t@.' s' -
The moment Ben's head touched
the pillow, hS al ways went to sleep,
and that night I followed his exam
pie. -sA.. ....ea
But did not sleep without dream
q dream in which 1 felt rough grip on
my arm, and was aroused by y voice
crying in my ear: * .es
Wake up. You're wanted at the Cross
Roads. a. -.- - r~
1t was 50 rrnl, so palpuble, that when
| started broad awake | actually be-
lieved some one was in the room--the
fna dptfAasdt ssRbsSS siS pS #, Xiolenss Iss
the room was empty, except myself aud
Ben laying OH the bed snoring OH his
pillow. ss.'f t- .n::"t - 90
l went to the door; it was locked. I
went to the window the rush Of rain
against the panes was all l heard. !
even went across the passage to my
mothers room. She was awake but
had heard no unusual sound. Only a
dFeain born by meeting strange man
OF thetroad, ! felt sure had awakened
nfe.
went to bed, fell asleep again, and
again l was awakened by the same
words which this time shrieked in an
unearthly voice:
''Wake up. wake up. You're wanted
ut the Cross Roads" ..r'-.
was on my feet once more, and
caught Ben's hand as he came towards
xvi lat ails you?''he cried. ss y
"'Nothing' said +: "Didyou l,car
voice?"
Yours" said Ben, yelling wake up.
You fairly frightened he."
so we lit a lamp and searched in
'!Sightmarre, y ssaid Ben when I had
"BeS, ssid /, swhat is there at the
Cross Roads?"
"A houss,u g said he. y -
He had iivee in the neighborhood q
long time. and not long.
One little house, besides two oak trees
and fence. An, old man lives there
rich old fellow, and a bit of miser,
they nn,;.s say; y. ,ssg Ills grand daughter keeps
Ben" said 7, "that fellow may have
meant harm. may be wanted at the
Cross Roads, e.
Brother said Ben, ,"go to Sleep
You had II nightmare
Aud Ben plunged in between the
blankets and was soon snoring again.
! also in ten minutes slept as soundly
as before; but the waking came again. l
opened my eyes to see girl standing at
the foot Of my bed.-a girl in white
robes and golden hair all about her
shoulders, vi hn rung her hands and cried
OUT *
] "Oh wake up, wake up; you are want
ed at the Cross Roads. -
This time I started out Of bed bathed
In cold Precipitation. trembled like a
leaf.s had no doubt that had receiv-
ed supernatural warning. tse
/ Ben" l cried ben, for the third
time have been told that am wanted
ut the Cross Roads, and am going" ?
began to dress myself as speedily az
possible. listening the while to the
storm raging madder and wilder than at
any period since its commencement. ~ !
Ben demonstrated with me In vain.-
At tsiast, lie also began to huddle on his
clothes.
J IF you have gone mad, L must 70
with you," lie said. "But fancy an
other man going out into storm like
this to the Cross Roads because night
mare advised him to do SO, and what
n A a -