Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-05-20
sC0MPASSES.,,
The Life ana Death Of the Man w h0
was ssTired OF Fig h tins.,,


jack from pan to plate, just in time to
give glance that caromed itself around
the room, and, pocketing itself in the open
window, fell upon the four of us-Fosco,
Barkham, the Colonel and me-riding to-
ward the house, our horses tired and de,
jected, and ourselves fit comrades for them.
One would think almost as soon of build
ing a hotel in cemetery, and waiting for
ghostly visitants, as of settling near Mud
Springs, in the heart ola deserted country.
But there the house stood-a struggling,
one-storied inn, half adobe and half rough
posts, like a broken spider, the supports of
the shed standing like gaunt legs. One al
most expected to see it moving about the
place.
A wild uncouth place-a ragged unshorn
bit of Nature, in her most discordant mood
A narrow valley, fringed, as to It's sides
with anarled oaks that crouched in silence,
and cottonwoods, whose leaves seemed glad
to be hidden by their dusty coa,ings. Large
powders run slow races down the hill, or
gathered in sober groups around a stony
chief; some gray and smirched with brittle
moss; others broken, and trying to glisten
in the sun. Even the birds deserted the
canon, at the foot of which stood the house ;
and though sometimes peeping around the
outlet, never ventured in. How the winter
wind snarled up the ravine, buffeting every
thing, and drawing cloud Of dust in its
jerky train! How the rain pours down, ns
if glad to wash out the land mark, pelting
and soaking, running new channels. and
following out the surface. Only the little,
thread-like brook, that twisted down from
the spring, laughing in the sunlight, flash
ing back upon the clinging weeds that
courtesi, d to the bright bubbles on their
rapid course. A, the fence the brook crept
UNDER and moistened the flowers and vege.
tables that were scattered about the gardens
the pride and care of Aunt Clepsey and
the solace of her heart.
Hunting all day among the hills, wearied
with fruitlcss sport, we came Unexpectedly
upon these signs Of life, and urging our
horses, pushed on to the dwelling.
'Can we stay here tonightY inquired
Fosco, as the dame came to the door and
stood with arms akimbo, scanning our par.
ty with curious eye.
'Ie can try, was the sapient rejoinder-
somewhat equivocal one-but bela,ed
travellers are not wont to be over nice.
We turned our animals into the yard,
and bundled our traps into the front room
that served for dining, sitting and the
bar. The hostess had preceded us, and
gave us greeting, leaning on the bar rail.
She cooly examined our baggage, such as
it was, aud with sigh of relief, remarked: j:
'Ye amt got any yaller volise, see, !
,oo o,,J ,,o ann Va th;ply -
rus, but no man which has yaler volise
can tie up here. III tell you why this is.
There was peart-like chap onst came here,
prospecting around, which had sich a bag
gage; and he kept stayn' and stayin',
which we didn't see no money Of his'n day
artcr day. But, ss we found his volise
heayy-which me and Compasses often
hefted,-w thought it was all right. But,
one day. my man didn't come back any
more; and when we came to open the vo-
lise, we found it nailed to the floor, empty !;
and no man with SIGH heavy thing hev We
kept sence.'
You are right in being cautious when
such men are around. But where is v ur
husband 2 asked the Colonel.
Down in the field, yonder. They call
him Compasses, cause one Of his legs is a
little irregular. But you mustn't keep me
palaverin', or you won't git nothing for
proyerder, and she hustled into the kitch-
en-.
A kindly faced old lady as ever looked
upon; and she had safely passed the age
when women are apt to become blotting
papers, to absorb all the milk of human
L, ,ho t6o,, Tall on1
plain printgown neatly put on, she had all
possible dignity of carriage and demeanor.
A singular room we we're occupying. At
one end jutted from the wall few shelves,
on which was arranged q row OF bottles.
There were seven cans of oysters-always
seven-having the marks of daily polish
ing. A small jar was labeled 'Solace; il
you rang it, there came forth an empty
sound. A cigar box, of some faded me-
dieval brand, hngged close to this for com
pany. An old Dutch pipe, hung up by the
neck, had been strangling slowly for years.
There was a remarkable print Of the deugc
upon one wall, where purple ark naviga-
ted among pink whales, that spouted rasp-
berry soda water; while Noah, with his Sc
lect company, clad in navy uniforms, and
| bearing umbrellas, seemed to chatf the
struggling creatures with all the elfrontery
OF men who had paid their fare. Two pant
ing swimmers pair of pants,' as Bark.
ham chrstened them-strove to climb the
rudder, but were pushed off by the gold
laced hirelings. How do these scripture
prints get into such queer places? A halt
dozen we'll whitfield chairs, and two benches,
that SHE'D up against the wall, completed
the furniture.
We had hardly completed a survey o.
our surroundings when we heard the blast
of horn, and close npon it., voice shout
ing, 'S-i-l-a-s! S-i.La.sl'
| In answer thereto there soon appeared q,
the door the lord of the manor, surnamed
Compasses. He had an unmistakable stiff
leg-not loose appendage, but firm at
tachment to his body, like the limb of 9
tree-and the boot on his foot had all th,
close fitting symmetry of the skin Of baket
apple upon the pulp thereof. The man
after gazing at us somewhat in surprise
pivoted into the room, entered the bar AM
said, Welcome gentlemen. Take drink ?
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