The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-12-03
Yailp argus.
WANTED Ar THE CROSSROADS.

ooAh - country IoAus ID Reuerni' CoHeo
quentiy was walking at great rate, with
the collar OF a rough coat over my ears, and
comforter tied over my soft hat and under
my chin to keep it on and 10 protect my
ears, when suddenly man stood foil ia my
path, and caught me by the arm.
'.Hsloa - said he, you're just in time !:
you are wanted ct the Cross roads to-
night
The voice was the voice of q ruffian.
fsncicd myself attacked by hghwayman
] stood quite still, and strove to chow him
by my manner that was able to protect
myself.
What the deuce am wanted at the Cross
roads for y said |. '>U Mess should choose.
itwould be hard to get me there"
But instead of producing pistol and
demanding my money or my life, he answer
ed in an altered tone:
beg pardon! l made mistake. l
thought it was my brother and wanted to
frigh,en him. Bad night, sir"
very !" said I.
"You don't know the time p he asked.
at was seven when | left tho train at
L." said /. :.
"Thank ye," said the man, 'good
night
If his object had been robbery, probably
he had decided from my rough muffiers,
that was too poor man to be worth the
trouble.
But after oil, I said, probably he spoke
the truth. A man may have such q voice
without being highwaymsn, without
doubt.
So | went on homewnrd. and soon found
myself under shelter, aud partaking of q
warm and savory supper.
My mother was there, and my brother
Ben. Ben was great strapping fellow, who
could heat any other boy of his age for miles
around if it come to boxing or wrestling, and
as good humored q boy ever lived, boy
always to his mother, though be had ALREADY
exercised his right to vote in one presden.
tial election.
When supper was over and We had chatted
an hour. we went up stairs together. We
shared one room.
The moment Ben's head touched the pill
low be always went to sleep. That night |
followed his example.
But did not sleep without q dream-a
dream in which felt rough grip on my
arm, and was aroused by crying in my
ear -
wake up! you're wanted at the Cross
roads -
1t was SO real, so pslpable, tina. when l
started broad awake | actually believed that
some one was in the room-the man who
intended the robbery or violence. But when
| had lit my lamp the room was empty.
except myself and Ben, lying snoring on his
pillow.
| went to the door; it was locked. went
TO the window; the rush Of rain against the
pains was all / heard. l even went across
tho IN r,ntbarfc h.
awake There had been no unusual sound
she was sure.
Only a dream, born of my meeting with
the strange man upon the road, | felt sure
had awakened me. | went to bed and fell
asleep again. Again | was awakened BY the
same wor3s-this time they came to my ca.
by an unearthly voice.
wake up, you're wanted at the Cross
rosds-''
again sprsng from the bed and said to
Ben:
Wake up! did you hear yelling ~
My stars, said Ben. yelling! wake
up. You fairly frightened me-"
Ben, said ], wait until | light the
lamp. | heard another voice. There
must be some some one in the house or out
side
So we lit the lamp, and we searched, but
IN vain.
Nightmare" said Ben, when told him
my story.
Ben" said I, "what is there at the Cross
roads pr
"a house." said Ben
He had lived in the neighborhood long
while, and but short time.
Zone little house, besides two oak trees
and fence An old man lives there, q
rich old fellow, and bit of q miser they
say. His grand daughter keeps house for
him.
BEN said I, ''tha, fellow may have
meant harm to them. | may be wanted at
the Cross roads.
'Brother," said Ben, go TO sleep. You
had nigh,mare"-and Ben plunged in be
tween the blankets aud was 5000 snoring
again.
also in ten minutes was sleeping soundly
as before, but the awakening quickly came
again.
| opened nv syes to see girl standing at
the foot of the bed. A girl with white robes
and golden hair all about her shoulders who
wrung her hands aud cried. Oh, wake up
you are wanted at the Cross road
This time | started out of bed, ba.hed in
q cold perspiration. | trembled like leaf
and had no doubt that l had received q
supernatural warning.
Ben" | cried, ben, for the first time
have been told that am wanted at the
Crossroads and I am going"
And began to dress myself as speedily
Us possible, listening meanwhile to the
storm, raging madden and wilder than at
any other period since its commencement.
Ban demonstrated with me in vain. Al
L.. L. L,dI IL 10,
"If yon have gone mad, | must go and
another man going in a storm like this 10
the crossroads, because q nightmare ad vises
him to do SO, and what would you think of
him %
said nothing. All could have an
swered would have been
Il am in PEELED to go; l dare not vefuse,
whatever may be thought of me"
In ten minutes we were splashing through
mud and rain along the road. IL was
perfectly dark, now and then blazing red
star in the distance told US that q lamp was
cleaning through the rain IN some cottage
window, but otherwise We would not haze
been consciou. Of our proximity to any
habitation whatever. at last nearing the
spot where the road from s. crosses the
road from P, We were indeed in
solitary place rs could well he imagined.
The house, which abutted on the very
angle of the roads, called IN familiar
pariance the Crossroads, was the only one |
for some distance in either direction, ard !
certainly on such q night we were not likely I
to meet many travellers.
All was silent as the grave. We stood |
quite still In a moment Ben broke out with !
one of his widest laughs.
"WeIl," he said, chow now? Will y.n
90 home and have another nightmare
But hardly had the words escaped his lips
when shrek broke on tle air. and q
woman's voice, plainly coming from the
interior OF the cottage, cried -
Help help help
Ben said l. we are wanted ct the
Crossroads" and then, understanding each
other, without more words made our way to