Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-09-06
HOWEL0ST FIVEDOLLA2S.

Fifteen years ago there were few inns
throughout the whole geographical
extent of Ohio wherein one might pass
the night without an excusable doubt
as to whether he would awake on the
lested carpet-bag and an unmolested
throat.
Iconfess, [ however, that, when, on a
certain evening in September, 1856, I
reined up my horse in front of very
respectable looking building, which
had been designated to me as the
"biggest hotel in the village, the ex-
pectation which [ had formed of find
ing very disagreeable quarters after my
long, tedious ride across the country,
was most pleasantly disappointed.
And, on entering the small, but neat
ly appointed dining room, I Ireceived a
still more delightful shock; for there
waited an elderly, red-faced individual,
of genial appearance, who informed me
that I could satisfy my hungry cray-
ings with excellent supper, inside the
short space of quarter Of an hour.
The supperproyed, indeed, excellent,
and Just as I had finished satiating my
self to the uttermost, the red faced
individual re-entered the room, and de
sired that I would have the goodness
to follow him, provided I wanted a
good smoke.
"There happens to be quite a little
crowd in the barroOm tonight" said
this gentleman, who was evidently the
"mine host" of the establishment.
a." But you'll find 'em ali putty decent,
I reckon. I've done my best, sir, to
have the company that curlects here
o. nights as fust-class as possible. -
There we're, perhaps, eight men in
the barroom as we entered it, and these
7 did not feel able, conscientiously, to
pronounce "frst-class" Judging any one
of the occupants, according to strict
laws of personal criticism.
But I remarked, with pleasure, while
seating myself before q certain fra
grant hot beverage, and lighting my
comparionable briar-wood pipe, that
there was not a single man in the
apartment who wore the least approach
to what might be termed D " desperate u
demeanor.
They all seemed, with single ezoep-
ton, men of . rugged, hard Workin2
sort, who had assembled together
purely for purposes Of harmless con
VITALITY and good-fellowship. The sin
gle exception WAS o person of perhaps
thirty years old, dressed with sober
neatness, and having an appearance, at
the same time, gentlemanly and mod
est.
His smooth-shaven, placid face, and
dark, meditatiye eyes, rather won me
towards him, indeed, as [ observed the
assemblage of which he formed mem
Der.
He was not taking any part, how
ever, in the general conversation that
just then occupied the group, though
l noticed that he seemed an attentive
listener to all that was being said.
The subject of this conversation
which [ afterwards learned, by-the-way,
that some remarks of his own had
started previous to my entrance-wag
the rather disagreeeble one of ghosts.
| Nearly every one had some tale OF
unaccountadle visitation or curious srl-
pernatural agency, which he told with
the usual mixture of credence and
sceptlcism.
[ had just found myself listening f.
the fourth story of this sort when the
| door of the bar-room opened, and one
more member was added to our party.
He was slim, pale, hoyish-lookine
fellow, whom nobody seemed to know
and who seemed, on his part, to care
very little for the acquaintance Of any,
body.
Seating himself, he gave orders for 6
glass of "hot Scotch drinking i
slowly while the present marvellous tale
was being narrated.
At its conclusion, however, he sur
prised us all by saying, in loud, care
less, and rather impertinent way, with
out fixing his eyes on any one il
particular
81 don't see how sane man coulf
believe such humbug as that. For my
part, L neXer met anybody that would
swear to having really seen a ghost
except the kind that are apt to make
their appearance to a fellow after {
roaring two weeks spree -
Profound silence followed these re.
marks, lasting for perhaps a good min.
ute. And then the individual, whose
appearance l had noticed as so gentle.
manly and modest, spoke, in clear
firm voice:
Allow me to say young man, that
you give your opinion altogether toe
thoughtlessly"
A very sullen look accompanied the
prompt answer to these words.
Perhaps, [ do, Mr.. Stranger, and
perhaps | don't. Anyhow, [ don't
much see how that opinion can concern
you"
The other smiled scornfully, while his
dark eyes glittered with keenness that
almost amazed me,