Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-02-01


quiet In case | might disturb you.
Air you hungry p he demanded.
''As hunter" was my emphatic reply.
Il guess you won't object to this bit oi
corned beef, then, said he, pushing some
coarse bread and salt meat towards me-
''On the contrary" Irepliedy nothing
could be more acceptable. "
L guess you're thirsty" he said, after
watching me deveur the meat.
Sahara is nothing 20 me, D." l avowed
"I'don't know anything about your Sa
rah, he replied, but du know girl nam
ed Polly, who does drink, she da; a patent
Goubi pressure engine is nothing to her,
that 1t ain { she takes in more liquid than
Mississippi steamboat, and when she's at
high pressure | guess she's as dangerous. >
l expressed my sorrow at Miss Polly S
failing, and asked him if he had anything
to drink
Wal, yes here's some Bourbon whisky;
put yourself outside that, and you won t
feel your soaking"
L needed no second invitation, for in spite
OF the huge fire, | was shivering with cold;
and as L had most important business to ex-
ecute, was most anxious at any risks 10 keep
up my strength, so as to accomplish my
journey.
As [ drank the whisky my companion
iapsed into silence, and | began to ponder
upon the weakness of human Judgment, and
the unfairness of what people call impress
sions, in particular
Here Is a man, thought 7, "that eve
rybody would proclaim a scoundrel from his
diabolical cOuntenance judging from that
you would say that he was mean, cruel and
unprincipled -.yet, although I have not seen
him before, he not only gives me the shelter
H. Il !
whisky with me- | will never trust TO ap-
pearaIces again.
" hiist | had been making these refec-
tiOns, | again prepared for sleep; but my
doing SO evidently displeased my companion
Tor stretching out his long legs to their full
leugth-evidently to kick mine-he gave
terrible yawu.
''Darned if you amt the slowest cuss I've
met on this side of CREATION" he growled.
Ain you got no news p
Half angry and half amused at his strange
manner, | replied:
L am extremely sorry that have no news
to give you, and unfortunately | have not
the imagiHatiO of some of our New York
papers. or l would invent some for your
amusement.
Now, look here, stranger, none of your
lmperunence. L guess you're a Bostoner,
" hat 5 the good of paper, if there isn't
something new in it? S pose there's muir
der or robbery, aud fU-s Il reaI one, wal, you
read 1t and enjoy it. But pose it's q false
one, bout people you know nothing about,
wal, you enjoy it, and there isn't halt the
darned injury done. You Iaf or cry as
much over one as the other, and you don't
know the people; therefore, what can 1t
matter to you whether 1t is true or false it
does just the same
Not feeling inclined to argue with my
friend over the matter especially as | could
see that he was a man who would not take
contradiction quietly, readily owned that
| was wrong and he was right.
IS pose you don't want to sleep directly,
stranger ?"
Indeed I do, for am very tired 1"
I guess it's not safe TO sleep in these
parts. unless you can manage to keep one
eye open"
why? Surely we are safe here?'
Il don't know that | calc late you air
stranger in these parts p
Il am.
But [ guess you've heard of Silas Cass
he dwelis hereabouts.
Silas Cassl ] had indeed heard Of him
as one Of the most desperate and deDraved
characters that haunted the out-settlements
of America. He was suspected-nay, it was
morally certain-that he had committed
more murders and robberies than any man
In the world but he had contriyed to evade
the law, ior although suspicion was great,
there was no proof, and the wretch had al
ways escaped the punishment he so richly
deserved.
As I looked at the dabolIcal face before
NE, | was convinced that my host was no
other than the notorious Silas Cass. / felt a
cold sweat burst out on my forehead, and a
terrible dryness seized my throat. y fiend-
like expression of delight spread over the
wretch 5 face as he noticed these symptoms
Of terror; his thin lips were drawn back in
a deviiish grin his greeuish eyes were fixed
on me with the malicious gaze OF cat
watching a Gagged bird. Gathering all the
resolution | could muster, [ replied:
Il have heard of Silas Cass, but really
can't believe the stories they tel! about hIm.
Some people are born unlucky, and it has
been the misfortune of Cass to be placed in
suspicious circumstances; but there has
never been any proof OF his guilt, and there
fore | prefer giving him the benefit of the
doubr-in fact think he is more sinned
against than SHINING -
The monster threw himself back and
roared with laughter at what he thought my
credulity, and pushing the whiskey bottle
towards INC, ordered me to drink.
L placed the bottle to my lips, and pre-
tended TO take hearty draught, but very
little Of the fiery liquid entered my mouth.
"W2J, you air queer cuss, said the
rufiap. Now, | shouldn't be surprised il
those saddle bags OF yours held a gooC
amount Of dollars %
"a few, [ replied; land there is tale
belonging to them.
.sJast so, /" saio Silas, pushing the whisky
bottle towards me. IS pose you take an
other pull. 8.
took hold of the bottle, and kept
glued to my lips for such a length of tint
that Silas' eyes seemed ready to start iron
their sockets.
Guess you're tall drinker, stranger,
he said.
as l could assume; that's how 1 came By
those dollars"
Bully for you, grinned Silas. ',I'v'
heard Of many boy drinking himself on
of fortune, but ne'er a one that drunk
himself rich -
"Oh, " sighed I, with drunken earnest
ness, L once was honest"
"Once !" said he. opening his eyes.
''Yes, | replied. Il held a place in tn,
/ Broadway Bank as one Of the chief tellers
but took to gaming aud drinking andilos
/ all my money"
ssWaI. that didn't make Won rich ~