The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-01-05


"There's barn at the end of the hut
for the 'oss," said he, Jerking his head in
the direction. "You had better go and
put him up, stranger, and then come
here"
As saw there was 10 help for it, i
led my horse to the barn, made him as
comfortable as ! could, and then taking
my saddle-bags over my arm, entered
the hut.
1t was a wretched hovel, composed OF
rough-hewn logs, rudely put together,
and plastered mud, great masses OF
which had fallen away, leaving the logs
exposed to view, and the sharp wind
whistled through the chinks in a misera-
BILE manner. The hearth was composed
of stones beaten into the earth, and
upon this blazed a large fire, which, al
though it filled the room with smoke,
was, in my condition, most acceptable.
My newly made acquaintance ap-
peared to have fallen fast asleep before
the fire; so giving one look to his disa-
greeable countenance, 1 took off my coat
and waistcoat, laid them out to dry, and
placing the saddle-bags for a pillow,
prepared to go to sleep.
oval, stranger" said my host, start
ing up with snarl, IL DIT think you
might be more perlite, and just hand
over the news. guess it isn't often we
get any down in these parts, and there
fore we don't lose a chance of rising any
when we can."
al must beg your pardon" l replied /;
az thought you were asleep, and there
fore was quiet in case I might disturb
you"
"Air you hungry" he demanded.
AS hunter" was my emphatic re-
ply.
Il guess you won't object to this bit
of cornef beef then," said he, pushing
some coarse bread and salt meat toward
me.
"On the contrary 1 replied, moth
ing could be more acceptable"
AZ guess you're thirsty" he said, after
watching me devour the meat.
"Sahara is nothing to me-" avowed.
81 don't know anything about your
Sarah" he replied, "but l du know a
girl named' Polly, who does drink, she
d. patent double-pressure engine is
nothing to her, that it amt; she takes
in more liquid than Mississippi steam
boat, and when she's at high pressure /
guess she's as dangerous"
expressed my sorrow at Miss Polly's
failing, and asked him if he had any
thing to drink.
"Wal, yes here's some Bourbon whis-
ky; put yourself outside that and you
won't feel your soaking"
needed no second invitation, for, in
spite of the huge fire, was shivering
with cold; and as had most important
business to execute, was most anxious at
any risks to keep up my strength, SO as
to accomplish my journey.
AS drank the whiskey my compan-
ion lapsed into silence, and began to
ponder upon the weakness of human
Judgment, and the unfairness of what
people call impressions" in particular.
"Here is man." thought 1, "that
everybody would proclaim a scoundrel
from his diabolical countenance; judging
from that, you would say that he was
mean, cruel and unprincipled; yet, al
though l have not seen him before, he
not only gives me the shelter of his roof,
but also shares his supper and whiskey
with me. will never trust to appear
ances again."
Whilst l had been making these re-
Elections, l again prepared for sleep:
but my doing so evidently displeased
my companion, for stretching out his
long legs to their full length-evidently
to kick mine-he gave terrible yawn.
"Darned if you amt the slowest cuss
I've met on this side of creation" he
growled. "Ain't you got no news?"
Half angry and half amused at his
strange manner, replied:
al am extremely sorry that have no
news to give you, and unfortunately /
have not the imagination of some of our
New York papers, or / would invent
some for your amusement"
"Now, look here, stranger, none of
your impertinence. guess you are a
Bostoner, which accounts for your infer
nal slowness. What's the good of pa
per, if there isn't something new in it
S'pose there's murder or a robbery,
and it's real one, wal, you read 1t and
enjoy it. But s'pose it's a false one,
bout people you know nothing about,
wal, you enjoys it, and there isn't half
the darned sight injury done. You laff
or cry as much over one as the other,
and you don't know the peoples there
fore, what can it matter to you whether
it is true or false it does just the same"
Not feeling inclined to argue with my
friend over the matter, especially as I
could see that he was man who would
not take contradiction quietly, 1 readily
owned that l was wrong and he was
right.
"S'pose you don't want to sleep di-
rectly, stranger 2"
"Indeed do, for l am very tired"
81 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!"
81 don't know that. 1 calclate you
air a stranger in these parts 2"
"I am"
"But l guess you've heard of Silas
Cass-he dwells hereabouts."
Silas Cass / had indeed heard of
him as one of the most desperate and
depraved characters that haunted the
out-settlements of America. He was
uspected-nay, it was morally certain
that he had committed more murders
and robberies than any man in the
world but he had contrived to evade
The law. for although suspicion was
great there was no proof, and the
wretch had always escaped the punish
nent he so richly deserved.
As looked at the diabolical face be-
'ore me, I was convinced that my host
was no, other than the notorious Silas
Jass. 1 felt cold sweat burst out on
ny forehead, and a terrible dryness