The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-09-09
HOW ILeST FIVEDOLLARS.


Fifteen years ago there were few inns
throughout the whole geographical
extent of Ohio wherein one might pass
the night without an excusable doubt
rs to whether he would awake on the
following morning both with unmo-
Tested carpet-hag and en- unmolested
throat.
Iconfess, however, that, when, on a
certain evening in September, 1855, l
reined up my horse III front of very
respectable looking building, which
had been dcsignat q 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.
Aud, on entering the small, but neat
~ appointed dining room, Ireceived a
still more delightful shock; for there
waited an elderly, red-faced individual,
of genial appearance, who informed me
that [ could satisfy my hungry crav-
ings with excellent supper inside the
short space of quarter of an hour
The supperproved, indeed, excellent,
and Just as [ hadtinished satiating N.Y.
self to the uttermost, the red faced
individual re-entered the room, and de-
sired that ] would have the goodness
to follow him, provided l wanted q
good smoke
"Ihere happens to be quite little
crowd III the barroOm tonight" said
this gentleman, who was evidently the
"mine host" of the establishment.
g But you'll fiud 'em all putty decent,
[ reckon. I've done my best, sir, to
have the company that curlects here
o nights as fust class as possible
There were, perhaps, eight lnen in
the barroom as we entered it, and these
| did not feel able, conscientiously, to
pronounce ''tiTst-class'' Judging any one
OF the occupants, according to strict
laws Of personal criticism.
But [ remarked, with pleasure, while
seating myself before a certain fra
grant hot beverage, and lighting my
comparlonable briar-wo0d pipe, that
there was not a single man IN the
apartment who wore the least approach
to what might be termed a desperate >
demeanOr.
They all seemed, with single excep-
sort, who had assembled together
purely for purposes Of harmless con
VITALITY and 9ood-feilowship. The sin
gle exception was 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, meditative eyes, rather won me
towards him, indeed, as [ observed the
asscmbiage OF which he formed Il men,
Der.
He WIS not taking any part, how
ever, III the general conversation that
Just then occupied the group, though
| 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-was
the rather disagreeeble one of ghosts.
Nearly every one had some tale of
uDaccountadie visitation or curious su-
pernatural agency, which he told with
the usual mixture OF credence and
scepticism.
| had Just found myself listening to
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 a slim, pale, boyish-looking
fellow, whom nobody seemed to know,
and Who seemed, on his part, to care
- 4
body.
Seating himself, he gave orders for a
glass OF "hot Scotch "-drInking it
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 impertnent way, with
out fixing his eyes on any one in
particular
Il don't see how sane man could
believe such humbug as that For my
part, 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 a
roaring two weeks spree -
Profound silence followed these re-
Mains, laouiIS loI perhaps gOoQ m1n-
ute. And then the individual, whose
appearance | 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 too
thoughtlesslv"
A very sullen look accompanied the
prompt answer to these words.
Perhaps, l do, Mr. Stranger, and
perhaps [ don't. Anyhow, 1 don't
much see how that opinion can concern
you"
The other smiled scornfully, while his
dark eyes ghttered with keenness that
almost amazed me.
"Shall / tell you how, young man %
he said, with slow, deliberate emphasis
of tone, looking very steadily at the
boyish fellow opposite. eff you care
to hear the truth, it is because / have it
IN my power to turn your unbelief into
something very different"
"You!" exclaimed about a dozen
voices.
I'D like to hear you tell anything