Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-01-03
An Unwelcome Passenger.

\ cold winters night found stage load Of
bar.roomYihh a New England viTIage SssSysssFT,a S5ssysFa
after we arrived, peddler drove up and or
dered that his horse should be stabbed for the
night. After we bad eaten supper we repaired
to the bar.room, and as soon as the ice wa.
broken, the conversation flowed freely Sev.
eral anecdotes were related, and finally the
peddler was asked to give US a story, as men
Of his profession are generally full Of adven.
lures He was a short, thick set man, some.
where about forty years Of age, and gave
evidence Of great physical strength. lie gave
his name as Lemuel Nlncy, and his home was
in Dover, New Hampshire.
"Wel, gentlemen" he commenced, knock
ing the ashes from his pipe and putting it in
his pocket, suppose | tell you about the
last thing Of any consequence that happened
to me. You see | am now right from the far
West, and on my way home for winter quar-
ters IL was about two months ago, one
pleasant evening, that pulled up at the door
of small village tavern in Hancock county,
Indiana 1 said it was pleasant; meant it
was warm, but it was cloudy and likely to be
very dark. | went in and called for supper,
aud | had my horse taken care Of, and after
had eaten sat down in the bar.room. 1t
began to rain about eight o'clock, and for a
while it poured down good, and it was awful
dark out cf doors.
A" Now wanted to be in Jackson early the
next morning, for | expected load Of goods
there for me, which | intended to dispose Of
on my way home, The moon would rise about
midnight, and | knew if it did not rain |
could get along very comfortably through the
mud after that. So | asked the landlord If
he could not see that my horse was fed about
midnight, as | wished to be off before two.
He expressed some surprise at this, and asked
me why did not stop for breakfast. ! told
him | had sold my last load about all out,
and that new lot of goods was waiting for
me at Jackson, and | wanted to be there be.
fore the express agent left in the morning.
There was a number Of people sitting around
while | told this, but | took little notice Of
them; one only arrested my attention.
had in my possession small package of plac-
ards which was to deliver to the sheriff Of
Jackson, and they were notices for the detec-
tion Of a notorious robber, named Dick Hard
head. The bills gave a description of his
person, aud the man before me answered very
well to it. In fact it was perfect. lie was
tall, well.formed man, rather slight in frame
and had the appearance of gentleman, save
that his face bore those hard cruel marks
which an observing man cannot mistake fol
anything but the index of a yillaiuous dispo.
sition.
When went to my chamber, asked the
| l.. H.. Il Il. tl.t A l.
suspicious individual. He said he did mol
know him. He had come there that after
noon, and intended TO leave the next day
The host asked why | wished to know, aud
simply told him that his countenance was ia
mliar, and merely wished to know if | wat
ever acquainted with him. | resolved not tC
let the landlord into tie secret, but to hurry
on to Jackson, and there give information tC
the sheriff and perhaps he might reach the
inn before the villain left for | had ne
doubt in regard to his identity.
had an alarm watch, and having set il
to give the alarm at one o'clock, went u
sleep. was aroused at the proper time
and Immediately got up and dressed myself
When | reached the yard, | found the cloud
all passed away, and the moon was shining
brightly. The hostler was easily reused, ant
at two o'clock | was on the road. The muC
was deep, and my horse could not travel very
fast-yet il struck me that the beast mad,
more work than there was any need Of, for thu
cart was nearly empty.
However, on We went, and in the cours,
Of half an hour | was clear Of the village
At short distance ahead lay large trac
10 r Al =