Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1872-05-01
Select STORY.
A PERILOUS ADVENTURE.
or,
The Game for Life.
BY J. VI. BARTER.

1t was a terrible, stormy night dark
as pitch and blowing a hurricane. My
evercoa. was wet through, and my jack
boots were full of water The lightning
kept up one constant succession of vivid
flashes, and the deep thunder rolled in
| every direction. Under the most favora
ble circumstances the night would not be
considered pleasant, but when you are
alone in country you don't know, have
lost your way, and can't see a foot
before your horses nose, don't think
any one can imagine anything more un
pleasant. In vain plunged my spurs
into his sides and used my whip, not
another step would he move. but stood,
with trembling fanks and extended nos
trils, lhe picture of agonized fear; so
was forced to dismount and lead Kim,
But you may judge of my surprise when
reached his head to fad that he was
nearly touching a wall. stretched out
my hand, and, to my great joy, found it
vas log Lut.
Drawing the b.idle over my arm, |
led my horse round the builling. feeling
carefully so as not to miss the doorway.
| passed down one side and turned the
corner. when, 10 my delight, l preceived
light shining through some c!,inks in
the logs Without pausing to consider
what guests might be assembled inside.
| hasteued to the door, and beating
loudly upon it, dem'udcd aamittance.
| had rot long to wait. The door open
ed slowly, and tall, thin man stood be-
fore me.
With his left hand lie held the door so
as to be ready to close it in an instant,
and in his right hand Colts revolver
"Wall, what's the matter now T. said
he, In clear voice.
Matter I" / said, matter enough.
should think l have lost my way, and
am wet to the skim
There's a barn at the end Of the hut
for your 'oss," said he, jerking his head
in that direction. you had better 60
and put the 'oss up stranger, and then
come here
As saw there was no help for it l
led my horse to the barn, made him as
comfortable as l could, and then. jerking
my saddle bags over my shoulder, enter
ed the hut.
"Wall, stranger" said MY host, II do
think you might be more perlite, and
Just hand over the news. l guess it
isn't often we get any down here, and,
therefore, we don't lose chance of rails
ing any when we can"
Il am extremely sorry that l have no
news to give you, and unfortunately |
have not the imagination of some of the
New York papers. or l would invent
some for your amusement
"Now, look here, stranger, none of
your imper thence; l guess you are a
Britisher, which accounts for your slow
ness. What's the good of paper if
there isn't something in it2 Supp ose
there's a murder or robbery, and it's a
real one, wall, you read it and enjoy it.
But suppose it's false one. bout people
you know nothing about wall, you en-
joys 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 people; therefore, what
eau it matter to you whether it's true or
false 7 IL does just the same"
Not feeling inclined to argue with my
friend over the matter-especially as l
could see that he was a man who would
not take contradiction quietly-I readily
owned that l was wrong and be was en-,
tirely right.
"Spose you don't want to sleep d.
rectly. stranger 7"
"Iudeed, do, for l am very tired"
II guess it isn't safe to sleep in these
parts unless you can manage to keep one
eye open"