Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-01-05
An Unwelcome Passenger.

load OF us gathered about the warm hre
of a tavern bar-room in New England
village. Shortly after we arrived, a
peddlar drove up aud ordered that his
horse should be stabbed for the night
After we had eaten supper we repaired
to the bar-room, and as soon as the ice
was broken, the conversation flowed free
ly. Several anecdotes were related, and
finally the paddler was asked to give us
a story, as men of his profession are gen
orally full of adventures. He was a
short thick set man, somewhere about
forty years of age, and gave evidence of
great physical strength. He gave his
name as Lemuel Vincy, and his home
was in Dover, New Hampshire.
Well gentlemen" he co nmenced
knocking the ashes from his pipe and
putting it In his pocket, "suppose | tell
you about the last thing of any conse-
quenee that happened to me. You see !
am now right from the far West, and on
my way home for winter quarters. 1t
was about two months ago, one pleasant
evening that | pulled up at the door of
small village tavern in Hancock coun-
ty, Indiana. said it was pleasant;
meant it was warm, but it was cloudy
and likely to be very dark. / went in
and called for supper, and had my horse
taken care of and after had eaten sat
down in the barroom. 1t began to rain
about eight o'clock, aud for awhile it
poured down good, and it was awful dark
out of doors.
Now | wanted to be in Jackson early
the next morning, Tor expected a load
of goods there for me, whi.h intende d
to dispose of on my way home. The
moon would rise about midnight, and
knew that if it did not rain | could get
along very comfortably after that. So
asked the landlord if be could not see
that my horse was fed about midnight,
as | wished to be off before two. He ex.
pressed some surprise at this, and asked
me why | did not stop for breakfast
told him l had sold my last load about
all out. and that a new lot of goods was
: waiting for me at Jackson, and want
ed to be there before the express agent
left in the morning. There was a mum.
Der of people sitting around while tolC
this, but | took but little notice of them
one only arrested my attention. | hac
in my possession small package of pla
cards which was to deliver 10 the sher
itf of Jackson, and they were notices foi
the detection of notorious robber, Dcl
Hardhead. The bills gave a description
of his person, and the man before M
answered very we'll to it. In fact it VA
perfect. He was a tall, well-lormeC
man, rather slight it frame, and had tn
appearance of gentleman. save tha
his face bore those hard cruel mark
which an observing man cannot mistak,
for anything but the index of villain
ous disposition.
When | went to my chamber | asked
the landlord who that man was, describ
ing the suspicious individual. He saic
he did not know him. He bad com
there that afternoon, and intended t
/. leave the next day. The host asked wh,
| wished to know, and | simply told hin
that his countenance was familiar, and
merely wished To know if | was ever ac
quainted with him. / resolved not to lie
the landlord into the secret, but to bur
ry on to jackson, and there give infor
nation to the sheriff, and perhaps b
might reach the inn before the villain
left; for had no doubt in regard to hi
Identity.
had an alarm watch, and having Sc
it to give the alarm at one o clock,
went to sleep. | was aroused at tn
proper time, and Immediately got u
and dressed myself When | reache
the yard, found the clouds all passe
away, and the moon was shining bright
y. The hostler was easily aroused, an
at two o'clock | was on the road. Th
mud was deep. and my horse coulo nc
travel very fast-yet it struck me tha
the beast made more work than ther
was any need of, for the cart was nearl
empty.
However, on we went, and in the cours
of half an hour / was clear of the vi
lage. At short distance ahead lay
large tract of forest, mostly of grea
n pines. The road led directly throug
d the wood, and as near as could remen
., Der the distance was twelve miles. Yt
re the moon was III the east, and as the roa
g ran nearly west, / should have ligh
Ie enough. l had gone about half a mil
IL when my wagon wheels settled with
he bump and jerk into deep hole. u
g tered an exclamation of astonishmen
b, but that was not all. | heard anotht
ID exclamation from another soureel