St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-12-20

of COURSE" he qucrird
''Oh. yes, | shall most likely bring it
down. | replied: and it never occurred
t" me how impIudcnt was.
lie turned the conversation into other
channels. and did not once attempt to
pump me further. We got t" Grafton
ut 1870. and to my great surprise. he
announced that he wa> to stop in the
town on business for Il few days. had
not asked his name or aNocation. while
he knew everything about me.
We went to the hotel. had dinner
drove out. getting through with hu>i-
ness. 81 that | WAS back To take the 3.20
express east. My friend WAS on the
porch of the hotel aS ! drove up, carry
ing the same honest. digniiicd face.
"Ncll. did You find out ," he inquired.
i'll his pleasant way.
"lc>: it is on the thirteenth. aS | cX-
pcctrd." | replied.
We had lunch together, and when We
shook hands and parted, | had II" more
idea of ever meeting him again, than
have of knowing YOU. In fact. he told
me that he should sail for England
within Il week or ten days. and should
not return t" America. At parting. he
gave me his card. 1t WAS Il modest
piece of pa>tchoarl. and bore the name
of "Gcoryc Raleigh" III old English
script.
Everything at the office went ON as
usual. and the thirteenth came at length
Law y Law had arranged for me To 90
down with the munrv. and | luukcd up
on ii a> Il business OF no special i'm
p"rtamcc.
I'VE knnW N"u are all right" re
marked the senior partner. a> | WAS
about to go: "hut | want To give N"u Il
word of warning. nevertheless. Don't
! take amy stranger into Your confidence
until You have passed ont the money,
and look ont who >it> next To You.
1t WAS something new for him tnclu-
tinm me. and | could not hmt wonder at
it: hut in the hustle of getting aboard
the train. | forgot what he had said
Ordinary prudence had induced me Il"
place the money. which WAS all in bank
bills. and divided int" tire" packages.
under my shirt and next my skin. Where
the def hand OF Il pick pocket could
not reach il.
Interested III Il newspaper. time flew
hN. H. ihr TAIN flew west. and at length
the h".l>c Voice of the brakeman warn
eel me that had reached Grafton.
had lraprd down and Was making t"l
the livery stable. when heard a IA
miliar voice. and looked up to see
HLlci@h. He was seated in Il buggy
and had seemingly waited for me T."
come up.
''D"m't express Your surprise" hc he
| I,.. I,.. Il Ill Il
intend To 90 away. hut changed my
mimi. and like this section So we'll that
| am going ont to-day 10 look at Il farm.
with \ lew of purchasing. Come. ride
up /" the hotel
We rode up. ordered lunch. and while
We we've discussing it. MI. Raleigh dis
covered that the farm he WAS going Il"
see WAS just hcN ond that of old Chips.
''Il"w Fortunate, could ride out
with him. see the fam. rctmn i'll hi~
company" and he Was greatly pleased.
| was also pleased. If ANY one hId
told me H. We got int" the buggy. that
George Raleigh meant to return with
my money in hi~ pocket and my blood
upon his hands. | >h"ul,i have believe ed
him u lUnatic. And Vet Grnrgc Raleigh
had planned To do thai very thing.
1t Was Il lovely day in June aud the
cool breeze and the sight of meadows
and green groves. made my heart grow
lli ger. My companion MAS very tLlka-
tive. but he didn't even hint at my
cIIHnd. He talked ~ t.II AWAY ~ hc
could.
''Oh c\c,l>,. me-" he exclaimed. aftrI
We had passed Il mile hryomd the vii
layr. and were anon" the farm h"u>c>
Il should have offered Nuu this before.
He drew from his pocket Il small flask
nt Winc and h;il dcd it To me. Non. |
Wa~ temperate in regard to drinks. Ia
fact dctc>tci the sight and smell "t
any thing Intoxicating. but had NOT
the moral courage to tell him 80. and L"
hand back the flask undi>turhrd. |
feared To offend him. and :" | drank.
perhaps. three good swallows. lie
called my attention To he woods nn the
left. a> ltc received back The flask. and
when looked around again he Wa> just
rcmuNimg it from his mouth. H. if he
had drank hearty.
In about five minutes ! began Ia feel
queer. The fences along the road
seemed to grow higher and the trees T."
grow larger: something got into my
ears 50 that the rattle of the buggy
sounded Il long way OFT
"llow strange why. | believe am
going to hc sick - exclaimed. holding
on t" tn" seat with all my might
You do look strange" he replied. Il
>ialN smile stealing over his face: II
shouldn't wonder if it WAS ap"plcNl."
| did not suspect the game he had
played. His words were like an echo.
and his face seemed twice ;tS large az il
MAS. My head began to spin. and my
brain to snap and crack, and | WAS
greatly frightened.
"lou are bad oil" he continued. look
in2 int" my face. Il will drive a. fast
AZ p">Shlc and get il doctor"
My tongue WIS 50 heavy that ! could
not reply. | ciutchrd the seat. shut my
eyes, and he put the horse at his best
pace. We met Il farmers team. and |
can remember that one of the occupants
of the wagon called ont to- know what
aIlcd that man, Raleigh did not reply.
but urged the hoI>c forward.
About three miles from Grafton WAS
Il long stretch of forest. and this We
soon reached. The pain in my head
WaS not 80 violent. and WAS not 80
badly affected when opening my eyes
| had settled into Il sort of il dumb stu
por. with Il brain 50 bcnumhrd that |
had to say to myself, This is II tree.
that i Il stump" etc.. before. c"uld
make sure that | WAS not wrong. Half
Il mile down the road after we struck
the forest. and then Raleigh turned the
horse into Il blind road leading back in
to the woods. | could not understand
what he intended. tiicd to glapplr
with the question. but could not solve