Middletown transcript., 1873-12-20
his pipe, curled gracefully into light
ascending colurns absyo his head. The

y through crack and crcvicc. .imngsd char
acters on the walls that danced and skipp-
ed in dea,h-like silence, appearing dimly
for momcn. and then disappearing like
phantoms or dismembered ghosts gliding
about on midnight errapds from the char
mel.
Our hero had laid upon table and near
his left elbow, bis bag Of money and his
violis and, us he quafFed his fayoritc bev-
eragc and drew tho lsng puHs from his
rocking pipc, he indulged in the most de-
leetsblc cogitations. Whilst. in the plcn-
tituje Of his enjoyment he Was thus medi-
tating and musing on themes no less easy
than useless for us to describe, when a
laundering rap at the door. through which
but short time before he had entered
from the street, reused him from his reye-
ries, much to his own discontinue and
well nigh dangerous to the stability Of the
door.
"Who's thcre?' asked Carl almost breat-
less with fear, but still striving to screw
his courage up to the sticking point
"A friend" !" replied the intrudor.
"And what does he WANT pursued
Carl. regainiug in measure his gravity
and composure.
"A1mittancc, returned the stranger
"lt's too la,o = besides I'm ahei 2 re-
piled Carl, chucklng a, the possible mis-
take he had made . accidentally on pur-
pose" or at the absence OF truth in his re-
ply.
"ThOn. you mus. &C, up" remarked the
| iacoy. IL must come in'
Now Carl undoubtedly thought this an
act of avowed hostility to be thus disturb
ed, in his own house, too, and at an hour
so unreasonable, but il such were his med
itations, they were quickly interrupted by
the harsh voice Of his midnight visitor,
which Numbered forth
:. say. dye hear Il mus. come in p
You cannot, indeed returned Carl.
Il must, reiterated the stranger.
You slall not, : replied Carl. stammer-
ing and shivering from head to foot.
Il will 2 said the visitor. and, sui,ing
| the action to the words, the unwclcoiue
intsrleper unceremoniously pushed aside
the door aud. in twnklins, stsod before
our terrified Dutchman.
The tirs, impulse Of Carl was to knock
down his audaciens guss, with shovel
which he ilourished above his head bu, the
instrument Was quickly wrenched from hi.
grasp by powerful hand which hurled il
rat,ling aud cla,,cring over the icy pave
ineat outside the door, whilst with the frs,
two fingers Of his left hand the strange
visitor led his tronbing host by the nasa
promantory, submissiysly as a lamb, to q
distant corner of the room in which stood
three-corncred stool, and upon which Il.
perchcd cur here
On being released from the yise.lk.
grasp Of the stranger. Carl looked around
in astounding amazemsnt, aud almost stu
petied with terror aud alarm. Hs could
not utter syllable as, stricken, h,
lsheld the s,ianger pick up his bag o
gold aud place 1t again on the table nearer
to his person. Then pitching the violir
to his prisoner who unconscously caught
/. in the perilous fight he seated himsel
in the same chair in which Carl was Sc
PLEASANTLY enseonced when aroused by th.
midnight intruder.
Carl gave one glance at his jailor and
ti,nidly ventured further to take a Sigh
survey Of his exterior. lie was Brob
dignas 10 size aud stature. A cap soma
what grotesque in shape and dilsensioul
aud Of enormous latitude. surmountcl hi,
head, and pair Of monstrous boots. th,
legs Of which completely encased bis mother
extremitie., concealed bis feet. lie wor.
r frock-coat Of buffalo hide with the hai
on. The solor Of this coat Was iuky tlacl
aud the hideous garment was but,onet
tightly up to tho chis. around which, from
! ear to ear, extended forest Of hugo viii.
kcrs, which, with a formidable moustach,
aud all as pitchy in blaeksess as the Goa
he wore. masked mouth Of cavcrnoul
magnitude aud brissling with ivory tha
would have become she ruby, pouting sum
siactions Of any american citizen u AZ
rioan descent" An slnost i,spsassrabl,
avalaneho Of uncombsd. ravsn hair tum
| bled from his head in hissuts billows. .oyel
| his shoulders and face. and through ~hicl
CLEANED pair Of cgre eyes Ike the lps
srous planets Of some southern eOnstslaiiol
pessise shroush The ragged inssratioss .
angry clouds ssthetins their sqsadssss |,
Vyath ri i midSjakk hurricane II Il