The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-12-04
A NIGHTS ADVENTURE.

During the Spring Of 1910 was engaged
by the heirs of a gentleman Who had died in
Bangor, Me, to go out to Illinois, and look
up a township which had been bought by
said gentleman from the soldiers of the war
of 1912, to whom it had been allotted by the
government land warrants, as part pay for
services rendered. Most of our readers are
probably aware that the men who served in
the campaign of 1912 were entitled to one
hundred and sixty acres OF land, over and
above their monthly pay, and at the cl',se of
their service they received warrants OF bonds
for this land, which land was marked of
into townships, and these into numbered
lots, each man receiving a specified lot.
Most of these warrants were sold at the time
tor trifling sums-say from Eve to twenty
dollars-and many of them have not even
yet been looked up by their owners; but, as
civilization is spreading West, more atten-
tion is now turned to this matter and spec
ulators are busy buying up the old claims
The man, for whose heirs had interested
myself, had bought large number of con-
secutive lots. They were located near the
reason to believe that they were uncommonly
valuable.
After having armed myself with the
necessary documents, set out on my mis-
sion. reached Vandalia without difficulty,
and from there took the stage for Shelby
Vile. Beyond Shclbyville still had some
sixty miles to 60 and there was no method
of conveyance save such a, chance might
throw in ones way had learned that
there was a settlement in Macon county
which would come in my way if kopt along
by the river b.t could not get no direct
clue to its whereabouts. l knew, however,
that should find $50 nattcrs'' on my route,
and from them | could learn all that was
necessary.
Ten miles from Shelhyville I made in a
small boat; and here purchased horse of
an old settler, and from him l learned that
should find plenty of "squa;ters" on the
very land of which | was in search.
1t was early in the forenoon when started
on with my horse, and | made easy progress
on the alluvial tract upon the western bank
of the Kaska>kia. About two o'clock in the
afternoon, whatever pleasing reverieS may
have been engaged in were cut short by q
sudden darkenipg of the sun; ]; and. upon
looking up found that huge clouds were
rising in the northwest, and could hear the
wind as it moaned through the trees upon
the table land to my left. knew there was
O storm brewing, and / knew, too, that my
hopes of shelter were dubious. However, /
spurred up my horse, and allowed myself to
hope that might come upon some chance
"souatter' before the storm broke.
False hope In less than half an hour the
storm was upon me. For two hours kept
on my way. with only sort Of wind driven
mist but at the end Of that time the rain
began to come down in torrents. For q
while allowed myself to quail before the
combined force Of wind and rain; but |
found that the enemy must be met; and, at
length, with stout ejaculation of defiance,
| faced the storm, and rode on. No shelter
arose to my view, and night fell upon me.
1t was dark-oh, how dark So dark that
the sable mass might have been cut with a
knife. l gave the horse the rein, and let
him follow his own instinct. 1t still rained
as though the big lakes had accideutly been
tipped over upon the land, and the wind, too,
still piped away without tagging.
must have ridden thus through the utter
darkness for two hourS-it seemed two ages
to me-when thought ! saw a light ahead
of me. 1t twinkled like a misty star, and
then disappeared; but soon saw it again,
and ere long | became convinced that
human habitation of some sort was ahead of
me. l urged my beast on, and soon had
the real pleasure OF pulling up before
house.
What sort of house it wa. I could not
tell: could only see a dark mass, and
single window, from which shone the light.
l alighted from my horse. and. after cropping
about for some time, l found door, and
knocked Justify. My call was answered by
n woman; but the wind put out her light,
a,d a. she turned back to re,isht it, fol-
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