Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-06-23

a peddler on horseback stoppeu at
the smithy of one John Steele, on
the outskirts of the town of Tick
hill, near Doncaster, England
Several persons were in the smithy
Mt the time, beside the blacksmith
and his son Richard. The peddler
asked Steele to shoe his horse as
quickly as he could, as he wished
to reach Doncaster early, and get a
bed at his old place for next day
being STATUTES" or Fair, num-
Der of visitors would be looking
for accommodation.
While the smith was attending
to the peddler's horse, another
stranger arrived. also on horseback,
and likewise desiring the smiths
services, as his horse had cast a
shoe.
The two strangers and the loung-
ers got into conversation, and the
peddler finally opened a mahogany
case, which was suspended by a
strap from his shoulder, and ex-
hibited his wares, which consisted
Of rings, gold and silver chains,
watches, and so forth. On the
last comer's hearing that the ped
dler was going to Doncaster, he Of
fered to accompany him, as he was
going in the same direction; add
ing that as he was stranger, the
peddler might take him to some
house where he could get accom-
mediation. The peddler replied
that he was going to "The Travel
ers' Rest" on the outskirts of Don
caster, as it was a good house, and
he knew the landlord.
When the smith removed the
shoe from the horse of the last
conner, he examined it closely, re-
marking that it had been made in
Holderness, pointing out the fact
that the nail was peculiarly made,
having a half split in the head, and
saying that that was Holderness
fancy.
an keep this nail" the smith
said, and he drove it as a wedge
into the handle of small hammer,
where it passed through the head.
The peddler sent out for a flagon
of ale, and they stood drinking and
talking for some time. When the
blacksmith joked the peddler about
being in such a hurry when be
first came in, he laughed and said:
"Oh, that's all right. I've made
up my mind to sleep in the big
clubhouse, where I've often slept
before; it's comfortable, and you
take anybody you like in there,
you know" the peddler added.
with a wink.
When the two men were ready
to depart, the peddler took large
wallet from his valise on the saddle
bow and paid the smith. The ped
dler seemed to make a rather os-
tentatious exhibition of his wallet,
which was crammed with gold and
bank notes.
The two men rode off together,
and the smith cleared his place
and closed it-for the night
In due time the peddler and his
new friend reached the Travellers
Rest, and told the landlord they
would sleep in the outbuilding in
the rear, in which there were sever
al beds. The landlord said there
was good accommodation there, and
promised to make them comforta-
BILE. The peddler retired first, and
the stranger remained behind to
have supper and linger over his
ale. At IL o'clock he went to the
outbuilding, and five minutes later
the landlord observed the. lights
put out.
Next morning neither the ped
der nor friend appeared, and
the landlord went to the outbuild-
ing to arouse them. He found the
door open, and on entering the
room discovered the peddler in his
shirt, lying on the floor at the far
end in pool of blood. His head
was battered in, and near him was
lying q hammer with blood and
hair on the head. He was dead
and cold. ,eEf
When the alarm was given it was
found that the horse belonging to
the man who had accompanied the
peddler to the inn, and occupied
the same room with him, was miss