South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-12-24
A Thrilling Adventure.
"cA Taa o~. h ~, s... r..r xv..v

ssness that required the use OF printer's
ink, and my name has never been dis.
played in the columns Of q uevspaper.
yet believe there Is not in all the world
man who has been benefited more
than 1 by sn advertisement. think
when l have told you my story you will
agree with me. Many years ago, while
travelling on horseback through sparse
~ settled portion OF southern Kentucky.
l stopped one rainy. dismal night at a
little log cabin that stood in q small. i'm.
perfect clearing in . large forest and
asked permission OF the proprietor 60 re.
main over night. had no sooner been
assured that was welcome than re.
grettcd not having rushed on In spite Of
TIE horrible state OF the weather aud
roads. for there was something about
the appearances OF my host that sent
thrill OF indeiinablc dread through me.
lhsre was nothing particularly repulsive
about him-he was middle.agsd, pow.
crinily-built backwoodsman. with bushy
wh'skcrs, good specimen OF the hardy
class among which had been circulat.
ing for months, but there was an unex-
plainable something i'm the expression of
his face and tue tones of his heavy voice
when lie replied TO my request for shell
ter that did not like. l should have
continued my Journey but the gathering
gloom warned me OF a night Of Egyptian
darkness. and | was not at all acouaint.
eli with my forest route. suffered my
horse 10 be led away to shelter and en-.
tered the house.
The building was very rude one and
was divided into two compartments. a
large chimney running up through the
centre. furnishing fireplaces for the e.
qualify barren rooms. There was no one
I present but n middleaged woman of up.
usually large proportions, who, 1 sup.
pose, was the wife Of the man whose
appearance had filed me with appre.
hensions of danger. She gave me a
| quick searching from head to foot. and
asked If wanted supper. freplied that
l did. She then vanished into tue adj.
joining apartment, and soon the spiterul
gymnastics ofan old skillet on tn rock
hearth convinced me there was a proba-
bility of my wants being attended to.
a bright Ere blaZed in the fireplace
OF the room which occupied, and the
thought occurred To me that had bet.
j
CT in the morning, anil reassure myself
that L had received no counterfeits.-
While engaged in examining the roll, /
happened To glance toward the rude win.
dow at my side. As 1 did so. a face
that hal been pressed close to the pane
was suddenly removed, but not quick G.
nough To prevent me from recognizing
the dark features of my host. lie had
been watching me. had no sooner re.
turned my money TO my pocket than he
entered the room. and his manner con-
vinced me that Inc imagined I had not
detected his presence 1T the window. He
alluded. pleasantly enough. 10 the dark
ness OF the night, and hoped was CON-
iortabie. and upon assuring him that [
was. passed into the adjoining room. and
soon an ominous lull in his wire's pre-.
I parations for supper convinced me that
/ he was making pantomimic disclosure
/ 20 her OF his recent stealthy discovery.
/ a strong sense of the danger in which |
was placed commenced TO operate disa.
I sTeeably upon me. aud 10 drive it off |
produced late copy Of the Louisville
Jywnd. then edited by the brilliant
Prentice. from my pocket and attempted
to read. The FIRST thing my ewes en-.
counteTei was n small advertisement.
/ headed Cot this Quit may save
I your life"
Heres fanny coincidence" said /
10 myself. Just "a was trying TO divert
M inind from the fear ofimmnent ian.
, ger along comes n quack advertiser
With recipe for sn escape" and Weld.
lng 70 natural propensity for doing
foolish things. | opened my penknife &
cot out the advertisement it was not o.
YER half an inch broad. aud a. ran the
sharp blade around u. u eluded nv fin.
gers and huttcred 10 the door. While
sssrching for ths fugitive, nv gigantic
hostess announced IN harsh. masculine
tones that ny supper was ready.
Some fried bacon and fiintv corn 'dod.
ger which, by the way. might very pro.
perly be termcd the 'artles- dodger.'
considering the scarcity Of art exhibited
~ iis construction. composed the home.
" mssl. Aiy appetite Tor The last half
an honr lad been growing fsintsr by de.
gfees ana alarmingly less, and soon
srpse from Tie table. Immediately re.
tired 20 ihe other room and attempted 10
solacs myself With an ola cob pil,e and
and some natural lear tobacco found
on the mantei Presently ny host came
.a bringing With him a lighted candle.
and informed me that be sui the '.ole
woman we're in the habit Of going 20
bel early snd that - their bel stood In
TIE room vas then occupying. I had
better cliah 80 lad Ter % the lof,. whore
be aid would hnd place 70 "stos
nyseif away"
Taking tie camille. male the ascen.
SION ~ gracefully a. possible. wonder.
ing the While IL I should ever come down
s1ain alive. Ny bel. very rude one.
stood 90 she very fsrthsst corner OF the
iot' facing the place Of ingrsss. An
empty barrel standing At thr head serv.
Ell thc purpose % candle.stand. and
upoa g ] Plscsd my feeble lnminarv
thanking ny stars that IL vas = whole
one. Tor bal determined upon remain
ing s"Ake. snd prevent n possible. any
attempt % rob me ~ ny money a,dIffc
4 felt Qutta carfa4, sw.H =