The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-08-16
The Horse Dealers Story.

n. F-jGLLL JE&1tEE
Many years ago, before the era Of
railroads, and when highwaymen abound
ed along the great route from Calais to
Paris, noted drover, who had been to
Boulogne with large drove of horses,
which he had sold for cash, was over
taken by night on his return, near
Marquise. He remembered that a little
distance ahead was quiet inn he had
never stopped at. and he deterr -. I to
spend the night there.
=. AS he rode up to the house, the lar d.
lord, respectable looking person, re-
ceived his horse and led him sway to
the stable, willie he invited the droyer
to enter the public sitting=room. aI:11
Here he found two young men, one of
whom, from his resemblance to the land
lord, he recognized as his son !; the
other, somewhat older, from his man
ners, appeared also to belong to the
family. Immediately after supper (dur-
ingswhich Stke drover stated where he
had been and what good luck he, had
met With, the son mounted horse,
and stating that he was going to Mar
quise to stay all night, rode off. The
drover, having looked after the comfort
o., his horse, soon after requested the
landlord to show him to his room. : 4
As the traveller slipped off his gar
ments, he. felt for, the leathern belt
about his waist, to see that it was secure.
This contained his golds while his paper
money was in a large wallet, carried in
q pocket made for the purpose, in the
inside OF his vest. Depositing these ar
ticles beneath his pillow, he extinguish-
ed the light and threw himself upon the
bed, when, overcome by weariness,; he
soon fell asleep. - Z 3
How long he had been in this state of
forgetfulness he could not tell, when he
was aroused to wakefulness by the sound
of some person endeayoring to open the
window near the head of bis bed. At
the same time he heard suppressed
voices without, as of several persons in
whispered consultation. z,sz< < Z ; !
Startled by this suspicious appearance
of things, the drover reached toward
the chair on which he had thrown his
clothes, for his weapons; but, to his dis
may, he remembered that on his arrival,
when preparing to wash off the dust: Of
his Journey, he had laid them: aside,
within the bar, and lad neglected to re-
sumo them, .r...t. .5....,
Scarcely conscious CT what he was
doing,F the defenselesss droyer slipped
frolmtsthe foot Of the bed, and hid him
self in tho darkness behind lot OF
women's dresses suspended from the
wall, and watched the motions Of man
who was now slowly and cautiously
entering the room. He even fancied he
could detect the reflection of the dim
light upon an upraised knife as the
man approached the bed with staggering
and uncertain steps. But great was his
relief when, instead OF an attempt at
murder, the intruder carelessly shuff1ed
off his clothes, and throwing himself
into the bed he had just vacated, was
soon in a sound sleep, ..-. ... &:
Not knowing what to make. Of this
strange. affair, the drover determined to
dress himself, call up the landlord, and
have this singular il trusion explained.
lie had reached his clothes, and slipped
on his trorsers, and was moving toward
the door, when steps were heard eau
tiously rossingthe. outer. room. Once
more he sought the shelter of the dress.
es, which completely screened his per
son, and awaited the entrance of the
persons, whoever they might he. Pres.
emily the door Of the room was silently
opened, al i two men made their appear
auce. It was not so dark but that the
.droyer could readily distinguish them to
be: the innkeeper and the man he had
seen at the supper table. q. ...s.... :
st"Stap lightly, / ttl you,", whispered
the landlord, cor you Il wake him up,
and then we'll have a pretty mess on
our hands. ,,,....,. ,.s,;... ..,..,.... o..
,"Nonsense t. replied the other, with
an oath. You are scared, old man p
tScared!" repeated the first speaker
"No man ever told Jean GARNER before
he was scared Here, give me the knife
I'll show you who is scared You Sc
cure the money-it under The pillow
I 'aw him put it there, aud III do the
rest" ---o.r
The old man was in advance, and as
he stood between the window and the
drover, the latter could see his form bent
over the bed, while his hand seemed tc
be searching beneath the pillow. :. z
"Here, Henri-take it. Here's the
wallet, and here's the belt. How heavy
it is!"-and he passed the money to hi!
companion before the other had ye
reached the bedside.
The old man then put his hand to hi
bosom, and the trembling drover saw
him draw forth the long blade the othel
had given him. For al instant the muir
derous weapon was poised over his head
and then descended upon the person o.
the poor wretch in the bed. .-.,
The murderer paused in his work fol
an instant, as if to satisfy himself that life
was extinct; and then moved quickly
from the room.
AS soon ss the sound of his footsteps
had died in the distance, the horror
stricken drover escaped through the
window. and ran with all his speed tc
Marquise. where, arousing the people
ofythe hotel, he told his fearful story. "A
crowd soon @collected about him, and
accompanied him to the scene of the
fearful murder. %, =.
All about the house was still, but OF
approaching the stable light was dis
covered within; and, moving noislessly
to the door, and peering through th'
cracks, the two murderers were found il
the act of digging grave beneath tn
flooring. A rush was made upon them