Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-07-29
The Horse Dealers Story.

Many years ago, before the era of
railroads, and when highwaymenaboun nd
ed along the great route from Calais to
Paris, a noted drover, who had been to
Boulogne with a large drove of horses,
which he had sold for cash, was over
taken by night on his return, heal
Marquise. He remembered that a little
distance ahead was quiet inn he hatt
never stopped at and he determined t.
spend the night there.
As he rode up to the house, the land
lord, respectable looking person, re-
ceived his horse and led him away to
the stable, while he invited tho drov or
to enter the public sitting-room.
Here he found two young men, one of
whom, from hisresomblance to thel@ld
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-
ing which the droyer stated where he
had been and what good luck he had
met with), the son mounted a horse,
and stating that he was going to Mar
quise to stay all night, rode off. The
drovor, having looked after the comfort
of his horse, soon after requested the
landlord to show him to his room.
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 gold, while his paper
money was in large wallet, carried in
a 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.
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 endeavoring to open the
window near the head of his bed. At
the same time he heard suppressed
voices without, as of several persons in
whispered consultation.
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 had neglected to re-
sumo them.
Scarcely conscious CT what he was
doing, the defenseless drover Slipped
from the foot of the bed, and hid him
self in the darkness behind lot oi
women's dresses suspended from the
wall. and watched the motions of maj
who was now slowly and cautiously
|, 10 n.
could detect the reflection of the din
light upon an upraised knife as thu
man approached the bed with staggering
and uncertain steps. But great was hi
relief when, instead of an attempt a
murder, the intruder carelessly shuffiet
off his clothes, and throwing himsel
into the bed hr had just vacated, wa
soon in sound sleep,
Not knowing what to make of thi
strange affair, the drover determined t
dress himself, call up the landlord, an
have this singular Intrusion explained
He had reached his clothes, and slippe
on his trousers, and was moving towar
the door, when steps were heard cat
tiously crossing the outer room. Ono
more he sought the shelter of the dres
es, which completely screened his pc
son, and awaited the entrance of th
persons, whoever they might be. Pre-
ontly the door of the room was silentl
opened, al d two men made their appea
ance 1t was not so dark but that I'll
drover could readily distinguish them
be the innkeeper and the man he ha
seen at the supper table.
"Step lightly, tell you," whispere
the landlord. cor you'll wake him III
and then woll have pretty mess c
our hands"
"Nonsense |" replied the other, vii
an oath. "You are scared, old man
"Scared" repeated the first speake
"No man ever told Jean GARNER befo
he was scared Here, give me the knife
I'll show you who is scared You E
cure the money-its s under the pillow
Jaw him put it there, and I'll do Il
rest"
The old man was in advance, and
he stood between the window and {
drover, the latter could see his form be
over the bed, while his hand seemed
be searching beneath the pillow.
"Here, Henri-take it. Here's t
wallet, and here's the belt. How hea
is and be passed the money to