The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-12-22
Miscellaneous.
THE HORSE Dealers STORY.

Many years ago, before the era of railroads,
and when highwaymen ,abounded 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 overtaken by night on his return,
near Marquise. He remembered that lit.
tie distance ahead swas a quiet inn he had
never stopped at,and he determined to spend
the night there. ..........
As ne rode up to the house, the landlord,
respectable looking person, received his
horse and led him away to the stable, while
he invited the dlover to erter the public sit
ting room. ......... ..., ..j..., .u
Here he found two young men, one OF
whom, from his resemblance to the landlord
what older, from his manners, appeared also
TO belong to the family. Immediately after
support during which the 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 Marquise to stay all
night, rode off. The, ,drover, having looked
after the comfort of his horse, soon after
| requested the landlord to show him 10 his
ROOM r'. ,.i q. ."...'0 lr...'. ..'.' ...'
As the traveller slipped off his garments,
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
,al tan n Ent IA, So tbn, nm
pose, in the inside of his vest. Deposit
ing these articles beneath his pillow, he ex-
| tiuguisled the light and threw himself upon
| the bed, where, overcome by weariness he
| soon fell asleep.
Howsong he had been in this state Of
| iorgetiulness he could not tell, when he was
| aroused to wakctulness by the sound Of some
| person endeayGring to open the window near
tho head of his bed, At the same time he
heard suppressed voices withoutas ofseyeral
persons in whispered consultation.
Startled ty this suspicious appearance Of
things, the drover reached toward the chair
on which he had thrown his clothes, for b..
weapons but, to his dismay, he remember
ed that on his arrival, when preparing tc
wash off the dust of his journey,he h ID laiG
them aside, within the bar, and had neglect
ed 20 resume them. ., ........
Scarcely conscious of what he was doing
the deienceless drover slipped from the TOO
of the bed, and hid himself in the darkness
behind lot of women's dresses suspended
from the wall, and watched the motions of |
man who was now slowly aud cautiously en-
tering the room He even fancied he coul(
detect the reelection of the dim light upol
an appraised knife as the man approaches
the bed with staggering and uncertain steps
But great was his relief, when, instead o
an attempt at murder, the intruder carelessl,
shuilled off his clothes, and throwing himsel
into the bed be had just vacated, was sool
in a sound sleep.
Not knowing what to make of this strapg
affair, the d"oyer determined to dress him
self, call up the landlord, and have this sin
gular intrusion explained He had reache,
his clothes and slipped on his trousers, an
was moving toward the door, when step
were heard cautiously crossing the cute
room. Once more he sought the shelter Q
the dresses, which completely screened hi
person, and awaited the entrance of the per
sons, whoever they might be, Presently tn
door of the room was silently opened, an
two men made their appearance. 1t was nc
80 dark bat that the drover could readii
distinguish them to be the inkeeper and tn
man he had seen at the supper table.
"Step lightly, tell YOU" whispered tn
landlord, "or you'll wake him up, and the
'we'll have a pretty mess on our hands,"