The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-11-24
OUR STORY TELLER.
THE BLUE RIDGE,

In Jne early autumn OF the year 1S49
about half an hour of sunset, drew rein
in front of large double log -house, on
the very summit of the Blue Fridge
Mountains of eastern Kentucky.
The place was evidently kept as a
tavern, at least, so a sign proclaimed.
and here | determined to demand accom-
dation for myself and servant, Bose, a
dark-skinned body-guard. Bose and I
had been playmates in child and boy
hood, and | need hardly say that the
faithful fellow was attached to me, as
was to him, and on more than one
occasion he had shown his devotion.
There had been a shooting match :"
at the Mountain House that day, and, AS
dlsmounted, | saw through an open
window of the bar-room a noisy.
drunken and evidently quarrelsome set
of backwoodsmen, each of whom was
swearing by all possible and impossible
oaths that he was not only the best shot,
but that he could Outright, out-jump,
o,utt-wrestle, run faster, jump higher,
dive deeper, and come up drier than any
other man on the mountain"
| say, Mars Ralph" said Bose, in
low tone, as | had handed him nv
bridle-rein, Z" / don't like de looks OBJ
dem in dar. S'pose we goes on to next
house; faint fur
Nonsense, Bose" l replied; these
fellows are only on little spree over
their shooting. We have nothing to do
with them, or they with us. Take the
horses round to the stable, and see to
them yourself. You know they've had
hard day of it,
And throwing my saddle bags overmy
shoulders, l walked up the narrow path
the house.
found, as l have intimated, the bar
room filled with a noisy, turbulent
crowd, who one and all stared at me
without speaking as / went up to the
bar and inquired if | and nv SER
want could have accommodation for the
night
Receiving an affirmative reply from
the landlord, little, red-headed.
cadaverous-looking specimen of the
clay eaters" | desired to be at once
10 De shown to my room, whittier Invent,
but not until had been compelled to
decline a score of requests to )" take
drink" much to the disgust of the stall
wart bacchanalians.
The room to which l was shown was
at the far end of a long, two-storied
structure, evidently but recently added
on to the main building, which it inter
sect at right angles. A gallery extended
along the front, by means of which the
rooms were reached.
L found my apartment to be LARGO
and comparatively well furnished. there
being, besides the bed. a comfortahle
cot. half dozen "split-bottomed "
chairs, heavy clothes-press, and a
bureau with glass.
Ihere were two windows, one alono
side the door, and the other in the
opposite end of the room. The first
mentioned was heavily barred with
stout oak strips, a protection nra-
sumed, against intrusion from tbe moo r p,b-
while across the latter was drawn .
heavy wooden curtain.
In the course of half an hour Bose
entered, and announced that the cattle
mad been properly attended to, and a
Few minutes later bright-faced muIatto
glri summoned us to supper.
supper over, | returned to nv room
nrst requesting to be aroused oranearly
breakfast, as desired to be on the road
py sunrise.
thoroughly wearied with nv davis
ride, L at once began preparations for
retiring, and had drawn off one boot
when Bose came in very hastily, LOOKING
Iurtiyely over his shoulder, and then
cautiously closing and locking the door
Mars Ralph, dar's gwine to ha
trouble in dis house afere morn;n;n pe
said. ANoi lii he
And / saw in moment that coma
thing had occurred to upset the faithful |
fellows equilibrium. ~ VIII u
why, Bose, what is it? What do |
q smile. ie''i "iiiiig
!" tole you, Mars Ralph, we'd better
trabble fnrder," was the rather myster-
ious reply. You see dat waller cal
dere tole me dar would be a muss if we
stayed In this founded ole house all
night" Wv '-o"'o an
!, BY close questioning elected the fact
that the girl had really warned him that
tour men whom had noticed TALKING
together were desperate set of Villains
md probably had designs upon orr
property, If not our lives.
The girl had seen two of them at the
table while / was at supper, and by
autiously creeping into stall, next the