The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-11-15
OUR STORY TELLER.
THE BLUE RIDGE.

III but early duJuillu VI Tie year lOtS,
about half an hour of sunset, drew rein
in front of large double Lighthouse, on
the very summit of the Blue Rridge
Mountains of eastern Kentucky.
The place was evidently kept as a
tavern, at least, so sign proclaimed,
and here | determined to demand accom-
dation for myself and servant, Bose,
dark-skinned body-guard. Bose and
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 shooting match
at the Mountain House that day, and, as
1 dismounted, | saw through an open
window of the bar-room 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,
out-wrestle, run faster, jump higher,
dive deeper, and come up drier than any
other man con the mountain"
| say, Mars Ralph" said Bose, in
low tone, as had handed him my
bridle-rein, al don't like de looks OBJ
dem in dar. S'pose we goes on to next
house; tain't fur
Nonsense, Bose" / 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 over my
shoulders, | walked up the narrow path
TO the house.
found, as have intimated, the bar
room filled with noisy, tubulent
crowd, who one and all stared at me
without speaking as | went up to the
bar and inquired if l and my 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" l desired to be at once
TO be shown to my room, whittier Invent,
but not until 1 had been compelled to
decline a score of requests to " take a
drink" much TO the disgust of the stall
wart bacchanalians.
The room to which l was shown was
mt the far end of 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.
/ found my apartment to be large
and comparatively well furnished, there
being, besides the bed, comfortable
cot, half dozen "split- .
chairs, a heavy clothes-press, and 8
bureau with glass.
There were two windows, one along
side the door, and the other in the
opposite end of the room. The first
mentioned was heavily barred with
stout oak strips, protection, l pre-
ssmed, againstintrusi from the poarch
while across the latter was drawn {
heavy woolen curtain.
In the course of half an hour Bos,
entered, and announced that the cattl,
had been properly attended to, and ;
few minutes later a bright-faced mulatt'
girl summoned us to supper.
Supper over, returned to my room
first requesting to be aroused for an early
breakfast, as desired to be on the roaC
by sunrise.
Thoroughly wearied with my day
ride, | at once began preparations TO
iVbiiiuHJ nsiu uTdWH OH Ouc DOOI
when Bose came in very hastily, lookin,
furtively over his shoulder, and thel
cautiously closing and locking the door
MARS Ralph, dar's gwine to b
trouble in dis house afore mornin'," h
said.
And / saw in a moment that some
thing had occurred to upset the faithful
fellows equilibrium. @
- 4
you meanp | asked, barely restrainin
a smile.
"I tole you, Mars Ralph, we'd bette
trabble furder," was the rather mystel
ious reply. You see dat yaller ga
dere tole me dar would be a muss if W
stayed in this founded ole house a
night"
BY close questioning elected the fac
that the girl had really warned him tha
four men whom | had noticed talkin
together were desperate set of villain,
and probably had designs upon ou
property, if not our lives.
The girl had seen two of them at tn
stable while / was at supper, and b
cautiously creeping into stall, next tn
one in which they stood, had hear
enough to convince her that they near
mischief. Subsequently to this, she ais
seen the landlord in close confab wit
the entire party, and from his action
judged that he was urging the men t
their nefarious work.
&" tell you, Mars Ralph, dem whit
trash amt arter good-now you hear
me-" persisted Bose.
| had begun to think so myself; br
what was to be done? The situatio
was full of embarrassment, and / fe
that nothing could be done save to wa
and watch, and, by being on the aler
defeat their plans by adetermined resis
ance.