Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-04-28
THE PEDDLER,s STORY.


gathered around the warm fire OF tavern
bar-room in a New England village.
Shortly after we arrived, peddler drove
up and ordered that his horse should be
stabbed for the night.
After we had eaten supper, we repair
ed to the bar-rocm, where the converse
ton flowed freely. Several anecdotes had
been related, and finally the peddler was
asked to give us story, as men OF his
profession were generally full of adven-
lures and anecdotes. He was a short,
thick-set man, somewhere about forty
wears of age, and gave evidence of great
physical strength. He gave his name as
Lemuel Vinney, and said his home was
in Dover, New Hampshire.
sWcll, gentlemen he commenced,
knocking the ashes from his pipe and
putting it in his pocket, Suppose 1 tell
you about the last thing OF any conse-
quence that happened to me. You see I
am now right from the West, and on my
way home for winter quarters. 1t was
during the early part Of last spring, one
pleasant evening, that pulled up at the
door of a small village tavern in Hancock
county, Indiana. l said it was a pleasant
4 mean warm I went in and called
for supper and had my horse taken care
of After I had eaten, sat down in the
bar-room. 1t began to rain about eight
o'clock, and it was very dark out doors.
morning, for expected load of goods
there for me which intended to dispose
of on my way home.
"The moon would rise about mid
night, and I knew if it did not rain |
could get along through the mud very
well after that. So 1 asked the landlord
if he would see that my horse was fed
about midnight, as | wished to be offsat
about two. He expressed some surprise
at this and asked me why did not stop
for breakfast. I told him that I had
sold my last load about out and that a
new lot of goods was waiting for me- al
Jackson, and wanted to be there be-
fore the express agent left in the morning.
s'There were number of persons
sitting round while told this. but l
took little notice of them; only one ar
rested my attention. [ had seen that
week notices for the detection of no
torious robber. The bill gave de-
scription OF his person, and the man be-
fore me answered very we'll to it. He
was tall, we'll formed man, rather slight
in frame, and had the appearance of a
gentleman, save that his face bore those
hard, cruel marks which an observing
man cannot mistake tor anything but
the index of villainous disposition.
"When went to my chamber, I ask
ed the landlord who that man was, de-
scribing the individual. He said he did
not know him. He had GENE that after
noon and intended to leave the next day.
The host asked me why I wished to
know, and simply told him that the
mans countenance was familiar, and
merely wished to know if I ever was &C
quainted with him.
II was resolved not to let the landlord
in the secret, but to give information
to the sheriff and perhaps he might reach
the inn before the villain left, for had
no doubts with regard to his identity.
II had an alarm watch, and having set
it 10 give the alarm at one o'clock, went
to sleep. was aroused at the proper
time and Immediately rose and dressed
myself. When reached the yard found
the clouds all passed away and the moon
was shining brightly. The hostler was
easily aroused and by two o'clock was
on the road. The mud was deep, and
my horse could not travel very fast. How
ever, on we went, and in the course of
half an hour [ was clear of the village.
At short distance ahead lay large
tract OF forest, mostly Of great pine. The
road lay directly through this wood, and
as near as l can remember the distance
WIS twelve miles. Yet the moon was in
the east and the road ran nearly west, so
I bought should have light enough.
II had entered this wood and gone
about half mile when my wagon wheels
settled with a jump and jerk into deep
hole. I uttered an exclamation of aston
isment, but that was not all. [ heard
another exclamation from some source.
What could it be? I looked quietly
around but could see nothing, yet
knew the sound that I heard was very
close to me. As the hind wheels came
up, felt something besides the jerk from
the hole. I heard something tumble
from one side to the other of my wagon
and l could also leel theGar occasioned by
IAo HOrou1Cut. IL was SIMPLY q 4uoA Al
my cart! knew this on the instant.
Of course 1 felt puzzled. At first i'm
agined that somebody had taken tbi
method to obtain ride. My next ide'
was that somebody had got in to slee]
there; but this passed away as soon as
came, for no man would have broken int,
my cart for that purpose. And tina
thought, gentlemen, opened my eyes
Whoever was there had broken in. M
next thought was of the suspicious indi
vidual J had seen at the tavern. He hear,
me say that my load was all sold out, an,
of course he supposed had money wit
me. In this he was right, for I had owe
two thousand dollars. l thought he mean
to leave the cart when he supposed I ha
reached safe place, and then creep owe
and shoot me or knock me down. Al
this passed through my mind by the tim
had got rod from the hole.
''1n a few moments my horse was kne
deep in the mud, and knew could sill
off without noise. So I drew my pisto
and having twined the reins about tn
whipstock, carefully slipped Gown in tn
mud, and as the cart passed on I wen
behind and examined the hasp. This doc
of the cart lets down, and
fastened hv haen which cline ovor III