Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-18
A Dark Night.

"Did I ever tell you of my night at the
Red Licn:" asked my friend Frank Car.
son, as we were seated in my library on
Wild, stormy nightin December.
mo, am sure you never did," re-
piled. 'And as 1 dou'r think you will
ever have better opportunity, suppose
you tell me now?"
Well he replied, drawing his chair
nearer the fire, as fresh blast of sleet
struck the window, cit was on just such
a night as this in the winter
of 80, that was on my way
from Big Gulch' to San Fran
CISCO, or Frisco as the miners would
always call it. l had been employed for
sometime as agent by a large mining
company. NY business was such that |
was IRE quently in-rusted with large sums
in coin and gold-dust, and was in the
habit of making the trip to and from
Frisco as often as once fortnight
round trip requiring four days OF hard
travel on horseback. l had always put
up at the Three Oaks friendly inn or
tavern hich was about midway between
my two p1ints of travel; but on this
night, on account of the storm, / must
have lett the main road soon after dark,
but did not become aware OF 1t until
many hours later. think it must have
been ten clock when it occurred to me
that might be on the wrong road, and
drew in rein.
but what was l to d.? l sat there in
the driving storm a long time revolving
the question in my mind, but without
coming any nearer solution, what was
to do still remained unanswere /; to 60
ahead was to go l knew not where; to
return was 10 travel all night. for could
not hope to reach the inn before morning,
even if could fn1 it at all in such a
storm; besides, my horse was nearly
beaten out, an could not 90 much further
without rest.
Suddenly saw, at no great distance
ahead, what | too, to be a light, and at
ter waiting a few minutes to make sure
that / lad not been mistaken, l started
my horse in that direction.
49, light proveNl to be nearer than I
had at first supposed, for, after proceed
ing a short distance, and turning a sharp
bend in the road, | came suddenly upon
it. 1t came from large gloomy old
building which stood short distance
back from the read.
Riding 10 to the building, I was
about to dismouDt, when my attention
was attracted by an old, weather. b. aten
board which hung over the door. Refining
back few PAGES, read by the faint light
which came from the window Red Lion.
''Ins inctively drew back, for it was &
name l had heard many times among the
miners, and in a way that meant no good
But nothing can be worse than this storm,
! said to myself, and riding up to the
door, gave it three smart raps with my
whip"
"af er some little time, the door wa
pushed partly open, and man put on
his head, and crowded.
"'What's wanted2'
"a nights shelter for myself ant
borse,' replied. with as much spirit a
l d command.
Jake, he growled, turning his heat
and speaking to some one within, fetci
out the lantern and put up the stranger
horse
Jake, a red-whiskered, villainous-looh
ing individual, soon appeared, lantern il
hand. Giving my horse into his keeping
q ] dispSlnted, and with my saddle-bag
= which, by the way, contained a larg
amount in coin and gold-dust-I follow
ed the landlord, tor such he proved to DE
into the house.
He led he way into large, scantily
furnished room, which served as kltchel
dining-room. ahd parlor. A few chair
scattered about the room. a rude table
and al old desk, completed the furniture
At one end IF tue room was an old-tashion
ed fire place in which log fire wa
smouldering.
Removing my heavy coat, I took
chair by tue fire, in hopes of thawin
myself. Throwing on few more knot
the landlord stepped to side-door an
called:
"Moll, old woman, stir yourself an
get a bite on the table for the stranger
" A sound came from within, and the
the door opened, and Mol, hard-fe'
tured, masculine woman, almost an Ans
zon in size, came into the room. Sf
gave me one searching look, and the
went about her work without speakin
or taking any further notice of me.
In about half an hour my supper WI
ready, and the old woman made motto
for me to draw my chair to the tabl
which I did at once, bting PARTIAL
thawed by this time and pretty hungr
my meal consisted of fried baco
corn bread, and cup of black-lookir
compund. which supposed they Gale
tea.
AFTER eating few mouthfuls, raj
ed the cup t. my lips, and was about
taste its contents. when Inotic d aque
look pass between the old couple az Il
fire, whom happened to be watching
the lire.
"Holl;ng the cup TO my lips. ! pl
tended to swallow several times. and tn
Returned it to the table untasted.
From that look / felt sure the I
had either been drugged or roisont
But how was to get rid Of 1t withc
aruslng their suspicions2 This / Diet
mided to do if possible, and in reachi
tor piece of bread accidentally, as