Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-03-04
Gaks ano Sketfbes.
From the Boston Traveller
THE AGENTS STORY.

picturesque region The WIND and ram
we're accompanied By vivid flashes Of
lightning and deafening blasts Of thunder.
The old inn shook and shook again, and
the ri.ketv windows ratified as II with
ague.
Those who have been there know that
strangers who meet under these circum-
stances are like soldiers in war. they soon
become as acquaintance Of long standing.
II was 70 with rs on that memorable night
4 few words had been exchanged, but now
that the storm had increased 10 violence
that was appalling. We felt drawn iOgeth-
or rs a soldiers mess. and il wasn't long
before two or three had told Of incidents
in their lives that this tempest recalled.
II came TO the agents turn 10 tell story,
and after brief pause he said
Gentlemen. am reminded Of an Incl
dent that happened within fifty miles Of
this place. some five years ago. / think.
should term il an adventure, for such it
was. and II happened in an old inn and on
n stormy night
Lets have it, by all means said one
u the drovers.
IAN inn adventure j. always worth lis
tening 10, added one Of the travellers.
Al this moment tall man entered the
room from the outer porch; who attract
ed our attention only a. he wore blue
glasses and was an addition TO our com
pany. 4 heavy beard covered well his
face, and his body had u slight stoop a Of
one Of studious habits. lie threw off his
waterproof overcoat, which such Iaen
carry. in travelling. all the year round
and sIgniiying in rather a loud voice that
he did not wish 10 interrupt Us, silently
drank glass Of ale ut the bar. and seat
ed himself near one Of the travelers-the
one who had just ,okcn. The agent com
mcnced his story
well. gentlemen. this was some five
years ago. Is have told you. and II was
IN an inn about fifty miles north Of this
place. had been out oa some business
Of. my agency, and was overtakcn by a
storm. II was wild country. but a. luck
would have it. soon reached an inn rs
old ~ this. but more dlapidated.
The landlord grimly smiled from the
bar. in appreciation of the compliment of
the agent Just then a flash of lightning
blinded us all. and Il crash OF thunder lift
ed us To our feet but rs there was no sign
of damage we resumed our seats. and the
agent continued his story. The new com
err with the blue glasses had changed his
place. 90 that he was farther removed
from the narrator | saw u pair of sharp
gray eyes glance from the spectaclcs, but
paid no attention to it,
AT the door of this inn | raped with
my hickory cane" continued the agent.
land it was opened by tall man. who at
tracted my attention at once by his large
hands, and n scar on his cheek. which
gave TO his face very sinister aspect. In
response to an invitation delivered in a
deep. bass voice. | entered and sat by the
Ere to dry my clothing. 4 crooked old
cronc. who seemed to play the part of
housc-kecpcr in the inn, was all the living
thing saw, beside the in Keeper, that
night. You will find before get through
that have reason 10 remember both of
those inmates"
At this point in the agent narration an
other tremendous bolt shook the inn. and
we held our breaths rs if the earth was
yawning beneath us. | noticed that the
stranger had shrunk still further out of
sight, "a If the lightning was too much for
his eyes. call him the stranger, for
though the rest of us had never met be
fore. we had exchanged compliments. and
felt drawn together ~ having common
was u very silent man. betraying only n
high voice of considerable snap when he
asked for his ale 1t seemed TO me asing-
ular voice for that sort of man. but gave
no thought of it mt the time.
This thunder reminds me of the thun-
der of that night" continued the agent
''But I'll TO the story When had dried
myself and eaten meal. which was fru-
gal enough. assure you. was shown in
to the room. which might with proprie-
ty term loft. but which the innkecper
dignifed by tie title of the guests cham
Der. That man was not one to exchange
words with. even in joke. So accepted
the title with a serious air. and. placing q
candle on rickety stand. the tall inn
keeper babe me grutf good night, and
left mo to myself.
Now always had that perception. re-
garding men and the motives. which in
most persons is intuition but which in me
was So prophetic that in might be termed
second sight. The rain beat against the
lone window just as it is beating against
this one, and the thunder shook me up
Just "a we are being shaken up tonight.
needed neither the thunder nor the rain.
but tried the edge OF knife that had
picked up from the table below and secret
cd in my clothing. placed this by nv
side. ready for use in the dark. and put
my revolver under my pillow. which was
reliable only rs could get sight any de-
sired object in an instant.
You may think that was little fool
ish' but if You had observed the glances
between the Goliath and the crone below
and studied them both rs had studied
them. think that You would have mount
cd guard rs did. I'll leave it to our new
arrival here, II was coward or pru-
dent man. Come. now exclaimed the
agent. rising and claping his hand on the
strangers shoulder lyon look like \ wise
man.--for never; saw tall man with
students head and blue glasses but had
some sense.--do you think WAS wise or
foolish a.
| saw \ pair of eyes CLEAN behind his
spcctacles. and two hands moving in the
strangers pockets. where he everlasting
~ carried them: and then he answered in
his high voice:
"Wise. sir.-wise OF course"
"A Daniel - returned the agent. iocose-
ly. Now that questions settled. I'll pro-
coed. Excuse me. gentlemen. but | saw
that one or two of you looked As il YOU
thought was little scarish about moth
ing. but our umpire has settled the aues-