Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-02-20
A THRILLING ADVENTURE.

" perusing the columns of the Herald.
All! what is this?
A T WILLIAMS BRIDGE-A cozy, partly
IA furnished cottage of ten rooms, sur
rounded by frult-trees, one acre OF ground
Rent, $50 per month Only five minutes walk
from depot Inquire Of the blacksmith for
keys, particulars, etc.
That advertisement was very alluring
to me. Visions of a hammock under
shady trees, of clucking motherly hens
and little downy broods of chickens; of
broad piazza, gay with hanging bas-
kets of beautiful plants, and made COM
Portable by low, broad'armed rockers,
and soft, wooing, perfume-laden
breeze, which should always wander
through it.
Visions of all these delectable things
ran through my head, and I sprung to
my feet, donned dress, bonnet and
gloves, and then I remembered I had
forgotten to ask hubble for money, and
I had very little in my portemonnaie.
All, WELT never mind. There was
enough to take me to Williams bridge
and back, and with that comforting re-
Election started out.
It was beautiful morning in early
spring, and was gorgeous in new
suit of Bismarck brown, bonnet and
gloves to match. would not hide its
glories by wrap of any kind, and in
deed did not feel the necessity of one,
SO soft we're the breezes abroad that
morning, SO warm the sun.
I took the cars at the Forty-second
street depot, and soon arrived at my
destination. I found the blacksmith
without any difficulty, and stated my
business.
"Will you walk or ride over, ma'am ?"
"Why, I will walk. 1t cannot be far
well, ma'am. I don't mind going
over with you to show the house; but
unless you're a purity fast walker it'll
take you nigh onto two hours to go and
return"
~Ohl" I said, "not that house; this
one-see?" showing him the advertise
ment. "Only five minutes walk from
the depot"
eyes, I know that's what it says, and
I've often said it wasn't just the thing
for Seth Howard to lie SO like thunder
about that house. Will you ride over,
ma'am?"
What a disappointment! There was
no use in looking at house SO far from
the depot.
"No, thank you. When does the
next train leave for the city,"
"At o'clock, ma'am."
Three o'clock. And it was but IL
now. My fine new rock, that had been
so comfortable in the sheltered city
streets, was uncomfortable enough
here. The wind came sweeping over
the vast open space around me. I
shivered with cold. The blacksmith
seemed to take pity on my forlorn con-
dition.
IF you don't want to wait that long,
ma'am, my boyll drive you down to the
Four Corners for so cents, and from
there you can take the horse-cars to the
city"
I gladly accepted this proposition,
and ten minutes later "the boy"-a
shock headed, sleepy-eyed person of Is
or so-drove up for me, and we started.
Oh! that drive to the -Four Corners I.
shall I ever forget it?
The wind painted my cheeks and
nose, threw dust in my eyes, and went
straight through my shivering, de-
fe1seless body. At last the gentle
yc,;th at my side drove up before lit
tie, ,ne-storied structure, and informed
me that we had reached our destination.
saw no car in sight, and said so.
eaWell, ye see, ma'am, they don't run
very often-every half hour or So.
Maybe You won't have long to wait. Gee
up, there" ,.
And he was off without more ado.
= The little dwelling was the only house
in sight. It's paper shades bore the le-
gend, "Oysters and billiards"
It was very cold. I opened the
door.
It opened on q narrow passage, with
door on either side. To the right was
kitchen; to the left the saloon. Two
men were seated at one of the tables
therein. A big, raw-boned Irish woman
stepped to the door of the kitchen and
asked what she could do for me. I told
her was very cold, and asked permits
sion to stand by her stove minute
while waiting for the car.
Certainly, ma'am. Walk right in
here. ma'am."
And she busted chair with her apron
and placed it by the stove for me.
at the same time she snapped her
fingers, and huge mastiff, who was ~.
ing under the table, arose, and
stretched himself across the threshold
of the door.
- Something in the action struck me as
being queer.
I glanced at the two men in thes sa-
loon. The one facing me was talking In
| a low tone to his companion, who was
looking over his shoulder at me. Two
more villainous faces I never beheld.
| I vas alarmed. No one knew of my
| visit to Williams bridge. How easily
T could be murdered in this lonely
place. 50
I looked at the woman. Her face
was broad and stoId, and she was look
ing sharply at me from under beetling
brows, with little, beady, black eyes. I
glanced with sinking heart at the dog.
His head was stretched out between his
huge paws, his eyes, red and horrible,
gazed at me mort steadily. ], shud-
dered. 81. = -. 8 =
SIS it afraid Of the dog ye are,
maam2 Ah. thin niver fear. Sure
he'll not touch ye ur1ess I give the
word, and thin I'd not give groat for
yer life. All, he's good dog, Is Rory.
Perhaps ye'd like to know how that
same dog saved me life, fma'am?"
And then, not waiting for an answer
| g Ye see this is the only place Of the
kind for three miles round, and + does
q nice little business here. But Satur-
day Is me day. I gives : nice little
lunch Of chowder, and bread and cheese,
and that brings 'em all here. You may
be bound I rakes in anate little pile Of
silver.
Well, one Saturday night, after !
roaring business, L closed me house e
ID o'clock, as is mo custom, and then
went up to me little room under the
roof TO count me money. Ye wouldn't
think there WAS q room up there, would
20, ma'am Well, there is, thin. Iti
little enough, but it's there, With s n.
To Mindie and . shsd updee Il tbat
zsizzeeIssssFezss-