The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-29

'fdarted q stealthy glance upon the
stranger, who seemed bent in drawing in
still farther from the binding glare of
the lightning. The agent resumed.
"When the inAkeeper demanded my
surrender, 1 told him to come and take
me. He answered with a tremendous
oath, and / felt the blade of q knife
which he slsillfufly threw at nae Craze
|Imy shoulder. Maddened by this attack,
i, who am as intense in my perceptions
and action as q, crazy man.. when aroused,
leeeled my pistol in the direction Of the
voice and fired. I heard roar of pain,
and then long strides approaching me.
"A light flashed in the room, followed by
a. report, and my cheek was grszed, as
you see here, gentlemen. Here the
agent pointed to a scar on his face. l
fired again, but apparently without ef-
feet. At this junctlre a blaze came
from the bed where l first saw the inn
keeper, and a ball whizzed by my
head. l knew that l. was to
he fanked, for that shot came
from the crooked old crone, who
must have followed her master up some
sort of trap in the floor. A bright fash
of lightning showed me the picture again.
Here was the innkeeper within three
yards. of me, his left hand held to his
side, as if to stay the flowing Of blood,
and his right leveling revolver at my
head. Beyond him was the crone, with
a knife and pistol, .stealthily creeping up
after him, her face like malignant old
cats. The lightning wentout as asquickly
as it had appeared. ..,...
"Did you kill him." impatiently broke
in the drover. ......
eyes, that's what we want to know"
chilhed in the traveller. ,...,
"Well," replied the agent, II don't
know whether l killed him, but can
tell you he came precious near finishing
me. He was well practiced in dark
deeds-excuse the pun, gentlemen-for
he aimed the knife straight at my breast.
Being rather quick of hearing, I heard
the rustic of his arm, and bringing my
own left across my breast, l prepared to
leap under his guard-for he was tall
enough, I assure-the moment he should
strike, for knew that could not dodge
his blow. Down came his knife into my
forearm to the bone. Like the flash Of
light that lit up the scene again, l leaped
upon him, wrenching the knife from my
arm as did so, and buried my own
blade in his bosom" "
As if to give us an idea Of the scene, a
vivid fash interrupted the agents story,
and another of those awful peals that
carry ones mind back to the chaotic
period. closely followed. For 4, moment
we were speechless, but as the thunder,
accompanied hv a violent torrent of rain,
ratified and doomed away in the distance,
the landlord exclaimed: sr. @0I
"This is a terrible night, gentlemen
You have no such salutes as these, Mr..
Agent, to honor your spirit"
Don't be hasty in your judgment" /"
returned the agent. ...'...,.
"But how did it come out, after all r.
broke in the drover. a
81 Ispose you've got pretty near the end
of itY joined the traveller.
"Pretty near" answered the agent. I
saw him again shoot secret glance at
the tall man in the blue glasses who now
seemed quite uneasy under the repeated
blasts of thunder. Ny heart thrilled at
this, flor l had a premonition that sent
unwelcome thoughts to my mind, ! was
good at leap, pretty strong. I pre-
pared for den0uement.
"Pretty near" repeated the agent.
''The great form Of the innholder fell to
the floor, dismal shrek came from the
crone, a ball hummed through my ear
here is the scar, gentlemen-and / made
for the door, just as thunder-bolt burst
directly over the old inn. So binding
was the lightning that / was held in my
steps moment; but as its last simmer
lit the room l unbolted the door, and not
caring, to fight with an old woman
leaped into the. entry, momentarily ex.
pecting to hear the powerful innholder
after me. But nothing followed, except
a third shot from the crone, and in an
other moment was in the midst of the
tempest. Never were wind and water
more welcome, gentlemen. / was safe
and sought the nearest farmhouse"
"Did you go back for emp broke in
the second drover. s .- r.t,l.a
eyes; my arm noticing very bad, the
next morning q lot Of us went there with
4 the Sheriff. but we could got no trace
of the worthy pair, though we tracked
them by blood for some distance into the
woods" ' a .o... 45.',, ..,'..'. ..
i "Never heard of them since, nor ex.
pect to, I 'sposera queried the second
4 droyer. alt-.~
In response To this question remark.
able Transformation took place. The
pleasant looking agent was wrought into
a devil, and his countenance was fearful
to behold. The audience started from
their ehairs-but what was their conster-
nation when the stranger in blue glasses
leaped to his feet, and in tremendous
voice. that differed astonishingly from
the squeak he had formerly assumed, ex.
4 claimed, "Keep your distance, OF you are
a dead mani" A terrible oath accompa.
MED the warming ..,. s.t,. .t...I..
| But he had not finished before the
agent was upon him; and as for that
matter was on him, too, had prac-