The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-03-05
THE AGENTS STORY.
DY II Ar. ST.

COulpdHy vi us HUI COillcClcu III tuc Clu
inn for shelter and nights lodgings.
There were six In all-two drovcrs, one
agent, two travellers, and myself, an ar
tist who was roaming about for sketch
es in the picturesque region. The wind
aud rain were accompanied by vivid
flashes of lightning and dcafcning blasts
of thunder. The old inn shook and
shook again, and the rickcty windows
ratified as with ague.
Those who have been there know that
strangers who meet under these cir
cumstanccs are like soldiers in war,
they soon become acquaintance of long
standing. 1t was SO with that memoa-
bic night. A few words had been cx-
changed, but now that the storm had
increased to a violence that was appall-
ing, we felt drawn together as a sol
dicr's mess, and il wasn't long before
two OF three had told of incidents in
their lives that this tempest recalled.
Ii came the agents turn to tell story,
and after q brief pause he said
"Gcntlemen, am reminded of an in
cident 'lat happened within fifty miles
think. | shall term it an adventure, for
such it was, and it happened in an old
inn and on stormy night"
'Let's have it by all MEANS" said one
of the drovcrs.
"An inn adventure is always worth
listening TO-" added one of the travel
ers.
AT this moment tall man entered
the room from the outer porch, who at
tracted our attention only as he wore
blue glasses and was an addition to our
company. A heavy beard covered his
face, and his body had slight stoOp as
one of studious habits. lie threw of
his waterproof overcoat, which such
men carry in travelling, all the year
round, and signifying in rather high
voice that he did not wish to interrupt
us, silently drank glass of ale at the
be :, and seated himself near one of the
travelers-the one who had just spoken
The agent began his story.
"Well, gentlemen, this was some five
years ago, as | have told you, and il
was in an inn about fifly miles north o.
this place. l had been ont on some
business of my agency, and was over
taken by storm. 1t was wild coun
try, but as luck would have it, I soor
reach ad an inn as old as this but more
dilapidat :"
The landlord grimly smiled from th'
bar, i'll appreciation of the compliment
of the agent. just then flash of light
ning blinded us and crash of thundc
lifted us to our feet, but as there wa
no sign of danger we resumed on
seats, and the agent continued his sto
ry. The new conner with blue glasse
had changed his place so that he wa
further removed from the narrator.
saw pair of sharp gray eyes glanc
from the spectaclcs, but paid no atten
ton to it.
"At the door of this inn l rappc
with my hickory cane" continued tn
agent, and il was opened by tall man
who attracted my attention at once b
his large hands, and scar upon hi
check, which gave his face very SIMS
ter aspect. In reponse to an invitatio
delivered in n deep bass voice, | entel
ing. A crooked old drone, who seen
ed to play the part of housekeeper
the inn, was all the living thing sa'
. besides the innkeeper that night. Yo
+. will find before ! get through that
, have reason to remember both of tho'
inmates"
At this point in the agents narratio
another tremendous bolt shook the I'M
and we held our breaths as if the cart
was yawning beneath us. | notice
that the stranger had shrunk still fu
ther out of sight as if the light was tC
much for his eyes. call him the stra
ger, though the rest of us had new
met before, we had exchanged comp
ments and felt drawn together as ha
ind common interest in the storm
but this new conner was very sile
man, betraying only high voice
considerable snap when he asked f
his ale. II seemed to be a curio
voice for that sort of man, but ga
no thought TO II at the time.
"This thunder reminds me of {
thunder of that night" continued I
agent. ''But I'll to the story. VIII
| had dried myself, and eaten a mel
which was frugal enough, | assure yo
| was shown into the room, which
might with propriety term loft, b
which the innkeeper dignified by t
title of the guests chamber. That m
was not one to exchange words wi
even in a Joke, so / accepted the I'll
18th a serious air, and placing can(
on a rickety stand, the tall innkeer
of bade me gruff good night and left |
i,a to myself.
RI, "Now | always had that perceptiC
ne regarding men and their motives, VIII
an On. in me was so prophetic that 1t might
nd called second sight. The rain b.
on against the loose window just as 1t
". beating against this one, and the thu
der shook me up just as we are bel
Lay shook up tonight. / needed nett
Viii Viii the thunder nor the rain, but tried
md edge of the knife that had picked
phGs phe from the table below and secreted
one my clothing. This placed by my S
sse see ready for use in the dark, and put