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

THE AGENTS STORY.

inn for shelter and nights lodgings.
There were six in au,-twO drovers, one
agent, tive travellers, and myself, an
artist who was roaming about for
sketches in this picturesque region. The
wind and rain were accompanied by
vivid flashes of lightning and deafening
blasts Of thunder. The old inn shook
and shook again, and the rickety win
dows ratified as if with ague.
Those who have been there know that
strangers who meet under these circum-
stances are like soldiers in war, they soon
become asaequ Of long standing.
1t was 80 with us on that memorable night.
A few words had been exchanged, but
now that the storm had increased to a
violence that was appalling we felt
drawn together as a soldiers mess, and it
wasn't long before two or three had told
of incidents in their lives that this
tempest recalled. 1t came the agents
turn to tell story, and after a brief
pause he said: ...
Gentleman, 1 am reminded of an in
cident that happened within fifty miles
of this place, some five years ago, I
think. should term it an adventure,
for such it was, and it happened in an
old inn on stormy night .'
Let's have it, by all MEANS" said one
Of the drovers.
An inn adventure is always worth
listening to-" added one of the travellers.
. At this moment tall man entered the
room from the outer porch, who attrac-
ted our attention only as he wore blue
glasses and was an addition to cur COM
pahy. A heavy beard covered well his
face, and his body had slight stoop as
of one of studious habits. He threw of
his waterproof overcoat, which such men
carry in travelling all the year round, and
signifying in rather Of high voice that
he did not wish to interrupt US, silently
drank aglass of ale at the bar, and
seated himself near one of the travellers
the one who had just spoken. The
agent commenced to tell his story.
"Well, gentlemen, this was some five
years ago, as l have told you, and it was
in an inn about fifty miles north of this
place. / had been out on some business
Of my agency, and was overtaken by a
storm. 1t was wild country, but as
luck would have it, / soon reached an
inn as old AS this, but more dilapidated.
The landlord grimly smiled from the
bar, in appreciation of the compliment
of the agent Just then q flash Of light
ming blinded us all, and crash of thun-
der lifted us to our feet, but as there was
no sign of damage we resumed our seats,
and the agent continued his story. The
new conner with the glasses had changed
his place, so that he was farther removed
from the narrator. ] saw pair of sharp
eyes glance from the spectacles, but paid
no attention to it. .....
cat the door Of this inn raped with
my hickory eane," continued the agent,
"and it was opened by.a tall man, who
attracted my attention by his large
hands, and scar on his cheek, which
gave to his face very sinister aspect. In
res sponse to an invitation delivered in a
deep, bass voice, I entered and sat by
the fire to dry my clothing. A crooked
old crone, who seemed to play the part
of housekeeper in the inn, was all the
living thing saw, beside the inn keeper,
that night. You will find before get
through that l have reason to remember
both Of those inmates" '---
At this point in the agents narration
another tremendous bolt shook the inn.
and we held our breaths as if the earth
was yawning beneath us. l noticed that
the stranger, had shrunk still further
out:of sight, as if the lightning was too
much for his eyes. l call him the
stranger, for though the rest Of us had
never met before, we had exchanged
compliments, and felt drawn together as
having common interest in the storm;
but this. last conner was very silent
man, -betraying only a high voice Of con-
siderable snap when he asked for his ale.
1t seemed to me singular voice for that
SORT of man, but gave no thought Of it
at the time. a....' I.
"Ths thunder reminds mi, of the thun-
der of that night" continued the agent.
"But Eli to the story. When / had
dried myself, and eaten meal, which
was frugal enough, l assure you, | was
shown into the room, which l might
with propriety term loft, but which
the inn keeper dignifed by the title of
the guests chamber. That man was not
one to exchange words with, even in a
joke, 50 accepted the title with seri-
Gus air, ana placing a candle on rickety
stafd, the tall inn keeper bade me a
gruff good night, and left me to myself.
"Now / always had that perception,
.egarding men and their motives, which
IN most persons is intuition, which
in me was so prophetic that it might
be termed second sight. The rain beat
against the loose window Just as it is
beating against this one, and the thunder
shook me up just as We are being shaken
up tonight. ] needed neither the thun-
der nor the rain, but tried the edge Of a
knife that / had picked up from the
table below and secreted in my clothing.
. / placed this by my side, ready for use
in the dark, and put my revolver under
my pillow, which was reliable only as |
could get a sight at amy desired object in
an instant.
"You may think that I was a little fool.
fish. but If YOU had observed the glances