The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-03-12

lry Old lOWn, BIZ, SAID friend to the
hackman, who saw my dilemma.
They are only third aud fourth rate inns
there, said the driver, and perhaps the gem
tleman would not like to lodge there for a
nght?'
'Anyw here that | can get bed, my good
fellow returned. 1T is no use being par.
ticular at such a time as this
The horses heads were turned round, and
we proceeded down Baltimore street over Il
bridge which spauned a muddy stream of
water, called Jones Falls, believe. We
then plunged intoa mass of narrow, intricate
streets and at last stopped before the door
Of very ordinary looking tavern,
1t bore nondescript looking sign, which
| was told represented a golden angel, by
which name it was known.
| entered aud made my stereotyped in.
quiry-whether could have bed there for
the night The landlord, thick, burly-
looking man, with a CLEAN Of latent humor
in his face, shook his head, and repeated
the hateful words: 'Al full
! turned to go away, but was recalled by
the voice Of the host.
Would you mind sharing bed with an
other party?' said he.
If there is no help for it | suppose
must, replied, although to tell the truth,
it is by no means agreeable to me- and in
wardIy heaped denunciations on Ardew's
head for peisuading Inc to be his substi.
tute
Your bedf-llow i1a quiet fellow when he
is asleep, although | must say be is rather
violent when annoyed, lie sleeps very
,oundy, and ali you have to 60 is to be
careful not to wake him. lie has been in
bed some time
must make a humiliatino confession to
the reader: / am not broy an | have
often tried to persuade ny + that an,
but truth compels me t. slate that not a
greater coward exists than myself The
landlord ) description of my u.4.ellow was
anything but assuring, and was on the
point of declining when the proprietor of
the Golden Angel, no doubt reading what
was transpirng in in my mind, exclaimed:
You are afraid, are YOU?
Afraid, | should think not, indeed
returned for | was too much of coward to
brave being thought one. i accept your Of
fer of half bed Bring me some brandy
and water and cigar.
sat down at one of the little tables in
the bar-room, and putting away at my cigar,
| tried to persuade myself that | was very
jolly. 1t was a miserable attempt, howev-
er. | had previously supped at restaurant
in modern part of the city. After my ci
gar was finished, asked to be shown to my
chamber, The landlord took upon himself
the task cf being my conductor, and | fo''
lowed him up narrow, ricketty staircase
| We kept on ascending until we reached the
top of the house. when we entered a moder-
ately-sized room, but much cleaner than
had expected to find it. The ceiling was
very low, and inclined in front to the slope
Of the roof. The apartment contained but
one bed which was placed against the wal
near he door At the opposite end of the
chamber was a table, placed between the
Two windows which looked on the roof.
The landlord placed the lamp upor
the table. and / noticed that he shielded tn,
light with his hand as he passed nea
the bed
BE sure and don't take the light nea
him. whispered the proprietor of the Gold
en- Angel; nothing wakes him sooner than
that. You see I don't know how he nigh
like my putting another man with him
and he's a very ugly customer when he
riled, can tell you
4 shall be careful, | replied.
That's all right Good night he whis
pered, and left the room.
He had no sooner gone than | cautiousl,
sat down, taking care not to make the leaS
Disc | then calmly surveyed my position
1t was certainly not a very enviable one
According to the landlords account my com
panion was anything but an amiable charac
ter If should chance to awaken him
knew not what might occur. He might as
sault me dangerously before | could ente
| lulp dul tNDluhdAlbll' 1 lldAl lhlt lOSblNNN
to pass the night in the chair, and not t
retire to bed at all But it was one of tn
old high-backed chairs, and made such a
uncomfortable seat that soon tired out
| then yenured to glance around the room
My eyes naturally fell on the bed.
There was one thing that aonsoled mt
my companion appeared 10 be in soun
sleep, fur he did not even move. coul
see the ridge made by his fee at the end {
his bed, and that was all also notice
that the bed was a very lar one, The ma
who had possession of il a. near the wal
aud ere wa. plenty of spa. oo.wcen his
aud the outside for me to II. Hr' 1ut touCl
ing bin. | screwed my courga up and beg
. to undress-but l suddenly remembered Il
landlords words, that the stranger was
ugly customer when riled,' which made IL
desist, The thought struck me that mig
manage to lie on the floor, but a moment
=" examination settled the question in the ne
atiyc for the floor was entirely bare, al
the air blew very cold through the wi
chinks in the planEing. | cast my eyes
: the ceiling and noticed for the first tit
- that a heavy beam studded with numero
u, hooks ran through the apartment; but "
u not bird and could not perch there III
e discovery was Of little use to me.
., Half an hour passed away in this state
n, intecison, ] stole cautiously to one Of /
| I'll J