The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-07-30

made for the purpose, in my cellar, or,
1t you prefer it, your friends can take
care of them until morning tor you. ]
think it very likely Dan will have other
company before midnight, and it's Just
as well to let them know you're empty
handed"
We thanked him, and handed oyer
our wallet containing our supply Of
ready money; and my husband thought
it best to leave his watch behind also.
The chain was very massive. and would
be likely to attract attention. We
would not be without a timepiece either,
for my watch was simply attached to a
black guard which l wore around my
neck, SO I kept it with me. We then
exchanged gOod-nights. and my hus-
band gathered up the reins to go.
81 suppose there is no difficulty
about finding the way?" he said to Mr..
Rice.
''You couldn't miss the cabin; it is
right down the road-the first house
you come to-"
Fifteen minutes drive brought us
there. A woman was standing in the
doorway as we approached.
''Can you give us a bed tonight,
MADAME asked my husband, politely.
'.Mr.; Rice is too full to take us in, and
he sent us here thinking perhaps you
might have spare bed"
She stared in silence for the space of
half minute or so, and when at last she
deigned to speak, it was to ask some
question about, ''Who all was stoppin'
at Mr.. Rice'sp''
'.rn tell you all about it sitter I get
in." replied he, not very truthfully; Il
have been driving all day, and I'm very
tired
''Ben ridin' all day! Yer don't say?
You mus be tide sho huff. Li-i-ght
down, bofe on yer. 1 reckin we Kin
make out to let yer stay fur one might.
Thar haint no flour bread in the house
though; mos'er strangers is almighty
keen for flour bread"
But by this time we were both inside
the cabin; for man had appeared dur
ing the conversation, and to him we en-
trusted the care of our horses. 1t was
a smoke dried place, evidently kitchen,
dining and bedroom all in one. The
supper was cooking at the open fire.
place; the table was ready laid, and
couple of bedsteads stood side by side
against the background of a patch
work quilt which was pinned with
to arope stretched across
the ceiling, and which served to convert
the ground floor of the cabin into two
apartments.
A space was left at one end large
to furnish means of ingress and
egress, and through this space was
presently conducted that might wash
my face and hands.
Supper was ready almost immediate
", and l was glad to find no other Wis
itors. The hostess talked necessarily
to my husband; the three wild, gypsy
looking children stared with all the con-
power of their three pairs of
black eyes; but the man by whom l
was placed neither looked nor talked;
he was dark, repulsive individual, who
cut his food vindictively, and ate it as if
he bore it grudge. think he uttered
two sentences during the meal. One of
these was to inquire the time.
81 have no watch with me-" replied
my husband, to whom he addressed
himself.
THAT'S curus,'' he growled, half to
himself.
"We left our luggage with our
friends"
To this he made no reply, and soon
after the meal was concluded was glad
to plead fatigue as an excuse for escap-
ing from his presence.
My husband joined me presently, and
we threw ourselves, dressed as we were,
on the outside of the bed, and he was
soon fast asleep.
Hay awake for some time. could
hear them moving about in the next
room, as they prepared for bed, and
then heard the woman order the
children to "make has an 60 ter
Sleep"
'.They cyarnt sleep in hyar to-night,"
said the man, speaking for the first
lime. II want all ham on yer ter clar
put. I want this hyar room t'-night."
"What for, DAMP asked the woman.
because do, that's all; fair folks is
COMM"
She did not ask any further questions
and presently heard her and the chill
iren scrambling up the rough ladder
leading to the loft above.
They speedily took possession of their
beds, and the house became perfectly
quiet. I. heard my husbands deep
drawn, regular breathing; heard the
log in the next room as he stirred now
md then in his sleep. 1 heard the man
move slightly once or twice. knew
rom the fumes which pervaded my
room that he was smoking some very
bad tobacco. when haze fell upon my
I fell asleep.
1 awoke with start some time after
ward. Had some one been moving
about nv room? No.