The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-02-05

| gust OF wind and rain shook the inn a
| if it would take it from its foundation
and this was followed by terrific bol
that struck US with CONSERVATION. Eaci
| looked at the other as If for assurance O
safety.
"Heayens!' calculated the innholder
at the bar, ''your story and this thundei
are well matched. Get through as soot
as you can, for I believe the diabclica
scene that you call up in the chamber i
what brought this thunder
We all laughed at the sally of our host
and yet not one of US but would havc
been pleased to see the story through
for the agent had strange power q
drawing his pictures with vividnes'
which took deep hold of US amid thi,,
appalling tempest. The stranger of thc
blue glasses was the only man that didn'
laugh, and I saw under his glasses that
he kept pair Of sharp eyes on the agent
and that the hands, which were still KEEP
ont of sight in the coat pockets, were
never at rest.
"Well, how did you come out?" in
quired one of the drovers.
eyes" joined in the traveller nearest
me, ''you are here, and yet you aint. ]
amt quite certain whether you are alive
OF dead. Give us the end of it, pray"
The agent, from some peculiar cause,
darted a stealthy glance upon the stran.
ger, who seemed bent in drawing in still
farther from the binding glare of the
lightning. The agent resumed.
"When the innkeeper demanded my
surrender, told him to come and take
me. He answered with a tremendous
oath, and I felts the blade of knife
which he skilifuliy threw at me Craze my
shoulder. Maddened by this attack, ]
who am as intense in my perceptions and
action as a crazy man, when aroused,
levelled 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 check was grazed, as
you see here, gentlemen. Here the
agent pointed to a scar on his face. !
fred again. but apparently without eff
feet. At this juncture q blaze came from
loI Z 10
and ball whizzed by my head. 1 knew
that was to be fanhed, for that shot
came from the crooked old crone, who
must have followed her master up some
sort of trap in the floors 4 bright flash
OF lightning showed me the picture
again. Here was the innkecper within
three yards of me, his left hand held to
his side, as if to stay the flowing of
blood, and his right iavellinG aIeso1ver
at my head. Beyond him was the crone,
with q knife and pistol steaIthily creep
ing up after him, her face like a malIg-
nant old cats. The lightning went out
as quickly as it had appeared.
"Did you kill himI" impatientlY broke
in the drover.
"Yes, that's what we want to know, "
chimed in the traveller.
"Well," replied the agent, ''I don't
knew whether I killed him, but ] can tell
you he came precious near finishing me.
He was well practiced in dark deeds
excuse the pun, gentlemeu-for he aim
ed his knife straight at my breast. Being
rather quick of hearing, heard the rus
tie of his arm, and bringing my own left
across my breast, [ prepared TO leap un-
der his guard-for he was tall enough, I
assure you-the moment he should
strike, for I knew that | could not dodge
his blow. Down came his knife into my
foaearm to the bone. Like the flash of
light that lit up the scene again, leaped
upon him, wrenching the knife from my
arm as I did so, and buried my own
blade in his BOSOM"
As if to give US an idea of the scene, a
vivid flash interrupted the agents story,
and another of those awful peals that car
ry ones mind back to the chaotic period,
closely followed. For q moment we
were speechless, but as the thunders, ac-
companied by violent torrent of rain,
ratified and doomed away in the distance,
10
"This is 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?''
broke in the drover.
81 s'pose you've got pretty near the
end of it, rejoined the traveller.
pretty near" answered the agent. /
saw him again shoot g secret glance at
the tail man in the blue glasses, who now
seemed quite uneasy under the repeated
blasts of thunder. My heart thrilled al
this, for had premonition that sent
unwelcome thoughts to my mind. I was
good at leap, pretty strong. / prepar-
ed for denoument.
pretty near" repeated the agent.
''The great form of the innholder fell to
the floor, a dismal shrek came from the
crone, ball hummed through my ear
here is the scar, gentlemen-and I made
for the door, just as thunder-bolt burst
directly over the old inn. So binding
was the lightning that 1 was held in my
steps moment; but as its last simmer
lit the room | unbolted the door. and
not C lring to fight with an old woman ]
leaped into the entry, momentarily ex.
pecting to hear the powerful innholder
after me. But nothing followed, except
third shot from the crone. and in an.
other moment was in The midst of the
tamneSt Nayer uora mind apI ,,-aa -