Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-03-05
Gales and Sktttbfs.
From the Boston Traveller.
The AGENTS SfORY.
CONTINUED from yesterday.


termination combined. / peered into the
darkness. but couldn't see ward ahead
of me. bent my ear 10 listen. but ASIDE
from a creaking somewhere in the cham
i.r. which / attributed TO a powerful gtist
IL wind that jus, then passed over the INN
could hear nothing to cause alarm This
creaking alarmed me for an instant put
following Immediately. gave il no fur
Their heed.
..For two or three minutes stood by
the window, yainly peerine into the room
and listening. To convince myself that
had some reason for placing myself on
guard. At last sheet Of flame threw n
LIGHT into that chamber. 80 that j saw
everything in it. Yes. gentlemen, every
object seemed preternatural, 80 vivldiy
was II revealed to me. There was the
stand, the bed, the old mantle. and the TWO
old chairs.-but gentlemen great God'
gentlemen there stood beyond the bed''
confronting me like a horrible spectre.
Ike dark. covering form OF the innSecPer
I have seen many sights that have chiiIea
my blood. and have passed through many
perils. but the sight Of that shadowy fornh'
the great hand appraised with glitterln@
krife. and the murderons gray eyes ia--
tened like two deyilish fire balls upon me
that sight frozc my blood in my veins,
and made nv hair 10 stand on end. For
A moment was helpless, but n, the light
ning went out leaving Us both IN blacker
darkness than before, ] felt the blood
snroing back into my veins; and at the
same time the voice Of the inn-keeper
wEich WED with the thunder in its power
demanded my surrender.
Just at this point of the narrative, u
0ust Of wind and rain shook the inn a. II
ii would take il from its foundations, ana
this was followed by n terrific bolt that
struck us with CONSERVATION. Each looked
ut the other as il for assurance OF safely
.,Heavens - calculated the innholder. ut
the bar, your story and this thunder are
well matched. Get through a. soon "a
yo,, can. for believe the diabolical scene
tina. YOU call up in the chamber Is what
brcnght this thunder"
We all laughed at the sally of our host,
and vet not one Of u, but would have been
pleased to see the story through. for the
agent had strange power of drawing his
pictures with vividncss which took a
deep hold of us amid thi, appalling tenn
pest.
The stranger of the blue glasses was the
only man that didn't laugh and saw I'M
der his glasses that he kept pair of sharp
eyes on the agent. and that the hands,
which were -tiIl kept out of sight in the
coat pockets, were never ut rest
"Wcll. how did you come out?' in
CURED one of The droycr~.
YES" joined in the traveller nearest
me- ''you are here and yet You amt ]
In -fs,tn AZ la hon
or dead Give us the end of it. pray
The agent. from some peculiar cause,
darted steady glance upon the stranger.
who seemed bent in drawing in still fur
Their from the binding glare of the light
ming. The agent resumed:
when the innkeeper demanded my sur
render. | told him to come and take me.
lie answered with n tremendous oath. and
I felt the blade of knife which he skill
fully threw ut me. craze my shoulder.
Maddcued by this attack. !. who am rs in
tense in my perceptions and action rs a
crazy man, when aroused. levelled my
pistol in the direction ol the voice ana
fired, | heard roar OF pain and long
strides approaching me. \ light flashed
in the room. followed by u report. and my
cheek was grazed. rs you see here, gentle
men! Here the agent pointed to a scar
on his face. fired again. but apparent
" without effect. Asthis iuncturc blaze
came from the bed where first saw the
innkccper. and ball whizzed by my head.
knew that was Ia be ilankcd, for that
shot came from the crooked old crone.
who must have followed her master up
some sort of trap in the floor. A 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. rs it To stay the flowing OF blood. and
his right dwelling u revolver ut my head.
Beyond him was the crone. with knife
and pistol stealthily creeping up after
him. her face like a malignant old cats.
The lightning went out rs quickly rs ii APP
peared.''
did you Kill him % impatientIy broke
in the drovor.
"Ycs. that's what we want to know.
chimed in the traveller.
Well" replied the agent. IL don't
know whether killed him. hut can tell
You he came precious near finishing me.
lie was we'll practiced in dark deeds-ex-
cusc the pun. gcntlemen-tor he aimed
his knife straight nj my breast.
BEING rather quick Of hearing. heard
the rustic of his arm. and bringing my
own letl across my breast. prepared to
keep under his guard--for he was tall
enough. assure you--the moment he
should strike. tor knew that could not
dodge his blow. Down came his knife in
to my forearm 10 the hone. Like the flash
of light that lii up the scene again. leap
I'd upon him. wrenehed the knife from NV
arm AS did So. and buried my own blade
in his BOSOM
AS IL 10 give us an idea OF the scene. a
vivid flash Interrupted the agents story.
and another OF those awful peals that cat
~ ones mind back To the chaotic period.
closely followed. For moment We were
speechless. but rs the thuuders. accompa-
MED by violent torrent oi rain. ratified
and doomed away in the distance, the
landlord exclaimed;
This is terrible night. gentlemen
You have no such salutes a these. Mr.
Agent. to honor your spirit
Don't be hasty in your Judgment. re-
turned the agent.
but how did it come out. after all ?''
broke in the drover.
II s'pose you've got pretty near the
end Of it. joined the traveller,
Pretty near" answered the agent.
saw him again shoot secret glance at
the tall man in the blue glasses. who now
sapmcd o,,ite uneasy under tho repra.el