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

inn for shelter and a nights lodgings.
There We're six in all,-two drovers, one
agent, two travellers, and myself, an ar.
tist who was roaming about for sketches
in the picturesque region. The wind and
rain We're accompanied b. vivid flashes
of lightning and deafening blasts OF
thunder. The old inn shook and shook
again, and the rackstty windows 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 as acquaintances of long
standing. It was SO with us Oh that
memorable night. 4 few words had been
exchanged, but now that the storm had
increased to violence that was appal-
ling, We felt drawn together as 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:
Gentlemen, [ am reminded Of an in
cident that happened within fifty miles
Of this place, some FIVE years ago,
think. | should term it an adventure,
for such it was, and it happened in an
old inn and on stormy night.
Lets have it by all means," said one
Of the drovers.
can inn adventure is always worth
listening to-" added one of the travel
lers.
At this moment tall man entered the
room from the outer porch, who attract
ed our attention only as he wore blue
glasses and was an addition to our COM
pany. A heavy beard covered we'll his
face, and his body had slight stoop as
of one of studious habits. He threw off
his waterproof oyercoat, which such men
carry, in travelling, all the year round,
and signifying in rather of a high voice
that he did not wish to interrupt US,
silently drank a glass of ale at the bar,
and seated himself near one Of the travel
lers-the one who had just spoken. The
agent commenced his story.
"Weli, gentlemen, this was some five
years ago, as I 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 q
storm. It was a wild country, but as
luck would have it, soon reached an
inn as old as this, but more dilapidat-
ed"
The landlord grimly smiled from the
bar, III appreciation of the compliment Of
the agent. Just then flash Of lightning
blinded us all, and a crash of thunder
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 blue glasses had
changed his place, SO that he was farther
removed from the narrator. [ saw pair
of sharp gray eyes glance from the spec
tacles, but paid no attention to it.
''At the door of this inn 1 raped with
my hickory cane" continued the agent,
"and it was opened by tall man, who
attracted my attention at once by his
large hands, and a scar on his cheek,
which gave to his face very sinister as
pect. In response to an invitation, de-
livered in deep, bass voice, [ entered
and sat by the fire to dry my clothing.
\ crooked old crone, who seemed to
play the part of housekeeper in the inn,
was all the living thing [ saw. beside the
inkeeper that night. You will find before
get through that I have reason to re-
member both of those inmates"
Tt this point in the agents narration
another tremendous bolt shook the inn,
and we held our breaths as if the earth
was yawniug beneath US. 1 noticed that
the stranger had shrunk still further ont
of sight, as if the lightning was too much
for his eyes. 7 call him the stranger, for
though the rest of US had never met be-
fore, we had exchanged compliments,
and felt drawn together IS having COM
mon interest in the storm; but this last
conner WAS very silent man, betraying,
only high voice of considerable snap
when be asked for his ale. 1t seemed to
me singular voice for that sort of man.
but | gave no thought of it at the time.
''This thunder reminds me of the
thunder of that night" continued the
agent. "But I'll to the story. When 1
had dried myself, and eaten meal which
was frugal enough, assure you, l was
shown into the room. which might with
propriety term loft, but which the inn
keeper dignifed by the title of guest s
chamber. That man was not one to ex-
change words with, even in joke, so |
accepted the title with serious air, and,
placing a candle on rickety stand, the
tall inn-keeper bade me 4 gruf good
night, and left me to myself.
Nov | always had that perception,
regarding men and their motives, 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 I picked up from the table
below, and secreted it 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 l could
get a sight at my desired object in an in
slant.
"You may think that I was little
foolish, but if you had observed the
glances between the Goliath and the crone
halcu ap5 otpJ;a1 tbap, l>otL 90 T bol