Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-02-26

and the two old chairs, but gentlemenl
great God, gentlemen! there stood be-
! yond the bed, confronting me like horri-
| BILE spectre, the dark towering form of
the inn-keeper! Ihave seen many sights
that have chilled my blood, have passed
through many perils, but the sight of
raised with glittering knife, and the
murderous gray eyes fastened like two
devilish fire balls upon me,-the sight
froze my blood iii my veins, and made
my hair stand on end For moment l
was helpless, but as the lightning went
out, leaving us both in blacker darkness
than before, l felt the blood surging
back into my veins; and at the same in
slant the voice of the inn-keeper, which
We'd with the thunder in its power, de-
manded my surrender"
| just at this point of the narrative, q
gust of wind and rain shook the inn as if
it would take it from its foundation, and
this was followed by by terrific bolt
that struck us with CONSERVATION. Each
looked at the other as if for assurance of
safety.
HeavensH' calculated the innholder,
at the bar, "your story and this thunder
are well matched Get through as soon
as you can, for l believe the diabolical
scene that you call up in the chamber is
what brought this thunder"
We all laughed at the sally of our
our host, and yet not one of us but
would have been pleased to see the story
through, for the agent had strange
power drawing his picture, with vivid
ness which took deep hold of us amid
this APPALLING tempest The stranger of
the blue glasses was the only man that
didn't laugh, and l saw under his glasses
that he kept pair of sharp eyes on the
agent, and that the hands, which were
still kept out of sight in the coat pock-
cts, where never at rest.
Well how did you come ont (" in-
quired one of the drovers
"Yes," joined the traveller nearest me,
"you are here, and yet you amt, / amt
quite certain whether you are alive or
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 on drawing in still
farther from the binding glare of the
lightning. The agent resumed.
"When the innkeeper demanded my
surrender, l told him to come and take
me. He answered with tremendous
oath, and l felt the blade of knife,
which he skillfully threw at me, Craze my
shoulder. Maddened at this attack, l,
who am as intense III my perceptions
and actions as a crazy man, when
aroused, leveled my pistol in the direc-
ton of the voice and fired / heard roar
Of pain, and then long strides approach
ing me. A light flashed in the room,
followed by report, and my cheek was
grazed, as you see here, gentlemen.
Here the agent pointed to the scar on
his face. l fired ugain but apparently
without effect. AT this juncture blaze
came from the bed where l first saw the
innkeeper, and ball whizzed by my
head. knew that l was to be hanked,
for that shot came from the crooked old
crone, who must have followed her mas
ter up some sort of a trap in the floor. A
bright flash of lightning showed me the
picture again. Here was the innkeeper
within three yards of me, his left hand to
his side, as if to stay the tide of flowing
blood, and his right Ieveling arevolver at
my head Beyond him was the crone,
with a knife and pistol stealthily creeping
up after him, her face like malignant
old cats. The lightning went out as
quickly as it appeared.
"Dil you Xii him ?" Impatiently
broke in the drover.
eyes, that's what we want to know"
chimed in the traveller.
"Weli," replied the agent, 81 don't
know whether killed him, but | can tell
you he came precious near finishing me.
He was well practiced in dark deeds
excuse the pun, gentlemen-for he aimed
his knife straight at my breast. Being
rather quick of hearing, | heard the
rustic of his arm, and, bringing my own
left across my breast, | prepared to leap
under his guard--for he was tall enough,
| assure you-the moment he should
strike, fo- | knew that | could not dodge
his blow. Down came his knife in my
forearm to the bone. Like the flash of
light that lit up the scene AGAIN, | leap
ed upon him, wrenching the knife from
my arm as l 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
carry ones mind back to the chaotic
period, closely followed. For "A moment
we were speechless, but rs the thunders,
accompanied by violent torrents of ram,
ratified and doomed away in the distance,
the landlord exclaimed:
This is terrible night, gentlemen
You have no such salutes az these, Mr..
/ Agent, to honor your spirit.
Don't be hasty in your Judgment,
I ba oon,f