The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-03-05
MIDDLEBURY, VT. MARCH s. $780,

lightning. Tho agent resumed.
"When the iunkeeper demanded my
surrender, told him to come anftake
me. He answered with tremendous
oath, and felt the blade of the knife
which he skillfully threw at me grazc
my shoulder. Maddened by this attack,
|, who am as intense in my perceptions
and action as crazy man, when arous-
ed, levelled my pistol in the direction
of the voice and fired. heard roa,
of pain, and then long strides approach
ing me. A light Dashed in the room,
followed by report and my check was
grazed, as you see here, gentlemen.
Hear the agent pointed to a scar on
his facet fired again, but apparently
without effect. At this juncture blaze
came from the bed where l first saw the
innkeeper and a ball whizzed by my
head. | knew that | had got to be
flanked, for that shot came from the
crooked old crone, who must have fol-
lowed her master up some sort of trap
in the floor. A bright flash showed me
the picture again. The innkeeper was
within three yards of me, his left hand
held to his side, as If to stay the flow of
blood, and his right levelling revolver
at nay 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 as soon as it had appeared"
"Did you kill him?" impatiently
broke in the drover. ....a
eyes, that's what we want to know"
chimed in the traveller.
"Wcll," replied the agent, '1 don't
know whether killed him, but l can
tell you he came precious near finishing
me. He was well practiced in dark
deeds--excnse the pun, gentlcmen-for
he aimed his knife straight at lily
breast. Being quick of hearing, lheard
tho 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, for l knew that
could not dodge bis blow. Down came
his knife into my forearm to the bone.
Like the flash of light that lit up the
scene again, l leaped upon him, wrench
ing the knife from my arm as did so,
and buried my own blade in his bo-
SON."
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 cha
otic period, closely followed. For a
moment we were speechless, but as the
thunders, accompanied by violent tor
rent of rain, ratified and doomed away
in the distance, the landlord exclaimed: !:
"This is terrible right, gentlemen !
You have no such salutes as these, NJ,
Agent, to honor your splits"
'Don't be hasty in your judgment,' p
returned the agent.
"But how did it come out after all p,
broke in the drover.
81 suppose you have got pretty neal
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 seemed quite uneasy under the re
peated blasts of thunder. Nv hear
thrilled at this, for had premonitior
that sent unwelcome thoughts to m,
mind. w9s good at leap, and pref
ty strong. prepared for a denouc
ment.
"Pretty near" repeated the agent
'sThe great form of the inuholder fell t,
the floor, dismal sbr;ek came from th
crone, ball hummed through my ca
here is the scar, gentlemen-and
made for the door, just as g Thunder
bolt burst over the old inn. So blind
ing was the lightning that was he'll
in my steps a moment; but as its las
simmer lit the room l unbolted tn
door, and not caring to fight with a.
old woman l leaped into the entry, mo
mentarily expecting to hear the power
ful innholder after me. But notbin,
followed, except third shot from tn
crone, and in another moment was i
the midst of the tempest. Never wer
wind and water more welcome, gentle
men. was safe and sought the neal
est farm house"
"Did you ever go back for 'em?
broke in the second drover.
eyes, My arm not being very bat
the next morning lot of us went thel
with the sheriff; but we could get n
trace of the worthy pair, though W
tracked them by blood some distanc
into the woods.
"Never heard of 'em since, nor G,
pect to, s'pose?" queried the secor
drover.
| In response to this question rcmarl
able transformation took place. TT
pleasant looking agent was wrought i,
to devil, and his countenance w,
fearful to hehold. The auditors star
Ell from their chairs, but what w.
their CONSERVATION when the strang,
in blue glasses leaped to his feet. an
? in tremendous voice, that differed a
tonishingly from the squeak he had 70
merly assumed, "Keep your distanc
or you are a dead mani" A terrib
oath accompanied the warning.
But he had not finished before Il
agent was upon him; and as for tn
. matter | was upon him too. | h;
practiccd those things, and as I h,
kept sharp eve on him since the la
burst of thunder, | was ready. r.
agent was in his front, and [ at |
, back. He tried to draw a weapon fro
: his coat pocket, bat his hand w
| caught, and before he could get II fro
( | had his arms pinned in mine.
wasn't a baby, by anv means. al
o though the giant, who had now straigl
a ened his bent back, swung me aroul
I somewhat, held on as for dear III
q The agent dealt him a fearful blow
4 the head with heavy cane which
I had caught up, which staggered hi
;. Before he could recover, the travel,
= who had not spoken, and who was
q large man, sprang to our aid, and vi
!. a skillfal turn of his foot he had h
down. and me on top.
Amid terrible curses. and anotf
q deafening peal, which struck my sc
,s like proclamation of judgment frt
! heaven, we secured the desperate m,
Il The agent had already Knocked
!, spectacles from his eyes, revealing
r pair of tiercely cleaning gray orbs, a
he tore the false beard from his ia
=. bringing to light the tel-tale scar
~ the cheek. In trying to defend hims
n the desperado's great hands were
n vealed. He was the man! The no,
is was even with him at last. The /,
keeper of his story was before us.
IT. We had got through with our st,
at telling for that night, and our circle
- | solved itself into a ouard Tho -,