Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-10-20

There is always horrible mystery
if one could only find it all out.
Fred. RmgwoOd had handbag con-
tanning fresh collar and a spotted silk
neckerchief, few rather good cigars,
and small bottle of Santa Cruz rum
He was on his way to Evenden to
spend a day and eat Thanksgiving
dinner with gentleman whom he
knew merely in q business way.
Beggarly clerks are not often asked
out through letter by the senior part
ner's brother to Thanksgiving dinner,
and so young Ringwood, being excep-
tiOnally fond of turkey and pumpkin
pie had set out that afternoon with the
liveliest anticipations of enjoyment.
The holiday out of town was ali I'M
mense thing, not to speak of 81 day and
night in country house and twenty
miles of coach and country road.
A very singular looking female, in
the proverbial nubia and coarse black
gown, sat bolt upright in one corner
opposite Fred, while the middle seat
was occupied by a gentleman of fifty
years, perhaps, in a dark surtOut, a
black stock, which he wore uncom-
monty high, and red flannel bandage
around his head and face, covering his
ears During a relay of horses at
Bangcoke, Fred undid his luggage and
applied himself to the rum very
sparingly.
"A little spirit cheers the heart and
elevates the soul" said the man with
the bandage.
Have some?" said Fred in duty
bound, extending the flask.
"Untying the bandage the stranger
reduced the quantity in the bottle TO a
mere gill at a gulp.
"Poison-poison," said he, senten-
tiously.
Now there was a popularity about
this man which gave Fred cold chill
and made him sit further away, and
when the coach ratified off he got such
4 jerk as gave the back Of his head a
lump as big rs an egg. The man who
did not obie to poison calmly re
placed the red flannel. He had curl
ousl deep red scar across his right cheek
extending from his temple to his chin
and his right ear was done up in black
morocco. Instantly Fred felt for his
pOcketbook, and suddenly remembered
that he had none. He carried a hand
full of loose coin in his trouser pockets
and mighty lucky was he in the middle
Of the week to be able to jingle the
bit of silver he carried with him tC
Evenden.
The man in the middle got out al
Sterling where the coach took a head
er, and Fred actually felt relieved, as
no doubt did the lady in the black gown
although henceforth she kept her eye
mainly on Fred, who, in truth, had 8
rather rakish air, but so little egotism
that he felt only moderately fiattered
by the lady's attention, and rather con
ceived the idea that she entertained
lively doubts rs to his responsibility
THAT man, madam" remarked Fred
with great nonchalance, after the stran.
ger had scrambled out of the coach
eaving it to Ringwood and the lady in
the b. G., that man is one Of the great
est rascals of his day"
Good gracious" exclaimed the lady
with a nervous spasm; ''you don't say
50. What does he do mostly?"
"Oh, as to that, it is easier telling
what he does not do. He doesn't dc
anything elderly and nice, but every
thing of the Dick-Turpin-Sixteen.
String-Jack, sort, you understand? It's
wonder that our heads are on oul
own shoulders"
''Why didn't you say so before?'
snapped the lady, with great asperity
'Well, l should have protected you
you know, had he dared any of his
high-iacks IN here. As for me, ]
would defy any robber TO find my
money"
"You don't say so, remarked a very
cold-blooded voice at the window. The
coach had come to dead stop at &
point of road completely shrouded by
dark evergreens, on which the first
few feathery flakes Of snow lay like
rivulets Of seed pearls.
Fred's heart galloped up into his
throat, and came near going down the
barrel of carbine which the gentle.
man in the flannel bandage rested al
full cock OF the sill.
"Come, you know; this is devilish
mean in a chap who has just drank my
liquor down at a mouthful," remon-
strated Fred, his hands trembling toe
much to find the way to his pockets.
81. was all your fault" shrieked the
lady IN the nubia; ''you enticed him to
get drunk and be bold"
Perhaps you will intimate next
madame, that am his aide-de-camp,'
said poor Fred, in the last stages oil
despair, talking wilder to gain time.
do | look like robbers APPRENTICE
eyes, you do"
At this the highwayman laughed SC
uproariously, so much SO that the band