Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-10-27
The Stuty Teller.
THE PEDDLER'S PRIZE.

A cold winters night found stage-load o
us gathered about the warm fire of a taverl
bar.room of New England village. Short
" after We arrived, a peddler drove up ant
ordered that his horse should be stabbed To-
the night. After we had eaten supper we re
paired to the bar-room, and as soon as the ic'
was broken the conversation flowed freely
Several anecdotes had been related' ane
finally the peddler was asked to give US
story, as men of his profession are generally
full of adventures and anecdotes. He wa
a short, thickset man, somewhere about forty
years of age, and gave evidence Of grea
physical strength. He gave his name al
Lemuel Viney, and his home was in Dover
New Hampshire.
"Well, gentlemen" he commenced, knock
ing the ashes from his pipe and putting it IL
his pocket, Suppose I tell you about the last
thing of any consequence that happened tc
me. You see I am right now from the Fal
West, and on my way home for winter quar-
ters 1t was about two months ago, one
pleasant evening, that | pulled up at the door
of small village tavern in Hancock county
Indiana. said it was PLEASANT meant ii
was warm, but it was cloudy and very likely
to be dark. I went in and called for supper,
and l had my horse taken care OF, and after
I had eaten I sat down in the bar'room. 1t
began to rain about eight o'clock, and for
while it poured good, and it was awful dark
out doors.
"Now, I wanted to be in Jackson early
the next morning, for expected load OF
goods there for me, which | intended to dis.
pose of on my way home. The moon would
rise about midnight, and knew if it did not
rain, I could get along very comfortably
through the mud after that So asked the
landlord if he could not see that my horse
was fed about midnight, as | wished to be
off before two. He expressed some surprise
at this, and asked me why not stop for break
fast. | tald him that had sold my last
load about all out, and that new lot OF
goods was waiting for me at Jackson, and
wanted to be there before the express agent
left in the morning. There was number OF
people sitting around while told this, but
took but little notice of them. Only one ar
rested my attention. I had in my posses
sion a small package of placards, which |
was to deliver to the sheriff OF jackson, and
they were notices for the detention OF noto.
rious robber named Dick Hardhead. The
bills gave description of his person, and the
man before me answered very well to 1t. In
fact it was perfect He was tall well.form-
ed man, rather slight in frame, and had the
appearance of gentleman, save that his face
bore those hard, cruel marks, which an ob-
serving man cannot mistake for anything but
the index of a villainous disposition.
"When I went to my chamber I asked the
landlord who that man was, describing the
suspicious individual. He said he did not
know him. He had come there that after
noon, and intended to leave the next day.
The host asked why wished to know, and l
simply told him that the mans countenance
was familiar, and l merely wished to know if
I was ever acquainted with him. | resolved
not to let the landlord into the secret, but
hurry on to Jackson, and there give informa-
tion to the sheriff, and, perhaps he might
reach the inn before the villain left, for had
no doubt in regard to his identity.
81 had an alarm watch, and having set 1t
to give the alarm at one o'clock, went to
Sleep l was aroused at the proper time, and
Immediately got up and dressed myself.
When I reached the yard, I found the clouds
had all passed away and the moon was shin
ing brightly. The hostler was easily aroused,
and by two o'clock l was on the road. The
mud was so deep that my horse could not
travel fast-yet it struck me that the beast
made more work than there was any need of,
for the cart was nearly empty.
However, on we went, and in the course
of half an hour I was clear of the village.
At short distance ahead lay large tract of
forest, mostly of great pines. The road led
directly through this wood, and as near as
could remember the distance was twelve miles
Yet the moon was in the east, and as the road
ran nearly west, | should have light enough
l had entered the woods, and had gone half q
mile when my wagon wheels settled, with q
bump and a jerk, into deep hole. l utter
ed an exclamation of astonishment, but thai
was not ALL heard another exclamation
from another source.
What could it be? I looked quickly
around, but could see nothing. Yet l knew
that the sound I heard was close to me. A:
the hind wheels came up, felt something
besides the Jerk of the wheels. | heard some
LnlOS LuInDle lrOlu Oue slue W tHc othei "
my wagon, and l could also feel the jar occa
stoned by the movement. 1t was a man II
my cart! simply knew this on the instant
OF course felt puzzled. At first imagined
some poor fellow had taken this method te
obtain ride but soon gave this up, for
knew that any decent man would have asked
me for ride. My next idea was that some
body had got in to sleep; but this passee
away as quickly as it came, for no man woule
have broken into my cart for that purpose
And that thought, gentlemen, opened my eyes
Whoever was in there had broken in.
"My next thought was of Dick Hardhead
He had heard me say that my load was al
sold out, and of course he supposed l hat
some money with me. In this he was right
for had over two thousand dollars. | alst
thought he meant to leave the cart when hi
supposed had reached a safe place. and thel
either creep over and shoot me, or knock mi
down. All this passed through my mind BY
the time had got rod from the hole.
"Now l never make it point to bray o
myself, but | have seen great deal of tn
world, and am pretty cool and clear head
ed under difficulty. In very few moment
my resolution was formed. My horse wa
now knee deep in the mud, and knew
,o,,ll 81; nH ,,,tbo,,t So | Hrpv m