The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1881-05-20
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Peter Greats Narrow Escape

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Peter Greats Narrow Escape.
The shower was ended. A brisk
breeze was rapidly tearing away the
gray thunder clouds from the face of the
June sky, and the sun shone down with
renewed ferYor.
-"As hot as twas before the rain!" ex-
claimed Mrs. Curtis, as she opened her
parasol, and leisurely stepped from the
Haywood dry goods store in which she
had, half an hour before, taken shelter
from the storm.
Yes, il is, ma'am," said Mr.. Brown,
the proprietor, handing her the bundles
she had bought from him, and he added ::
You'll have a hot walk under this bril-
in'-hot sun. Better run in to our house
and stay to tea. You hain't seed the
twins. Smartest little critters ever was.
Mrs. Browns getting on finely, and will
be glad to see you"
Thanks; I'd like to, but must hur-
ry home and can nay currents. Besides
l wouldn't undertake that long walk
through the pine wood after dark for
anything in the world. It's gloomy
enough in the daytime. Give my re-
spects to your wife, tell her III drop in
soon and see her and the babies. Good
day"
"Good-day," said Brown, and he add
ed, as he saw Mrs. Curtis hurrying
down the street, Queer critter!"
Yes, by all the Inhabitants of Hey
wood, Mrs. Curtis was called peculiar.
She was upwards of fifty years, tall old
and erect, with iron-graY hair,
ruddy checks. and keen, dark eyes.
And decidedly she was person
that minded her own business.
She had lived in Haywood five years,
yet in all that time not single person
had been able to CLEAN any information
concerning her past life. All that could
be ascertained was that she was widow,
childless, and with little property, con,
sisting of small cottage surrounded by
few acres of land. with a few hundred
dollars in the Haywood bank.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Brown returned to
his counter to wait on a customer, and
Mrs. Curtis pursued her journey home
ward. For some distance her road led
along the dusty highway, then she turn
ed into q little foot-path through the
daisy dotted meadow, then across the
creek bridge, until presently she came
| TO dense pine woods whose shade was
very pleasing to her.
When about half way through the
woods she came to a small patch of late
| strawberries. She stopped to pick them.
| Her brown Woodworking hands were
nearly full of the luscious, red berries,
| when a rustling and a foOtstep startled
her. She hastily glanced up. In an in
slant an iron-like hand was clutching
her throat, and-only the frightened,
wildwood birds could tell her the rest.
About two miles from the village of
Haywood, and on the banks of Brair
| creek dwelt Peter Groat. He was a
German, who, with his family, had late
| ly come to America, and in the previous
autumn had bought few acres of land
! bordering the creek. Here he had erect
ed a small, but comfortable house, and
was to all appearance an honest. hard.
working man. The only thing that could
be said against him by few grumblers
was that he was too "close," clinging
| tightly TO his hard-earned pennies, and
| ever on the lookout for more. But this
certainly was excussble when it was
known that he had n mortgage ON his
| farm, which, together with the wants oil
rapidly increasing family, was enough
to make any man greedy of gain.
1t was evening of the day on which
our story began. Peter, surrounded by
! his wife and children, sat smoking his
pipe on the little grass plot in front Of
the house.
The supper had been eaten, the cows
MIXED, the pigs fed, the chickens hous
ed from thieYIsh rats, and all the family
young and old, felt entitled to u season
of rest. Hans and Fritz were turning
summersaults on the soft grass; Crotch
en-, a flaxen-haired lassie, was feeding &
petrobin; Franz, the six months old babJ
was cuddled up in his mothers breast
contentedly Shaking his lips over hi
evening meal.
The sun went down, the shadows deep
ened. The clock in the distant villag'
struck the hour of eight. Peter Groa
rose, shook the ashes from his pipe, ant
said:
"Come, kinder, it is late The dew i
falling, and let's to bed"
"Vateri vaterr' suddenly cried Han
and Fritz, running up from the gate
"there is man coming in our yard
strangerp'
| Peter slowly sauntered down to NEE
the newcomer.
He was an elderly man, with q tannes
and rugged face, sandy hair, sprinklet
with gray, and dark, deep-set eyes, some
what infiamed. His clothes were o
good material, although worn and dust
with travel. In his hand he carried
large satchel.
/ NOOu cNCulukF 60AO1
Evening to you, sir" replied Pete
Groat
I'm a peddler," said the man, speak
ing IN German. 81 have sold nearly al
my goods, and am on my way back d
New York. got left by the train, AM
undertook to walk 10 the next station
: lost my way, and find must ge. lode
ing for the night. Can you help me? 90
"The good book commands US TO shos
hospitality" said Peter. 'Althougl
we ara not rich, we never turned away
'benighted traveller. So, come in, an
my frau shall get you something TO eat
The table was soon spread with q neal
white cloth, upon which was placed
platter of cold boiled meat, gaEnishe'
: well with vegetables. then plate Q
white bread, roll of butter, dish c
shining blackberries, and \ plate q
spicy ginger cookies.
II feel too dirty to sit down TO q decen
table" said the traveller, with smile
: ''hIaY trouble you for basin OF ":
ter 80
1t was brought; he took of his Goa
preparatory to washing his face an
E hands. Gretchen, who stood beside hiE
? with q fresh towel in her hands, uttere
D slight scream
5 @Bloodi" she cried. There's bloc
, on your sleeyesl'
3 The basin of water fell from tn
E strangers hands. His face shoae whit
2 through the glistening drops of waite
4 he had dashed upon it. Then, with q
} effort. he said carelessly:
4 "Ah, yes; those rocks by the cree
+ made quite cash in my shollde
! You see,' % blandly explaining, ''while
! was lost, I thought I'd try and cross ID
, creek. II was getting dark, and when
: reached the other side, found 1t 3
e rocky that could scarcely climb up.
+ got half way. when q sudden misste
e made me fall. A sharp piece of roc
: pierced my shoulder, and, indeed. il ha
r caused me considerable pain"
= ZACH, too bad ~ said Frau Groat. q
e have q soothing lotion, which you ma
& put on before you go 10 bed"
Thanks. And I'll go to bed Figl
t after I've had my supper, if You pleas
e for I am very tired. Besides, wi
: have to rise early in the morning, s
that may take the first train"