Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-09-04
A Terrible Night.

All, SIl, Sec YOU arc duLulIluE ny
flowers. Well, they are pretty--that
they are-though l doubt as some would
call the marigolds and carnation, COM
mon and old-fashioned. You don't see
many OF 'em in your fine, new-fangled
gardens, do you? It's pretty little
place this, amt it. sir? And it's my own,
my very own, and will 90 to my grand
son after me- He's good lad, he is-it's
him as looks after the garden. Mighty
fond of flowers he is, and rarely proud
he'll be, L know, when he hears as fine
town gentleman has taken notice of 'em!
All, was fond of gardening, too, in my
time. But Pun getting an old man now
-eighty-fve / am come Christmas-and
| can't expect to be spared much longer,
though Pm hale and hearty yet, thank
heaven! All, times have altered sir,
since my young days. For the better,
you say? Well, things are grander now
than they were then, but somehow
seem to like the old times best; perhaps
because | was young and strong in 'em.
And talking of old times reminds me Of
something that once happened to me.
Like to hear it, sir? Well, you shall, and
welcome it you don't mind wasting an
hour or so with ali old chap like me. Sit
GOWN, lleu, On ludt Dollcu anu ludkt
yourself comfortable.
"You have been to Chelmsford, per
haps? Then, maybe, you know the 'Sar.
acen's Head" Well, close to where that
now stands there used to be an old inn
called the Swan A queer old place ii
was to be sure, with its easement win.
dows and overhanging gables. l was liv.
ing at Ralphan then-it's nigh upon six
ty years ago-a farmer l was and had
been married only short time to dear
little wife as l loved well and true until
she died, poor lass!
Zone cold December day started to
look at some stock as | thought of buy.
ing. As it was two days journey,
meant to stop at Chelmsford for the
night, and 60 on early the next day.
didn't leave home till about two, and
had weary road to travel, SO that the
darkness came on before reached the
gibbet on the edge of the common; and
can tell you my flesh crawled, as the
saying is, when galloped past at full
speed. 1t WAS bleak, cold night and
the road was bad, SO that it was late be-
fore rode into Chelmsford.
II put up at the Swan, that being the
first inn l came to, and was standing
watching the 'ostler rubbing down my
old mare-for l always attended to tha
first thing-when the landlord came
slowly out to me; he was short, sharp
faced man, with great black eyes tina
had an uneasy sort of look in 'em. tolC
him I'd had long ride and was glal
enocgh to get safe in his yard-for II
gold about me and we'd heard horrible
tales of the robberies and murders OF
the kings highway. Well, he showed
me into long, low room-the kitchen i
was-with a brick floor, and and brigh
light burning.
"'There's noisy lot In the parlor, Sir,
said he, you'll be quiet and cosy here
for maybe you're tired and chilly attel
your ride in the wind
II ordered steak and wine, and as
ate my supper thought to myself that
could not have chosen better place
than the Swan to stop at. After l hao
finished, called for pipes and grog, anC
sat by the fire with the landlord, but
might as well have been alone, for he
never uttered word, but sat staring a
the fire with wicked look in his eye
that did't like, though l didn't take
much notice OF it then. All! l know
what his thoughts were as he gazeG
moodily into the glowing Goals. He wa
thinking of the disgrace brought upor
his name by his only son, ana wonder
ing where the money was to come from
which must be procured somehow if hi
son was to be saved from ruin. An(
then no doubt he planned to murder m,
an, it's ali true, SIR I've got his comics
sion by me now-and bury me down b!
the river side, in the meadow benin,
the stable. Then he meant to turn m,
mare out before dawn so that the ser
wants might think had left early; AM
then, you see, when it was found peopl
would think something had happened t
me on the road to Bralntree. Well, m,
companion reused himself after a tim
and began asking me what thought Q
the country, if l had ridden far, whethe
had been advised to put up at tn
Swan and such like questions. an
swered them freely enough, never SUP
posing that he asked them for any othe
reason than just to keep up the CONVEX
sation. asked him to call me early an
he promised he would do SO.
"'Pll do it myself" said he, for tn
girl and the ostler will be abed.'
Then he called his wife and told be
to bring him a candle, which she die
She was Coarse-looking, care-wor
woman, and noticed when she shove
me to my room that her hand was shah
ing, and her voice sounded thick as sh
bade me a civil Good night