The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-08-20


frowsy- headed woman of middle age poured
tea and waited on the table seemed to
be the only guest The man of the house.
anxious that i should not suffer from loneli-
ness, however, came in soon, aud enter
tanned me with n stream Of talk about hunt
ing that Was of a sufficiently interesting
nature TO accomplish the desired object
When l returned to the front room again
tho storm had abated. and the prospect was
brilliant for resuming my journey.
Wouldn't undertake to go tonight on
no conditions" said Mr.. Banks. for such
was the name he had given. Another
showers likely to come up, and mebbe the
creeks full 10 overhowin'. You'd be in a
bad fix entirely If you should git caught in
the woods SIGH night, with the bridge
over Pine Creek gone. Take my advice
and wait till mornin. Cap"
IL was sensible advice, surely. Court
would not meet until nine at the earliest. /
could rise at daybreak and get to Pine
Greek two hours before court commenced
which would be all the time necessary for
consultation with Mr.. Jones. After debat-
ing the sabject for some time, concluded
to pass the night at Cottage Inn.
Wen make it as pleasant as possible, !"
said mine host.
An hour later 1 was conducted up mar
row, rickety stairs to a straw bed in the
loft. A dingy room it was, with low raft
ers looking like skeleton omens extending
upward from the low walls. i was tired,
not entirely used to roughing 1t, and as
soon as Mr.. Banks had disappeared from
sight down the rickety stairs / sought the
low couch of straw, removing only my
coat, and was soon in the land of dreams.
Confused dreams they were, too. All sorts
of sounds visited my ears, and the tramp
of many feet was quite confusing.
Come, Cap, wake up! wake up!'
Some one was shaking me rudely by the
shoulder, and the glow of light filed and
dazzled my eyes.
"Is it morning?" queried, involuntarily
coming at once to sitting posture.
NO; but you're wanted below, said Mr..
Banks, whose gr1zzled visage peered into
my face, tallow candle held aloft in one
grimy hand.
"Wantedl for what?" in dazed way.
"Some members of the bar hev come,
and they want to see Jake Brown awful
bad"
We'll, that's my name. / muttered: "but
l think they might have deferred their
meeting until morning"
$50 l said; but twan't no use arguin the
pint, and so come to you. If you won't
90 down /"
"Of course, I'll go.
/ sprang up, donned my coat, and pro-
ceeded at once to follow the proprietor of
the wayside inn to the room below.
Three men were there, and each rose the
moment | entered the room. Two of the
men were young and wore good clothes
and shining plug hats; the third one was
roughly clad and held whip by the butt,
which he swung about in a way that be-
tokened long association with the lines. A
born teamster," was my mental conclusion
at the first glance.
This Is Mr.. Brown, SUPPOSED
One of the men with shining hat ex-
tended his hand.
That is my name, / answered.
Jacob Brown, Of the firm of Williams
& Jones?"
"1he same"
Jones sent us for you. We, Mr.. Kames
and myself, are members of the Pine Creek
bar, and employed by Williams & Jones In
the case of Johnson versus Williams
ct al.
The man held his hat in hand and bowed
low, plucking at his mustache and smiling
blandly.
"Mr. Jones expected me tonight" /
questioned.
He did, and is in grand stew to think
the suit is likely to go against him for lack
of your evidence. Court was in session
this evening, and opens again Mt eight in
the morning. These pioneer judges dis
patch business, tell you. Mr.. Jones is
very anxious to see you tonight. The
storm has abated, and you can just as well
go on as not. Ill give you seat in my
buggy, so your horse can rest until to-
morrow, when Mr.. Jones will send boy
for him.
Mr.. Clement was smooth tongued fell
low, but l could not but wonder that my
employer should send two lawyers after me
instead of the teamster alone. / mentioned
the strangeness of the circumstance.
Mr.. Clement laughed rather amusedly.
"We wasn't sure of meeting you at all. but
Jack here was 10 go on If we did not find
you at the inn. We wanted a little fresh
air, which is delicious since the storm. A
good moon renders the night Just splen-
did"
Mr.. Kames also put in a word, and
finally consented TO accompany these two
distinguished members of the bar to Pine
Creek.
There was moon as Clement had said.
but when we penetrated the pine woods it
scarcely served to light the way.
We occupied double seated buggy.
Silence, save for the crack of the drivers
whip and his chirp to the horses, reigned
during the jolting drive. The road was
new to me. and was full of my own reye-
ries. so that l INDUCED in conversation
only when addressed by one Of the mem
bers of the bar.
An hour passed, and then the whoa" of
the driver brought the vehicle TO halt
The darkness was intense. The air was
damp. and distant rumble of thunder an
nounced the gathering of another storm.
felt cold chill creep down my spine.
What is the trouble?"
I'VE stop here.
On the instant strange aroma filed my
nostiils. / felt hand pass to my face,
and realized that something dreadful was
about to happen. 1 made a desperate
struggle. but vain one. Strong hands
held me fast and deadly weakness stole
over me. / seemed TO be floating on a per-
fumed sea, with the distant rhythm Of fairy
bells ringing in my ears.
"He won't make no FUSS" said gruff
voice, jarringlv.
"He goes off to sleep like daisy"
Then came q Earring laugh, followed by
intense joking. the darkness Of insensibil-
ity. Everything was blank until / opened
my eyes hours later, to find myself lying on
the damp ground in a narrow apartment,