The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-10-29
ANUNWELC PASSENGER.

"A cold winters night found a stage
loao OF us gathered about the warm
hre OF a tavern barroom in q New
England village. Shortly after we ar
rived peddler drove up and ordered
Shat his horse should be stabbed for
the night. After we had eaten supper
We had repaired to the barroom, and
as soon as the ice was broken the con-
yersatlon flowed freely. Several an
ecdotes had been related, and finally
the peddler was asked to give us u
story, as men of his profession were
generally full OF adventure and anec-
dote. He was short, thick-set man
somewhere about 40 years OF age, and
gave evidence OF great physical
strength. He gave his name as Lem
nel Viney, and his home was in Dover,
N. II.
"Well, gentlemen" he commenced,
knocking the ashes from his pipe and
putting it in his pocket, Suppose l
tell you OF about the last thing OF any
consequence that happened to me?
You see am now right from the Far
West, and on my way home for win
ter quarters. 1t WIS about two
months ago, one pleasant evening,
that l pulled up ut the door OF q small
inn in small village in Hancock
county, Indiana. / said twas pleas
anti meant twas warm, but it was
cloudy and likely to be very dark.
went in and called forsupper, and had
my horse taken care OF, and after
had eaten i sat down in the barroom.
1t began to rain about s O'Clock, and
for a while it poured down hard, and
it was very dark outdoors.
"Now, / wanted to be in jackson
early the next morning, for expected
load OF fgoods there for me, which 1
meant to dispose OF on my way home
The moon rose about midnight. and
knew if it did not rain that could get
along very comfortably through the
mud after that. asked the landlord
II he would not see that my horse was
fed about midnight, as | wished to be
off about two. He expressed some
surprise at this, and asked me why |
did not stay to breakfast. l told him
that | had sold the last load about
out, and that new lot of goods was
waiting for me at Jackson, and l
wanted to be there for them before
the express again left ip the morning.
There was a number OF people about
while ] told this, but took little no.
tice OF them, one man only arresting
my attention. had in my posses
sion a small package placards which
Twas to deliver to the sheriff at Jack
son, and they We're notice for the
detection Of q notorious rob-
Der named Dick Hardhead. These
bills gave description OF his
person, and the man before me an
swered very we'll to it. Intact, it was
perfect. He was a tall, well-iormed
man, rather slight in frame, and had
the appearance OF a gentleman, save
that his face bore those hard, cruel
marks which an observing man can
not mistake tor anything but the in
dex OF villainous disposition.
"When | went'up to my chamber /
asked the landlord who that man was,
describing the suspicious individual.
He said he did not know him. He
had come there that afternoon and
intended to leave some time the next
day. The host asked me why | wish
ed to know and | simply told him
that the mans countenance looked
familiar and wished to know if had
ever been acquainted with him. ! re-
solved not to let the landlord into
the secret, but to hurry onto jackson
and there give information to the
sheriff, and perhaps he might reach
thelnn before the villain left; for Ihad
no doubts with regard to his inden-
tity.
ri had an alarm watch, and having
set it to give the alarm at one clock,
l went to sleep. I was aroused at the
proper time and Immediately got up
and dressed myself When 1 reached
the yard found the clouds all passed
away, and the moon was shining
brightly. The hostler was easily
aroused, and by two O'Clock l was on
the road. The mud was deep, and
my horse could not travel very fast
yet it struck me that the beast made
more work than there was any need
of, for the cart was nearly empty, my
whole stock consisting OF about half a
dozen tin pans and u lot OF loose rage.
"However, on we went, and in the
course of half an hour | was clear oi
the village and at short distance
ahead lay a large track OF forest,
mostly OF great pines. The road lead
directly through the woods, and, us
near us Icond remember, the distance
was not far from twelve miles. The
moon was in the east, and as this
road ran nearly west, ! should have
light enough. had entered the wood
and had gone, perhaps, half q mile
when my wagon wheels settled, with 9
bump and q jerk, into q deep hole.
uttered an exclamation of astonish
ment,s but that was not all. | heard
another exclamation from another
source!
"What could it be? Hooked around
quickly but could see nothing, ano
vet knew that the sound Ihad heard
was very close to me. AS the hind
wheels came up I felt something be
sides the jerk OF the hole. ! hearc
something roll or tumble from
one side to the other OF my
wagon, and l could also feel tn,
lar occasioned by the movement. II
was simply a man in my cart. knew
this on the instant. You may hav,
noticed my cart as l came W
this evening. The main part of il
opens behind, and there IS room
enough within for quite q party, pro
viding they'd stow themselves clos'
enough. OF course felt puzzled. Al
last l wondered if some poor fellow
had not taken this method to obtaiI
a ride. But soon gave thishp for
r. = II u.