Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-10-06
AN UNWELCOME PASSENGER.

A cold winters night found q stage
load of us gathered about the warm
fire CT tavern barroom in New En-
gland village. Shortly after we ar
rived, peddler drove up and ordered
that his horse should be stabbed for
the night. After we had eaten supper
we repaired to the barroom, and as
soon as the ice was broken the con-
versation flowed freely. Several an
ecdotes had been related, and finally
the peddler was asked to give US a
story, as men of his profession were
generally full of adventure and anec-
dote. He was short, thickset man,
somewhere about forty years of age,
and gave evidence of great physical
strength. He gave his name as Lemuel
Whey, and his home was in Dover,
N. Fl.
"WelI, gentlemen" he commenced,
knocking the ashes from his pipe and
putting it in his pocket, suppose I
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 winter
quarters. 1t was about two months
ago, one pleasant evening, that [
pulled up at the poor Of a small inn In
a small village in Hancock County,
Ind. said twas pleasant; meant
twas warm, but it was cloudy and
likely to be very dark. I went in and
called for supper, and had my horse
taken care of, and after L had eaten [
sat down in the barroom. 1t began
to rain about 8 O'Clock, and for awhile
it poured down hard, and it was very
dark outdoors.
"Now, I wanted to be in Jackson
early the next morning, for expected
q load of goods there for me, which /
meant to dispose of on my way home.
The moon would rise about midnight,
and I knew that if it did not rain I
could get along very comfortably
through the mud after that. So I
asked the landlord if he would see that
my horse was fed about midnight, as
I wished to be off before 2. He ex-
pressed some surprise at this and
asked me why I did not stop to break
fast. / told him that | had sold my
last load about all out, and that a
new lot of goods was waiting for me at
Jackson, and I wanted to be there for
them before the express agent left in
the morning. There were q number of
people about while I told this, but |
took little notice of them, one man
only arresting my attention. [ had in
my possession small package of
placards which [ was to deliver to the
sheriff at jackson, and they were no.
tees for the detection of a notorious
robber named Dick Hardhead. These
bills gave description of his person,
and the man before me answered very
well to It. In fact, it was perfect. He
was tall, welcomed man, rather
slight in frame, and had the appear
ance of gentleman, save that his face
bore those hard, cruel marks which an
observing man cannot mistake for
ANYTHING but the index of a villainous
disposition.
when I went up to my chamber /
asked the landlord who that man
was, describing the suspicious ind1-
vidual. He said he did not know him.
He had come there hat afternoon,
and intended to leave some time dur
ing the next day. The host asked me
why I wished to know, and | simply
told him that the mans countenance
was familiar, and I wished to know if
/ had ever been acquainted with him.
resolved not to let the landlord into
the secret, bat to hurry on to Jack
son and there give inform alton to the
sheriff, and perhaps he might reach the
inn before the villain left; for [ had no
doubts with regard to his identity.
81 had an alarm watch, and having
set it to give the alarm at 1 O'Clock,
I went to sleep. | was aroused at the
proper time, and immediately got up
and dressed myself When [ reached
the yard I found the clouds all passed
away, and the moon was shining
brightly. The hostler was easily
aroused, and by 2 o'clock [ 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 q
dozen tin pans and lot of loose rags.
"However, on we went, and in the
course of half an hour I was clear OF
the village, and at a. short distance
ahead lay large tract OF forest, most
ly OF great pines. The road led direct
ly through this wood, and, as near as
can remember, the distance was not
far from twelve miles. The moon was
in the east, and as this road ran near
" west | should have light enough.
had entered the wood and had gone,
perhaps, half a mile, when my wagon
wheels settled, with bump and a
jerk, into a deep hole. | uttered an
exclamation of establishment; but that
was not all. Iheard another exclama-
ton from another source!
"What could it be? Hooked quick
ly around but could see nothing, and
vet knew that the sound | had heard