Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-07-08
Gales aud Sketfhes.
PACK PEDpLERs. STORIES.
An ADVENTURE IN THE HOUSE OF BEN
DER, THE NOTED KANSAS MURDERER.

An ADVENTURE IN THE HOUSE OF BKN-
DER, THE NOTED KANSAS MURDERER.
| CONTINUED from Yesterday
ION two or three occasions my life has
been put in peril BY the cupidity of others
but the closest shave have had was in
the mountains of Tennessee, about fifty
miles from Knoxville. had sold my
stock pretty we'll down, and had about
$500 with me, when. one afternoon an
hour before sunset, the approach of ter
rife thunderstorm drove me to seek the
shelter of roadside cabin. 1t was lone
| " mountain road, and the time was in
1867. While the war had long been over.
as of course you know. there was good
deal of bitterness among the mountaineers
4 of Tennessee, and there was great many
men who had not yet settled down to any
thing like work. As was not in the war
on either side, and am English born, |
got along very well with the fire-eaters !;
but the fact was every day before me that
there were plenty of lawless characters,
both Union and rebel. who wouldn't hest
tate to put me out of the way for what my
pack contained, no matter what principle
upheld. But for the coming storm
should have continued on for a couple of
hours. did not like the looks of the
place. It was a story and a half log
house. situated several rods off the road,
and there was something in the house and
its surroundings which made me hesitate
TO ask for hospitality. However July
thunderstorm was creeping up, covering
the whole west with darkness, and the
thunder was rolling andreverberating from
hill to hill, as knocked on the casing of
the open door. The voice of a woman
bade me enter. She was a person at least
forty years old. large and muscular, and
her countenance was anything but pre-
possessing. 1t wore sullen, sulky ex-
preston. and the gray eyes which sized
me up had no CLEAN of womanly kindness
in them. explained that was travel
err who craved shelter from the storm, and
she sullenly replied
| "'You are welcome to sit down."
| Five minutes later the rain was falling
in torrents. and the woman had to light
candle. The cabin had but one room below.
In this room was bed, bureau and other
| furniture, and the cooking was done in fire.
place. At one end OF the fireplace a rough
| ladder led to the lott above The interior
| VI tuO uouoO Wao uCltICI lutlllug hui IT,
| polling, but | certainly did not like the
woman. 1t was all of twenty minutes af-
ter sat down before she spoke another
| word, and then it was to ask what my
pack contained. opened it in explana-
ton. and told her 1 was on
my way to Knoxville to replenish stock
from goods ordered shipped to that point.
| presented her with common pair of
| shears, and there was sudden change in
her demeanor. She became smiling and
laxative, and, as the storm showed no
signs of abating, she began to prepare
supper, and observed that | must not
think OF continuing my journey before
morning. Where asked one question
she asked five. She wanted to know
where | Was from, how much a stock of
goods cost, whom | knew at Knoxville,
and great many ether things. In re-
turn she told me that she was a widow,
had son twenty years old, who had gone
to mill, and that they had hard
time to make a living.
| While the change in her demeanor was
agreeable in one sense, | could not get
rid OF the idea that the change was
forced. While her lips uttered pleasant
words her eyes gave them the lie. We
had a fair supper, during which she bore
the burden of conversation, and it was
then seen that | must remain through the
night While the thunder had passed
away, the rain fell in steady pour, and
the night was as black as tar. She said
the storm would delay her son, but that
ne was certain to be home before mid
night. She cleared away the table, sat
down with some sewing. and asked me So
many things about the outside world that
| knew she had sometime lived in better
circumstances and had been fairly well
educated. She gradually led the CONVEX
sation back to my vocation. and careless
lv remarked as she bent over her sew
ing:
lone in your business should 90 we'll
armed"
Perhaps some of them do" replied.
Though have never seen occasion for
weapons of any sort"
''lf you-you wanted to part with your
revolver perhaps my son would buy it.
| He is very anxious to secure such
weapon"
| She did not dare look me in the face.
and her hands shook as she waited for me
to reply.
MY TeVOiVeT-nd. ma! I'm AFRAID no
| one would accept the walking stick in
the corner over there for a shooting
| iron'
"But you have a knife" she persisted,
making great effort to raise her eyes.
"Yes. this" answered, as | exhibited
a pocket knife.
That ended the conversation in that
direction. From that moment the woman
seemed very busy with her thoughts, and
conversation Jagged. On one or two &C.
casions when | addressed her she started
up in nervous way. and asked me to
repeat the interrogation. At ten O'Clock
| signified my desire to retire for the
night. She took candle and assembled to
the loft, and heard her pulling the bed
stead about and tramping around. The
floor was of undressed and unmatched
boards, and the light of her candle could
be plainly made out. When she came
down she handed me the candle, and
hoped would sleep soundly. As was
my invsriable custom, / took my pack
along with me. and climbed the ladder to
find myself in long, low room. lighted
| by window at either end The bed was
at the further end, and the lower sash of
the window was up its full height From
the window to the bed was distance of
4