The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1889-1889, 1889-06-27
IN THE CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS


A physician told Tom Blake that he
not only needed change of scene,
but that to regain his health he re-
quired absolute freedom from business
cares II would advise you said the
doctor, ito get ON horse and ride
away, no matter whittier Go to the
mountains; shun the merest suggestions
Of civilization; In short, sleep out in
the wilds, like a bear"
Blake attempted TO act upon this adj.
vice. He stuffed few shirts into n
pair Of saddle. bags, mounted iolting
horse and rode up into the grandeur of
rugged mountain gorges. One evening
he came upon a narrow road, and,
following II for some distance, saw
house. II was an old inn. He tied his
horse to a fence and went into the
house. There he found n man with
parchment face and small evil eyes,
and woman.
why, come in, sir, come In" said
the man. getting up and placing chair
for Blake. Wife and have been so
lonesome for the last day or so we been
wishing somebody would come,
Haven't we, Moll"
her mouth, drew the back OF a skinny
hand across her blue. looking lips, made
apoise like. the cultural croak Of an
old hen with Che roup, and said, yes, I"
'"You'll of course stay all night with
u.s. the man remarked. 1--WE can't
possibly allow you to go on. I'll go
out and put up your horse"
Blake entered no objections. The
man went out, put up the horse and
soon returned with log of wood.
The more fire, we nave the more
cheerful IL will be- he explained
Out prospecting lie asked.
.t'No, aBlakc answered.
Don't live, nowhere near here. |
reckon ~ III
mo-
GLOW long do Won expect 10 remain
in these parts 2"
II don't know"
The old woman mumbled something
to herself. and then, with a grating
croak. said:
"IIe don't pear willin ter tell much
about hisse'f. Some folks is mighty
curtis thater way" ri
Never mind Mol, p the host quickly
responded iii amt quite time for Vol,
to but in, eXcept In the way of getting
us a bite to eat" "
She arose without replying, and be.
gan her hastv preparations for supper.
1T is a dull time of wear with us p
said the host. 1T has been about two
weeks since our last boarder left, but !
reckon business will pearten IN n little
when the spring season opens"
Blake paid no attention, except when
/ some sharp and unexpected note In the
old mans voice produced Jingle of the
nerves.
Shortly after supper, Blake declared
his readiness TO go to bed. He wa,
shown into a sort of shed room, sepa.
| rated by n thin partition from the room
| which he had lust Quilted.
The old man placed sputterinc
|, candle on the hearth, and, expressing
the hope that his guest would pass /
\ Quiet and peaceful night. withdrew.
Blake lay unable to sleep. Once tn,
suffering candle caused him TO spripf
up in bed. Suddenly his ears, extremely
sensitive with his nervousness, caugb
the sounds of whispered conversation
1T won't do to shed blood" said tn,
old man. at won't do, for we made
mighty narrow escape the last time
It's impossible to get blood stains on
of the house. We can't resk nothin'
either"
Il bleve them saddle.b bags of his al
full NV money!" the bag replied.
Il don't doubt that and we've got 4
have it,"
How air you goin ter git it?"
! Poison him."
How air you goin' ter pizen him
Thar amt a speck Nv pizen on tn
place"
| Where is that morphine2"
up thar In the bottle; but will tina
fix him 7"
| Yes H.tU-
| How are you going to DOR
| II am going to make him take IT,"
Then there occurred a whispering o
which Blake caught the following
words:
| "Think that's ernuff ?" the woma
asked .,..
| ITS nearly spoonful Enough :
make five men sleep throughou
eternity"
A moment later the host entere
Blake's room. His manner was FIRE
from embarrassment. In one hand h
held glass containing water.
Stranger, ! don't want to distur
you, but It occurred to me Just no,
that you looked as II you might
going to have spell of sickness. so
thought would bring you some med
cine. am willing to help man, br
! don't want him to be sick on m
hands. am doctor, but don't pre-
pose TO keep a hospital"
Suppose refuse to take the med
ciney p'"- sm
"Then you'll put me to the trouble c
pouring II down you, that's all. ~
mighty gentle sort of fellow as lon
as everything goes on all right, butif
hitch occurs, why ] am as rough as