The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-31
AN AWFUL EXPERIENCE.
Strange Story Told by Drummer
Who Had Lots of Imagination.
From California Paper.


to his stories.
The worst experience l ever went
through" he said, happened about ten
years ago in the mountain districts OF Geor-
gia, when was doing the southern trade.
/ got lost one night trying TO reach q store
about ten miles from the railroad, and l
guess l must have ridden the poor mule 1
was on about twenty-five miles up the
creek and through barren fields, looking for
some place where l could get shelter and
feed. Along about midnight caught
faint CLEAN Of light across meadow. and
made for it as fast as l could. 1t came
through a 4paned window in log hut,
hardly big enough to accommodate an extra
visitor, but still better than the blue canopy
Of the heavens for a covering.
$50 l rode up and 'hallooed' az Is the
custom OF the country, but failed to get
response; so / got down aud went to the
door, expecting every instant dog or two
TO take me in, but much TO my surprise
reached the door unmoested. There L
knocked and continued to knock and finally
to rattle and bang, but still no answer. |
tried TO see through the window, out bit
of white curtain shut off the view and the
light was dim and fickering, as If rom the
flames OF an oIen W. cd fire smoldering.
Thinking there was no one at home, an / as
might as well make myself comfortable,
found the latch string, pulled IL for ad-
mission and In l went There was only one
big room and it was peculiar and it was not
vacant The beds, cupboard, table and
usual furniture of one of thsse mountaineer's
castles were all there, aud seated around
the hreplacs was a grizZeld old fellow of 60,
a woman, evidently his wife, another near
her age and six or s9ven boys and girls
ranging from to 20 or more, with three
dogs ourled upon the hearth in front.
I'm the center of the silent circle about
the fire was vacant chair evidently wait
ing for an occupant. Everybody seemed to
be intently studying the Pickering flames
and no attention whatever was paid to me-
"'Good evening" l said, coming forward
a step or two. Il hope you will excuse me
for this intrusion, but didn't know there
was anybody at home and | thought I'd
just come IN and wait for somebody to
come
''Then 1 stopped, uneasily, for nobody
seemed TO care a continental whether was
there or not, and began to feel as a person
always does when he begins to realize that
be is getting big dose of snub right in the
neck. However, I'd been snubbsd before
and was besides both hungry and tired and
l didn't propose to give 1t up until had
done my best with the situation. So l began
my speech again, but before | had said
three words the old man lifted bis head and
saw me.
ne uluu'b speak bueO, elbu6T, DuG E1sluk
slowly, till he looked like he was about 7
feet tall, he pointed toward the vacant chair
and nodded for me TO take it. And you
should have seen that old chaps facei There
was something in its withercd grimness and
hairy distortions that made the blood run
cold. Somehow l felt there was something
wrong somewhere, aud instead of taking
the chair slipped my hand in my overcoat
pocket and got a good grip on big self
cooking YoiatOl which 7 parriad for amar-
gencies. The old fellow didn't notice this,
however, aud, turning TO the cupboard at
his back, be took out butcher knife, with
a 10-inch blade, as shining as a milestone
could make it and began to chatter TO himself
and gibber like an idiot.
''By this time was getting very nervous,
aud made d move 90 back out quietly but IL
was not to be so. The old man, with a shrek,
made a jump for me with the knife lifted
ready to strike, and before / knew what to
do, or had done, had my pistol out and
fired, and the old man was weltering in his
blood at my feet, with a hole in his fore
head big enough to stick a champagne cork
in. Naturally 1 was terribly excited, but
not 80 much as not to bs surprised that our
terrible encounter had not disturbed in the
slightest the family gathering around the
fire. They sat there unmoved, each head
bowed TO the chest, still studying the flick
ering flames as when | first came In.
"For a minute was so overcome by the
shock OF IL that l was speeohless and in
capable Of motion, but with an effort l
rallied, and. fairly yelling TO the people sit
ting around, olutched at one Of the women
and gave her a shaking that would have
aroused stone statue. But IL had no effect
on her, except that when let go Of her she
fell to the floor in a limp lump. Then made
a wild clutch at the young man next to her.
and with a shake OF double strength l
- III -. El.k l.
no sign, except to fall out Of hie chair when
l let go Of him. BY this time was nearer
crazy than l ever was in my life before.
Finding my efforts to rouse the family
Intellectual, l began to investigate for a
cause.
ut wasn't long until the investigation
was perfect success, either, but the result
was frightful.
Every person sitting In that fearful
semt-cirole was dead throat out from
ear TO ear-and it was this which had caused
each OF them to appear to me- as buried in
study over the fire. kicked the dogs, and
they moved not Dead as a doornail, all OF
them.
"There was no question but that the old
man had doneit, and by some strange fancy
he had put the vacant chair in the ghastly
circle, hoping to fill 1t as he had filled the
others, fixing them in their places and then
sitting down among them waiting-waiting,
For what, heaven only knows.
at was at least ten minutes before had
recovered sufficiently to get out of the ter
rlble place, and as | stepped across the body
of the old murderer my foot slipped as If l
had stepped in molssses, but did not stay
to see what it was. think | know. Any
way, got out of there in hurry and made
off into the darkness anywhere
six weeks after ward woke up in q hos
pital in Atlanta, and when 1 told the hid-
eous story nobody believed me. They said
l had struck jug of 'moonshine in the
mountains and 1t had gone tn my brain.
But knew better. ="
"Young man." said tall old customer,
rising from baggage truck which had
been pressed into service for chair and in-
terrupting the story teller, you are right.
know you are right. I'll swear TO the
truth of your statement before any court in
the state. Young fellow" extending his
hand, put your hand thar. was the old
Teller you killed tina: night"
And nobody said q word after that.
Merchant-What's the matter with your