Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-06-26
4 TRAVELLERS STORY.

ing across tract of country where
had business got benighSed, and about
so'cl0ck, myself and my horse being
tired and pretty nearly worn out, |
drew rein before the door OF comfort
able looking farmhouse, and disnount-
ing knocked at the door with the handle
Of my whip. II was opened by little
girl. who stood In the doorway holding
Il candle in one hand and keeping back
her thick curly hair with the other,
while she looked at me half shy, az II
demanding my business.
my dear" answered, TO that ques-
tioning look, lis there any one in the
house besides yourselfg'
YES there is" she answered.; father
and mother and the boys"
well, ask your father TO come here
moment; want to speak to him."
She retreated, and entered the room
behind her. and in about half minute
the farmer came out. made known
my business. explained that had been
fovertaken by the night, that my desti-
nation was several miles distant, and
that both my horse and myself were
unfit for further travelling till we had
procured food and rest
With the hospitality common to all
farmers. especially American ones, my
host for the night babe me welcome,
conducted me into a large kitchen with
tioor SO white that you involuntarily
pitied the hands and arms that had
hrns,,yhf n into IN, oh m otota ~ aIaayas
ness. and babe me seat myself before
the blazing fire while supper was being
got ready; and then. not forgetting my
horse. he told one of the boys" To
feed him and take him To the stable.
After supper, as | felt unusually
tired, | asked to be shown the place
where ! was to pass the night, and was
conducted to comfortable room with
a downy bed. white Counterpart and
curtains. upon the second floor, by my
host himself, who, after bidding me
good night" left the candle with me
and departed, closing the door aftel
him.
Tired and sleepy as was hurried,
undressed. went to bed, and In flv,
minutes was soundly sleeping A grind
ing, grating sound awoke meat wha
time I don't know--but the moon
which did not rise till very late, wa
fully up, its bright rays streaming II
through the window, from which ha,
purposely looped back the curtain tina
the first streak of daylight might wsk
me, as ! was anxious to proceed upol
my way. There, sitting full In tn
moonlight, was man with long car,
ing knife In his hand, which he wa
leisurely sharpening upon a piece {
grindstone, and which now perceive
made the sound that had awakene
me. thought surely was dreaming
or, II was awake, what i'm the name
heaven meant what | saw2 And sti
the man ieisurely ground the blade {
the knife, and in a perfect stupor I
amazement | lay perfectly quiet wit
wide open eyes looking at him.
In few minutes he stopped grin,
ing, and passing his finger CAREFUL
along the edge of the knife he shoe
his head knowingly. to intimate to hin
self that mo had brought the blade I
a proper degree of sharpness. NJ
blood ran cold; kind of panic seize
me when | saw that action. and Oh
cool, calculating smile with which b
held the knife up between him and til
full moonlight. looking at II with th
air of eonnoisseur Then he leisureI
got up, stepped over to the table wher
left the candlestick and began looL
ing around for something's match.
conjectured
While his back was turned the ide
Of slipping from the bed and boltin
out at the door suggested itself to me
but before | had time to act upon
the match was found, and holding til
candle In one hand. the match in I'll
other. and the handle of the knife b.
tween his long. wolfish teeth. he cam
over toward the bed. Even then
might have attempted to escape b
rushing at him. wrenching the knil
from between his teeth, and SO gettin
the advantage, but that | was n,
capable of SO overcome was | by ii
surprise and horror of my situation
and through all such an insatiab
curiosity possessed me to know whi
he was about to do, for as yet eouI
only conjecture that his purpose WI
TO murder me.
He struck the match against I'll
wall and lit the candle, and then too
the knife from between his teeth an
took firm hold of the handle In h
hand. felt faint aid sick when
fully realized then that my last chanc
Of escape was gone. He bent over M
flashed the light full upon my eye
and, perceiying that ! was awake, e
claimed with wild laugh:
Hal hal Awake, chi Hal Ia
Glad of ii, sir. meant to wake yo
IL you hadn't done 1t yourself col
slider it cowardly 10 kill a sleepiT
man"
And he laughed at me again. an
peered into my face with his red. ho
burning eyes.
could see at once he was mad, al
] saw that the horror of my situate
was increased. AT first had thoug
him n robber-I hardly know what
thought--but now knew that he W
a mailman From his own words, to
knew that it was his intention to mu