The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1892-10-15
A NIGHT ADVENTURE.

"A NIII L ADV EN III RE.
During the year 1869 1 was employed
by the Bank of Raybury TO exchange
money between it und the Bank of Mu-
tual Redemption, with which they did
business in The city. 1t was not a very
Interesting employment, and one
which gave me but Il small salary, but
just thcn times were duh and work
scarce, so was glad 10 get anything
to do, especially as ! lad an aged
mother depending upon me for support.
One dark, drizzly November night
and nearly all November NIGHTS are
dark stage for Raybury broke
down hope 'cssly, fifteen miles from its
destination OF course. the accident
happened in Just the worst part of the
road, where it was next TO impossible
to get carriage of any kind, and
where the only place of entertainment
was rude log-house, ,ligniiied by the
name of the Jefferson inn.
Mr. Gligggs the landlord of the tav-
e.n, was soon on the spot and gave it
as his opinion that the passengers had
better 90 TO his house for the night,
but rs some half-dozen of them were
determined to 90 on, there was no al
ternative but TO get ont an old express
wagon, which was stacked away in IL
remote shed, and dispatched them on
their way. The stage horses were
available, and the passengers piled in
with selfish haste; and long before |
could get my valise out of the ruins of
the stage and reach the wagon, it had
rumbled off, and left me, With half
dozen more, behind.
1T was absolutely necessary that
should be in Raybury that night else
should cause serious inconvenience ut
the bank the next morning. And us |
had been so often congratulated on
my promptitude in my business, | felt
very 10th to be behindI,and now.
spoke 10 Mr.. Griggs about it, and asked
if it were not possible for him to let me-
have a horse for Rnybury. | would
pay him literally, and return the an
imnl i'll goo,l condition the next day.
But he only shook his head He had
only one horse i'll his stable, be said,
and Mrs. Griggs was subject to dread-
full spells of the collie, and might be
taken at any hour. and he made it 81
rule Of his life never to let Digbv go
out of the stable for fear Mrs. Griggs
night be seized. and die before the
doctor could be brought.
Under the circumstances. of course I
could not urge my request for the use
of Digbv, and there was 10 chance for
me 10 get to Raybury until the II
O'Clock stage next day, unless footed
it. and that | should not for moment
have hesilated to do, had it not been
forthe fact that the road to Raybury
was the vlcst in the country. I always
felt like swearing when rode over it.
and doubtless should have yielded
entirely to the sin Of profanity If had
attempted to walk it.
"Goto my house and stay tonight,
Mr.. Marsh said the landlord. II can
give You some venison pie and pot of
beer for your supper and nice shake.
down before the kitchen fire"
Pray, sir" said sweet voice at
Griggs' elbow, lis there no way to go
on to Ray bury"
"Not tonight, my dear, said Griggs,
softening. rs the light of his lantern
shone over the pretty face of IL Young
girl whom had scarcely seen before,
she having been an inside passenger.
II guess you'll have TO take up With
such accommodation us my house Of
fers shouldn't wonder if Sally
that's my dartcr miss--will let YOU
have half Of her bed, seeing as. you've
been unfortunate,
"a Must 90 on, she said. earnestly.
ii have been some months from home,
and have been summoned thithcr by
the illness OF my father. Indeed, sir,
! cam not delay here, for the dispatch
said my father was dying
There were tears III her voice, but it
was too dark to sec whether they dim
med her eyes.
LIS too bad!' said Griggs; but
couldn't let Digby 90 on any account;
because, you see, if Mrs. Griggs shouM
be took, she'd lie aforc we could git
Dr. Lumston here on foot. You see,
when she has these spells she's awful!
Hello! Who's coming now?n
A close carriage drawn BY two dark
horses had come up and halted by side
of the overturned coach. IL was lust
light enough to show me that there
were two men in the carriage. and that
they wore caps with tte visols well
down and were mutllcd well about the
throat, but it was Il chilly, raw evening.
n1d one needed to be mutlled.
WHAT'S the dillicnlty?" asked one OF
the men, in Il hoarse voice.
Stage upset, said the landlord:
"aXlciree broke, and everything went
to thunder"
Well You'll get your house filled
tonight. if you're the landlord of the
place back yonder," said the stranger.
''Any gentleman here that would like
to go on TO Raybury? We would take
one down"
! stepped quickly toward, and said |
should be greatly indebted if they
would give me se,t. And then / in-
troauccll myself Henry Marsh.
"And here's Il Young woman as is
going, too" said the landlord: .'hcr
pas rich, and she must go there, and
I wouldn't think of having Digby out
on account of Mrs. Griggs' uncertain
health. Miss = Miss = what's Your
name my dcar?n
''Axtell," said the girl, ''Madeline
Axtell. My father is Howard Axtell of
the Rayhury bank"
The president Of the bank for which
I worked. ! knew Judge Axtcll very
well. and was able to tell Miss Madeline
that his illness was not considered
dangerous. But still she insisted upon
going on. and Mt last, after some con
siderable conversation between the two
strangers, inandiE,le to us, they con-
seite,l to take us both.
assisted Miss ANtcll into the car
riage and took with her the back seat,
our conipanioas occupying the front.
Only ole lamp of the carriage was
burning. and that gave Il very dim