Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-12-22
A PEDDLER'S PERIL.

The sun sank behind the western
mountain peaks, and the short twilight
Of southern latitudes came on apace.
After time the man of the house came
in. He was tall and thin. Two ferret
like eyes CLEANED sharply upon the ped
dler from amid a shaggy tangle of white
hair and beard.
He placed his long rifle in a rack over
the door, unslung his shot pouch and
then seated himself and gazed gloomily
into the fire, without vouchsafng either
a greeting to the stranger or word to
his own family. Nan, passing by, whis-
pered to the peddler:
"Don't We mind uncle; he's got one of
his bad spells on now, but if he amt
bothered it'll pass off by and by"
The peddler nodded, and began tale
concerning one of his adventures in
Texas. He was soon interrupted by
Aunt Viney.
"Sit up, stranger" said she. "We
hain't got much to eat, but such as it is
you're welcome"
The old man ate his supper in solemn
silence, after which he took his hat and
abruptly left the cabin. Aunt Viney
saw fit to explain.
"Mose, my old man, hain't been ex-
actly like hisself since the revenoo men
carried his son John off five year ago
last April"
"'Stillin s'pose?"
eyes, md top of that he shot one of
'em while they were tryin to take him,
md they put him in pen'tensh'ry at
Nashville for ten year."
The peddler remained silent for mo-
ment or two. But when the dishes were
washed and put away he again enter
tained the two women by relating sun
dry "reminiscences of his own career, and
also describing the wonders of certain
great cities he had visited.
After awhile Nose again stalked ST.
lently in and took seat in far corner.
While the peddler talked he continued
to eye him closely, as if suspicious that
the stranger was not just what he
should be. ...
"Speakin of the telephone" continued
the peddler, "some folks in these noun
tains don't believe that people can talk
to esoh other, md them hundred or
more mileBapart, but l tell ye it's fact
I've seed it done myself"
give knowed of men hollerin across
from one mountain to another" said
Aunt Viney obviously. "Mebbe they
could make themselves heard matter
OF two miles. But hundred she
shook her head disapprovingly.
"It's so all the same, though. rvsot
md heard 'em talkin JUS as we be now"
"That's as big a lie as ever was todd"
exclaimed old Nose, rising and making
4 for the door.
Heseized his rife as he passed, threw
a menacing glance at the peddler and
once more left the cabin.
"Old mans q little touched in the
head, amt her. asked the peddler, who
seemed to take no offense whatever iGt
the old mans rude behavior.
| GEver since John was took off he's had
queer spells that come over him every
now and then. l must say he's moreaa
apt to be 'spishus Of strangers when they
come around. He's always thinkin ,of
revenoo spies. I dessay that's what
makes him act SO toward You. But you
mustn't mind him. never know'd him
to- succeed in hurtin any one yet"
It was Nan who replied, for Aunt vi
ney was making preparations to retire
for the night. When the girl and the
peddler were left alone the latter seemed
somewhat curious about this son John,
who for so many years had been under
the ban of the law.
,'~John was always good to Uncle Nose
and Aunt Viney, md that's one reason
Uncle Nose takes it all SO hard now"
81 s'pose, bein as you're kin to 'em,
you must "a felt powerful bad when
they took him Off"
He eyed Nan closely as he spoke. and
the girl blushed slightly.
II amt no real kin to EN-" said she.
"My folks is all dead, md they raised
me from a little gal, but John md me
was always good friends"
"Nothin more?"
The girl looked at him reprogingly.
"It's about bedtime" said she coldly.
"Shan't show you were you're to sleepT'
The peddler rose, took mp his pack and
followed her into the little shed room.
There was an open window by the bed,
through which the full moon was shin
ing.
"Yau won't need no light, l reckon, "
she remarked. Then, bidding him good
night, she returned to the main cabin
and went to bed herself.
| But for some reason she failed to
sleep. The bright moonlight, the rasp-
ing cry of katydids from the trees with
out and the discomforting nature of her
thoughts kept her awake. She felt
vaguely uneasy about Uncle Nose.
Where was he? Very likely at the little
inoonshine still up Bear hollow, half a
mile away. He often spent the night
there engaged in his illicit toll. She re-
membered his unfriendly treatment of
the peddler, whose heavy breathing
could now be heard through the thin
partition wall. He had once laid in
wait, rifle in hand, for a passing drover,
whom he had set down for spy. Only
Aunt vineys prompt appearance had
prevented q probable murder. Uncle
Nose. though good man enough when
in his right mind, was a dangerous, un.
certain parsonage when stirred by the
memory of his son into a spirit of halt
insane hostility against all the world.
So uneasy did Nan become that Of
last she rose, slipped on her dress and
stole out into the moonlight. An inn
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