Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-06-21
A TRAVELLERS STORY.

had business got benighted, and about
8 o'clock, myself and my horse being
tired and pretty nearly worn out,
drew rein before the door of comfort
able looking farmhouse. and dismount-
ing knocked at the door with the handle
Of my whip. 1t was opened by a little
girl. who stood in the doorway holding
candle in one hand and keeping back
her thick curly hair with the other,
while she looked at me half shy, rs II
demanding my business.
MY dear" answered, to that ques-
tioning look, lis there any one In the
house besides yourselff'
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
overtaken 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
a floor so white that you iDvoluntarily
pitied the hands and arms that had
brought il into such state OF clcanli-
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 a comfortable room with
downy bed. white counterpane 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 after
him.
Tired and sleepy rs was hurriedly
undressed, went to bed. and in Ave
minutes was soundly sleeping. A grind
ing, grating sound awoke meat what
time ! don't know-but the moon
which did not rise till very late. was
fully up, its bright rays streaming in
through the window, from which l had
purposely looped back the curtain that
the first streak Of daylight might wake
me, as ! was anxious to proceed upon
my way. There. sitting full in the
moonlight, was man with a long cary
ing knife in his hand, hich he was
leisurely sharpening upon a piece OF
grindstone, and which now perceived
made the sound that had awakened
me. thought surely was dreaming
or, II was awake, what in the name OF
heaven meant what | saw2 And still
the man leisurely ground the blade OF
the knife, and in a perfect stupor OF
amazement lay perfectly quiet with
wide open eyes looking at him.
In few minutes he stopped grind
ing, and passing his finger carefully
along the edge of the knife he shook
his head knowingly, to intimate to him
self that he had brought the blade to
proper degree Of sharpness. My
blood ran cold; kind of panic seized
me when l saw that action, and the
cool, calculating smile with which he
held the knife up between him and the
full moonlight, looking at it with the
air of a connoisseur. Then he leisurely
got up, stepped over to the table where
left the candlestick and began look
ing around for something's match,
conjectured.
While his back was turned the idea
of slipping from the bed and boiling
out at the door suggested itself to me,
but before | had time to act upon il
the match was found. and holding the
candle in one hand, the match in the
other, and the handle of the knife be-
tween his long. wolfish teeth, he came
over toward the bed Even then
! might have attempted to escape by
rushing at him, wrenohing the knife
from between his teeth, and so getting
the advantage, but that | was moi
capable of SO overcome was by the
surprise and horror of my situation,
and through all such an Unsuitable
curiosity possessed me tn know what
he was about to do, for as yet could
only conjecture that his purpose was
to murder me.
He struck the match against the
wall and lit the candle, and then took
the knife from between his teeth and
took firm hold of the handle in his
hand | felt faint and sick when
fully realized then that my last chance
of escape was gone. He bent over me,
flashed the light full upon my eyes,
and, perceiving that was awake, ex
claimed with wild laugh
Hal hal Awake, eh' Hal hal
Glad of it, sir meant to wake you
If you hadn't done it yourself con.
slider it cowardly to kill a sleeping
man"
And he laughed at me again, and
peered into my face with his red, hot,
burning eyes.
| could see at once he was mad, and
saw that the horror of my situation
was increased. At first had thought
him robber-I hardly know what
thought-but now knew that he was
mailman. From his own words, too,
I knaN that IL wns his intantion IN MIR.