The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-11-23
A COUNTRY TAVERN.

shaved solne weeks before and had suily
look which was by no means attractive,
and his wife, Gt Tie moment cooking my
dinner, hac. as 1 thought a strange OK
PRECISION upon her countcnanco--a worn,
terrified look, IS though she were con-
stnntly afraid Of something.
Twice she seemed about TO speak, but
closed her lips again a. tho man sauntcred
toward tie door, and at last ] broke tho
silence with The commonplace remark that
10 was "A fine evening.
"Think SO, stranger" was all the an
swcr / received
But after awhile she drew nearer to mo
and said in a low Whisper
."You don't know nothin about these
parts, do your"
mo" said. "Thls is my first visit
to the west.
"You got out Of 'em ms fast as you can,
then, she said. - daresn't say no moro,
only don't stay here longer'n you can
help"
And she glided away from me in tor
riilcd manner, leaving mo in an exceed
ingly uncomfortable state Of mind. cast
my eye over the homeless landscape with
"a vague intention Of travelling ON that
night, but / was very weary, and certain
ly my possessions could be no temptation
to crime.
Accordihgly / walked in and requested
TO BIC shown to my room Tho landlord
nodded and turned to light candle, and
in that moment the woman found time TO
whisper in my ear:
Don't leave your window Open"
While ] was awaiting the movements
of my host the door opened, and two stal
wart, i'll favored fellows marched in. They
nodded TO tho landlord, and walking up
TO the bar called for drink.
picked up my knapsnok and followed
my landlord IN q moment more, and soon
found myself In large, uncarpeted room,
with an immense feather bed porohed
upon n tall, old fashioned bcdstead, a rick
ETY. table with cracked ever and basin
upon it and one chair completing the fur
nituro.
The window looked at that the mo-
ment / was left aione--opened on long,
low shed, UP which any one could easily
climb who desired to obtain entrance, and
stood wide open.
/ closed it at onon, and seeing n jagged
nail upon the floor / contrlyed to fasten ii
so that any one without would at least
have some trouble IN opening it, and hav-
ing boltcd the door was about to retire
when heard a low murmur of voices in
the room below
lSnclt down, and applying my ear to
an aperture in tho uneven boards found
that could catch most of the words that
were uttered. The first startled me.
you've got your knifeY"
The answer was, what the deuce dc
you think Of my brainsf'
whats the hourg'
"IIalf past H."
The two young men were speaking ]
knew.
People are abed by that time mostly.
We don't want TO be interrupted. T"
And then their voices sank into q lower
tone, and j heard no more. felt certain
that my life was in danger, and that the
old woman had attempted TO warn mo out
of pity, probably for my youth.
Escape would be much better than re-
sistance IL ! could oontrive to elude the
vigilance of my enemies. But that was
all but impossible The shed was in sight
of the barroom window, and the stairs de-
scended directly into the room.
Suddenly bright idea struck me. ]
would open tho window and conceal my.
self beneath the feather bed. My enemies
would doubtless fancy that had escaped,
and SO pursuing me or abandoning their
project would give me time to elude them.
Obediont to my new idea, l Immediately
tucked myself and my knapsack between
the immense straw and feather beds and
lay there, with my head out, listening.
The hours dragged on slowly. The suf.
fering / endured under that heavy weight
in that hot August night can never be
forgotten.
heard a sudden movement below. ]
became confident that there were Others
concerned besides those / had seen already.
Knocks came at the door below, voices
and steps We're heard, and soon / became
aware that there was a general stir and
departure.
awaited a raid upon my apartment
with beating heart, but to my relief j
soon heard the little band Of men moving
away from the door, and gaining courage
arose and peoped from my window.
About ten men, each with a bag upon
his shoulder, were hurrying away from
the house. Among them / recognized in
the moonlight the landlord and the two
persons who had entered tho barroom dur
ing my presence there.
AS they might return repentant Of their
mercy, ! went back TO my position between
tho beds and there remained until dawn
sometimes doing, sometimes starting
awake, always suffering immense discom-
fort.
AT last in the early morning l heard a
rap at my door, and the woman's voice
called:
Breakfast, stranger"
1 descended 10 the room below and
found breakfast ready and only the host
ess present.
In the corner were several large water
melons, which / was sure had not been
there on the previous night. My land
lady, whom | regarded as my prcservor,
saw me glance toward them, and as she
poured my coffee said:
They're fine ones, aren't they?" she
said. "Tho boys all met here last night
for watermillion stealth. It's considered
a nice frolic In these parts, and they left
US them. I'll cut one fur you. You did
shet your window, I hope, stranger?"
Yes, I said, feeling that If she knew
all thnt l had done I could not bear the