Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-03-15
WAS SURPRISED.

ii leel pretty sale, despite tue OLD gentle
mans crusty temper"
The traveller rode up to the farmhouse,
his eyes fixed upon man who stood In
the doorway.
! Good evening, SIR" called out the
young man rs the other made no move
ment. Il presume this is where Mr..
Merrill livcs?"
He does on Sunday. Rest of the week
Uncle Lie runs the place. Eff you want
to soJ me, you'd better light out an hitch
Suppcr's jest ready, an l don't wait for
| no man." and so speaking the farmer
! turned his broad back and disappeared
within the house.
The subducd clatter of knives and forks
met his ear, and through the long hall
there came an appetizing odor of hot food
His hesitation was brief A long ride
had made him hungry, and literally fol-
| lowing his nose he stalked into the dining
| room.
sit down an cat" mumblcd Uncle
Lie his mouth full. 1--WE was spectin
ye,"
There must be some mistake, Mr."
4" Eff they is, l hain't made it, Eff your
hungry, cat; Gf not, sit by ontel amt"
growled tho farmer.
The farmers wife, two sons and q
daughter were present, but only one Of
| these won much attention from the tray
eler and before that silent meal was end
ed he caught himself acknowledging that
he had never beheld a prettier, more
graceful girl than rosy checked, bright
eyed, curly headed Maria Merrill.
"Jim," said Uncle Lie, at length aris-
ing, you go put up the strangers boss.
Mari, you go fetch the doin in t'other
room, an you, stranger, come along o.
me. 4"
The young man obeyed.
In few moments Maria followed them,
bearing pipes, homemade tobacco glasses
and bottle of whisky.
Placing these upon the table, she quick
ly vanished
stop thar" exclaimed Uncle Lie in
his Deep echoing voice as the stranger
was about to speak, and pouring out a
glass of whisky he pushed it forward
Drink that, then take q smoke. Well
look to business a'tcrward"
I'm smoke with pleasure, but seldom
drink
Il reckon you'd better drink, stranger, "
and Uncle Lie slowly arose from his
chair "ef l AK it as a favor"
That's another thing" hastily replied
the traveller swallowing the liquor
though it brought tears to his eyes.
Good enough. Now set down an
have Il smoke. won't have one word
ontcl you've did as l say" With a faint
smile the traveller obcyed the peremptory
command of his eccentric host, and tho
twain sat blowing "a cloud in perfect ST.
lence. Quietly Mrs. Merrill and her three
children entered the room and took seats.
Then emptyiIS the ashes from his ex-
hausted pipe Uncle Lie spoke: "Now,
stranger, we kin talk business. Who air
ye, an what ye want o. me or miner"
Pm drover looking for cattle. l
heard you had some to dispose of and
came here to see if we could make bar.
gain, was the prompt reply.
Eyes, hearn you was likely to come
this way, and so, as mebbe you noticed,
we was sorter on the lookout fer ye. I've
got the cattle, an I'm always ready fer
trade eff the farms suit. But fust-you
had a good supper-all you wanted to
eat?"
Certainly, and l am ready to-
Il don't doubt it mite, stranger, but
jest hol up bit. That was good whisky
and pretty far tobacco, seein raised it,
Ell? An we've treated you like gentle
man, hain't we? Jest so. WAL that
was all fer the fellow you said you was,
an here's for the pizen critter you be-.
As he spoke Uncle Lie Strengthened
out his arm, with a huge fist at the end
of it, and the drover lay quivering in the
opposite corner of tho room, knocked
senseless, and in a minute or two more he
was bound hand and foot
As he tried to remember what had hap
pened he heard the sharp explosion of a
rifle, followed by another and another,
mingled with wild cries and yells of pain
and anger.
This lasted several minutes, after which
came silence
The door opened, and a bright light
flashed in upon the prisoner as Uncle LILO
entered, accompanied by Maria bearing
candle.
you've woke up, hey?" he said, with
a harsh laugh, bending over the young
man. "I'm right glad o. that, fer it'll
save me trouble. Now your legs is free
Git up and travel"
Not unless you tell me what you
mean
Jest as you say" and he tossed the
prisoner upon MS shoulder ana passed
through the hall and out upon the piazza
Now, them stan thar" he added, lower
ing the young man to his feet. Don't
try none of your tricks, or you'll fare the
wuss.
Two men lay dead across the doorstep.
Two others, their garments torn and
blood stained, were lying upon the ground
bound and helpless, while little Tom, the
youngest son, crOuched between them, a
cooked revolver in his hand.
You don't pear to like the way your
Speculation's turned out" laughed Uncle
Lie Never mind. Thar's two on 'em
yonder'll be able to keep you company in
pulling hemp soon as the neighbors git
here"
Good heaven! You don't think was
IN league with those menu" cried the young
man as sudden light burst upon his |
head. And that's why-Uncle Lie, I'm
Will Cook, your nephew, son of Aunt
Nancy's brother. Feel in my breast peck
OF. I've got letters for you, only l |
thought would surprise you all and have |
little fun first by playing stranger"
Uncle Lie was too immensely disgust
I'd with himself to tell the story, but little
Tom quickly supplied the deficiency.
1t seemed that he had been out gun
ning, and running squirrel into its hole
himself in a dense clump of