Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-01-24
TERRIFIED BY A WARNING.

No matter what it was that called
me suddenly to make a long journey
westward of the Alleghanies I kept
upon my way, meeting with no mis-
haps, until l found myself, at the end
/ of an August day, travelling along a
dusty road, anXiously looking out for
some place where | might spend the
night
| was weary and more than ready
for my supper, and it was with joy
that [ at last perceived the swinging
inquiry that entertainment was there
provided for man and beast.
| [ ordered a hasty meal, tossed my
stick and knapsack into the corner of
The room, and brushing the dust from
my clothes looked around me for the
first time.
1t was a large, empty room, with a
round bar in the corner, a few shelves
adorned with bottles, a chair or two,
three little tables, on one of which was
a pack of cards, and no other furni-
ture whatever.
The landlord was an elderly man,
witt a face which bore tokens of hay
ing been shaved some weeks before,
and had u 6urly look which was by
| no means attractive; and his wife, at
the moment cooking my dinner, had,
as [ thought, a strange expression up
on her countenance- Worn terrified
look, as though she were constantly
afraid of something.
Twice she seemed about to speak,
but closed her lips again as the man
sauntered toward the door, and at last
broke the silence with commonplace
remark that it was a fine evening.
'"Thinl1 so, stranger?" was all the
answer I received.
But after a while she drew nearer
to me and said in a low Whisper
! ''You don't know nothiu' about these
parts, do you?"
NO" I said. ''This is my first visit
to the West"
| You get out of 'em as fast as you
can, then" she said. Il daresn't say
no more-only don't stay here longer'n
! you can help!'
And she glided away from me in a
terrified manner, leaving me in an eX-
ceedingly uncomfortable state of mind
l cast my eye over the homeless land
scape With a vague intention of travel
ling on that night, but | was very
weary and certainly my possessions
could be no temptation to crime.
Accordingly I walked in and reques-
ted to be shown to my room. The
landlord nodded and turned to light a
CANDLE and in that moment the woman
found time to whisper in my ear
Don't leave your window OPEN
While I was iwaiting the movements
staDwart, ill-favored fellows marched
in. They nodded to the landlord, and
walking up to the bar called for 8
!, drink.
I picked up my knapsack and fol
lowed my landlord in a moment more
, and soon found myself in large, I'M
carpeted room, with an immense feath
erbed perched upon TALL old-fash
toned bedstead; a rickety table will
cracked ever and basin upon it
and one chair completed the furniture
The window looked at that thu
moment l was left alone-opened OF
long, low shed, up which any on'
could easily climb who desired to OBJ
tain entrance, and stood wide open.
; | closed it at once, and seeing
Jagged nail upon the floor, / contrivet
to fasten it so that any one withou
would at least have some trouble il
opening it, and having boited the doc
: was about to retire, when I heard
| low murmer of voices in the room be
] low
0 I knelt down, and, applying my ca
to an aperture in the uneven board
= found that I could catch the most o
n the words that were uttered. The frs
|, startled me.
you've got your knife:"
The answer was:-''What the deuc
do you think Of my brains?"
Ii whats the hour?''
g "Half-past eleven"
e The two yong men were speakin
II I knew. people are abed by tina
s time, mostly. We don't want to be il
Y terrupted.'
If And then their voices sank into
lower tone and I heard no more fe