Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-06-04

travellers walking in a circle, and re.
turning to their starting point, when
| saw in the distance q faint light
My spirits revived, and, forgetting
my fatigue, l stepped out briskly
toward 1t. AS l got closer, / saw
that the light came through dirty
blind drawn across a small window
and, walking up to the door, which
was just discernible, 1 raped upon
it with my knuckles.
The sound of voices inside stilled
"Come in ~ said somebody
gruffly.
raised the latch, and, entering,
found myself in the rough barroom
OF road-house. A huge fire burned
and cracked OH the hearth, around
which sat three swarthy- looking men
and woman.
"Good evening"" said I.
| " Evenin', SIR" said the oldest.
looking man of the three, whom
took to be theHlandlord, as he put
down the weather-beaten gun he was
examining.
" want to get to Hazelton," said
l; " have you got trap of any
hiIu COulu n20S ~
"I've not" said the landlord.
elbow far is it ?" l inquired.
The landlord looked lazily at his
companions.
'Bout eighteen mile," said one
of them.
"pve lost my way, then," said 1 !;
i've walked from Dayton station !;
L can't possibly get to Hazelton to-
night. Can / have bed and some
supper here ?"
"Of course you can," said the
woman; "come up to the fire, SIR"
Her manner was very civil, but
her appearance was far from alIur-
ing. She was tall. and extremely
stout; her lilac print apron appa-
rently tied around her waist by
guesswork. Her gray hair was
drawn carelessly into tight and un-
seemly knot at the back Of her head
and she leered at me amiably as she
waddled briskly forward with a
chair.
The men moved their chairs back
and the landlady, planting mine full
in front of the fire, assisted me to
L
fully have dispensed with her as
sistance, but, fearful of arousing sus-
picions as to its contents, / raised no
objections.
"I'll take it up to your room,"
said the landlady, throwing it across
her arm.
"Oh, don't trouble; Pll take it up
when l co." said !, unconcernedly.
Its all right; I've got to go up
to see your bed," she replied, and l
heard her painting up the stairs.
While she was gone l took stock
of my companions, and the more /
saw of them the less liked them.
Both the customers were tough-look-
ing, and neither was at any great
pains to make himself agreeable. A
brief inquiry or two concerning my
journey satisfied them, and they
turned their gaze from me to the
huge iron pot which was bubbllng
over the fire, and from which issued
a most delicious odor.
For some time / sat over the fire,
half doing with the comfort and
warmth of it, until the stout land
lady hustled about preparing supper.
We all sat down together. the land
lord being by no means inclined to
pay any foolish Difference to me as a
paying guest, but / certainly made a
good meal, for the iron poi con-
tained a savory stew of rabbit and
game, and my long days journey
had reduced me to almost a fam
ished condition.
Supper finished, we drew up to
the fire again, and ordered glasses
round as l sat comfortably smoking.
| sat until l had finished my pipe,
and then asked for candle, saying
that my walk had made me very
tired, and asking to be called at an
early hour in the morning.
The landlady, taking a huge tin
candlestick from the dresser, lighted
me up the narrow, naked stairs, and, =,
leading the way into a small bed
room, set the light on painted wash
stand, and withdrew, after bidding
me goodnight. My first glance was
for my overcoat, which was hanging
from nail in the corner of the room
and, to my great relief, found the
notes intact. 1 resolved not to be
separated from them again, and, TAX
ing them from the wallet, made
them into small parcels, and dis
tributed them about my pockets.
The room was damp and cheerless,
the only furniture being the wash
stand, broken chair, and small,
clammy-looking bed. There WAS no
tai tn
the window, and, after a careful in
spection, / blew out the candle and
and lay down in bed in MY clothes.
lay for some time half doing in
chill discomfort, until | was aroused
by the sounds of shutting up down
stairs. Doors were shut and bolted,
and waited laZily to hear the sound
of my hosts feet coming up stairs
to bed, for / wanted to order a stiff
glass of hot brandy and water, as q
protection against the damp, which
seemed to be eating into my bones
hut they were so long in coming that
I lost patience, and quitting my bed
made my way down stairs in my
stocking-feet.
A light was still burning in the
j taproom, and / was about to enter
when, through a small hole in the
red curtain which was drawn acros.
the glass Of the door, 1 saw, to my
surprise, that the other customer
were still there. All three meI
were sitting by the fire almost ~
had left them, conversing In low
tones, and 1 had just laid my hant