The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-06-25
Gagged WITH A WILD MAN.

others.
The Major lifted his glass and care
fully scrutinlzed the bright lqud.
We'll Toms line, you see was just be-
ing put through the interior of the state
at that time, and one day he asked me
TO go out with him to some little town
which he was going to open with an
auction sale Of lots and free beer and
sandwiches for the people, and all that.
you know. Well, l went along. and
there was big freight car loaded down
with kegs and provisions. Everybody
was having a great time. Tom got Ill
during the sale, so he went into a little
shanty to lie down, while l went over
to the freight car to get some ice to put
on his head. 1 was in the car, scouting
around after ice, when all of a sudden
some one slammed the door to and
made the inside of the car as dark as
pitch. Then somebody in the darkness
began to swear like a pirate, and
heard him swing his revolver loose. L
began to see the game then. 1t seems
that there was a fellow around there
that a good many people wanted to kill,
and they said they were going TO kill
him that day at the sale, too. Some
body had pointed him out to me during
the morning, and had heard him brag,
so | recognized this voice in the dark
ness. / think he decided that they had
slammed the door on him so that when
he opened 1t to come out they could get
a good fair chance to make sieve of
him. The way that man swore was
positively frightful.
He wasn't very giod company, eth
er l stood still so long that l felt the
bones in my legs creak like old timbers,
and | didn't breathe any harder than
a canary bird. He went on swearing
at great rate.
Il began to think of Tom and his
pain, wishing he had died rather than
Ilhad come for that ice.
"At last l found that l had got to
move There was no help for it. My
legs refused to support me in this posi-
ton any longer. My head was grow
ing dizzy. ard If l didn't change my at
titude 1 would fall down. l hadn't re-
mained motionless for so very long.
either, but in a darkness where man
can't tell whether he is standing on his
feet or his ears the faculty of balance
dsn't much to be counted on. My heart
stopped short when felt myself sway,
but shifted one foot quickly and there
! was again. But that accursed foot
Hdu Hlaue d Squeak
The fellow listened for a moment,
and then he yelled: Who is in here?'
Il didn't say word. but just dropped
down to the floor as easy as a sack of
oats.
He listened for a time, and then bel
lowed out again: Who's in hereY l
suppose he figured that it wasn't one OF
his enemies, or they would have got
i'm hi 10 he orif n I'm 10
over in the corner
Who's in here; Come along
nov, galoot. an speak up, er IN
begin t bore leetle holes in yeh! Who
er yeh, anyhow! Whistle some how,
er I'll fire at ye!'
He was beginning to get mad as a
wildcat, l could fairly hear that fellow
lashing himself into rage, and getting
more crazy every minute. All the kegs
We're up in his corner, and when l felt
around with one hand | couldn't find q
thing to get behind. Every second l
expected to hear him begin to work his
gun. and If you have ever lain in the
darkness and wondered at what precise
spot the impending bullet would strike.
you know how felt. So when he yelled
out again. Who er you?' I spoke up and
said, It's only me-
Thunder cried he, in a roar like q
bull, Who's me! Give yer hull
name an pedigree, mister, if yeh amt
fond of reg'lar bowling, helling rowr
I'm from Houston said /.
Houston said he, with snort
An what er yeh doin' here, stranger?'
came out to the sale, told him.
Hum. said he; and then he remain
ed still for some time over in his end
Of the car.
I was congratulating myself that
ran no more chance of trouble with this
hend, and that the whole thing was
now mere matter of waiting for some
merciful fate to let me out, when sud
denly the fellow said: 'Misterp
Slri' said l..
Open that there door!' I%
Er-what? .--S.~
Open that there door!'
Er-the door to the carp
He began to froth at the mouth.
mink. Sure he roarer. 'Th' door T.
IN car! There hain't fifty doors here,
De ther! Slid 'er open or else, mister,
You be a goner surev And then he
cursed my ancestors for fifteen genera
tons
'Well-but-look here said /. Amt
-look-here-ain't they going to shoot
as soon as anybody opens that door.
tt
None a yer business, strang-
er the fellow howled. open that
mere door. er I'll everlastin'ly make er
Ventilator of yeh. Come on, now! Step
up! He began to prawl over in my di-
Fection. Where are yeh? Come on
now, galoot! Where are yeh2 Oh, jest
femme lay my oil gun agin yeh an I'll
IN out! Step up!
This cat-like approach in the dark
ness was too much for me. Hold on
9aid l. IN open the door,
lie gave grunt and paused. got
w and went over to the door,
-, Now, stranger. the fellow said.
rs soon as yeh open tn door, Jest step
INSIDE an watch Luke Burnham peel
=, SKIN off er them skunks.'
But look here said I. st4iia