The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-12-29

which had probably been taken from
travellers on the highway. The rifle OF
the dead man was q fine weapon, ana
in his pockets was a sun of money
amounting to over $500. My grand
father, therefore, made pretty good
thing out of it, altogether, and there
was no coroner to bother about an in
quest With the help of his nearest
neighbor he buried the dead man on
his own land, and there was the end
of it.
Three years later, having exchanged
farms, Mr.. Davis removed to the coun-
ty of Lawrence. The cabin on this
farm was within a hundred feet Of the
White river During the three years
nothing had been seen or heard of the
little old man All who heard the
Sto"y came to the conclusion that he
had overheard the two robbers making
their plan. or that he was one of the
gang and had quarreled with the pair
and betrayed them to secure revenge.
On New Years eve, after several days
thaw and rain. and when the river was
bank-full, my grandfather was caring
for his horses in the stable when that
same little old man, dressed exactly as
before. suddenly appeared at the door
and said:
Good evening. Mr.. Davis. I see you
have traded Bartholomew county for
Lawrence! / was glad to learn that
you needed my warning about the rob
bers / stopped to tell you that you
are in great danger here Before m t.n-
ing all this land will cave into the
river and you'd best get away as soon
as possible"
Il want to thank you for yollr warn
ing about the robbers" said my grand
father as soon as he could find his
voice, land to ask you
Cant wait-can't wait!'' interrupted
the little old man. ITS all right
hurry up-sce you again.
With that he was gone. My grand
father went out with his lantern and
looked carefully about him, but he
could not even lind the trace of a foot
i'll the soft SOIL Even where the
stranger had stood leaning against
the doOr-post there wasn't a sign to
prove that he had feet. Grandfather
was badly ratified over the affair, as
also was bis wife, but it was decided
to heed the warning. The horses were
hitched to the wagon, the wagon load
ed with their household goods, and at
IL o'clock at night they arrived at a
roadside inn three miles away. When
they told their story they were laughed
at. but the light of the morning told a
different story. White river had cut
a new channel for itself across long
bend, and cabin, stables and five acres
of land had disappeared. The waters
had come down so suddenly an with
such a rush that had the family re-
manned in their cabin there would have
been no chance of escape. Whenever
the story was told it was agreed that
there was something queer in that little
old man turning up to give a second
warning and there were some people
who believed with my grandfather that
the stranger was not of flesh and
blood. After couple of years the in
cident was, however, forgotten by all
save my relatives, and they recalled 1t
ONLY to wonder if there would ever
come another warning. Soon after the
disaster Mr.. Davis sold his land and
Joined party emigrating to Edmon-
son county. Ky. There he purchased
land and built q sawmill on Green
riyer-the first in the county. While
the mill was running steadily the help
was changed frequently. as none of the
white men about cared to work long
and my grandfather owned no slaves
He at length hired Il negro who had
been set free by his master, and the
two ran the mill while a white man
was hired on the farm.
1t was about five years from the sec
ond appearance Of the little old man,
when my grandfather stood on his
doorstep one New Years eve looking
about. His wife had started the day
before for visit to relatives in Indiana
and a negro woman was in the house
TO cook fer the men. The White man
and the negro had gone to the sawmill,
situated about a half mile away, to
file the saw for the mOrroW's work.
There suddenly appeared before my
grandfather. coming from he could not
say where, the same little old man, and
i'm 4 voice perfectly familiar he said:
pheasant evening, Mr.. Davis. SO
YOU have made another change. Things
happened up on White river just as |
told you they would, eh?'
..They did. and we owe you our
lives" replied my grandfather.
'.1'ut! tut! But that is nothing. You
are in danger again, and | came to
warn you.
Let me tell that my grandfather had
firmly resolved that if the little old
man ever appeared again he would find
out more about him. He was some
what startled over his appearance. but
his mind was made up that he would
prove his caller a man of flesh and
blood. or a spook The little old man
did not come nearer than six feet TO