The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1897-01-23

When my grandfather Davis, who was
grandfather oil my .lothcr's side. mar
ried and set up for himself. lie took a
small farm in what is now Bartholo-
new county. Indiana. In his time In
diana was a territory. and was cunsitl-
cred in the Ear West \ state high
way, running from indianapolis to
Jeffersonville. passed his humble log
cabin. and for many years the county
had but few settlers, and his nearest
neighbor was three miles away. Mr..
Davis had lived on the place about two
years. and cleared up good bit of
land. when. one Ne Years eve. as lie
stood at his door. a mnn who was on
foot and without Il burden of any sort,
Good evening. Mr.. Davis. notice
many changes since l passed your
clearing. six months ago"
My grandfather could not remember
that he had ever seen the man before.
He was short man. being no more
than five feet high. and though mutticd
up. as though to conceal his face. his
voice sounded like that OF Il very old
man. There was scarcely Il night i'll
which some strange did not call ut the
cabin for lodgings. and. though failing
to remember him as a guest. Mr.. Davis
decided that the little old man had ut
some time enjoyed his hospitality. Hc
replied to his salutation. and. after
So",e general talk. asked if he inteni-
cd to stop for the night
NO. l cannot stop tonight" replied
the stranger - turned aside to give
YOU WARMTH. and yoG will do we'll to
need my words. Tomorrow evening
two men will come along from the
south and ask for lodgings. They will
tell you that they are land-lookers. but
YOU must not trust them. They arc
robbers. and mean you evil If YOU let
them into your house do not close your
eyes i'll sleep"
But who are you. and how do you
know what's to happens? asked my
grandfather.
Never YOU mind who I am. or how
come by my information replied the
stranger. Il have given YOU warning.
and YOU must look out. That's all
goodnight
With that he started off up the road
in the direction of indianapolis. and
was soon out of sight in the darkness.
My grandfather gaZed after him and
wondered if he was not an escaped lu-
Matte. and he was quiet for such Il
length of time that his wife came out
to see what was the trouble. They
talked the matter over again that even
ing, and the conclusion reached was
that the little old man had slipped at
his bottle too often and was in a mood
for Joking. His warming fingered.
however. and the next day. half an
hour before sunset, my grandfather
was not greatly surprised when two
men turned in from the road and
asked to he ace ommodatcd for the
night. Before he had said a word in
reply they explained that they were
land lockers from Eastern Ohio. Each
carried Il rifle and Il bundle of clothes,
and there was nothing suspicious in
their looks or talk. While the words OF
the little old man were ringing in his
ears Mr.. Davis made the strangers
welcome. and his wife prepared SUP
per for them.
The cabin was divided into two
rooms. and the one bed stood in the
front room. There was no door to the
rude partition dividing this room
from the kitchen. but a sheet was
hung up as substitute. There was a
fireplace in each room, ard at bed
time the strangers We're given a ''shake
down. in front of one in the Kitchen.
AS soon as husband and wife wer;.
alone they agreed that the strangers.
well appearing as they were. had evil
designs. and that my grandfather
must remain awake to watch them.
He took his place in the corner OF the
room. rifle in hand. while my grand
mother threw herself on the bed. ana
the time dragged slowly along until
midnight, without move on the part
Of the guests. Then they were heafu
stirring about. and fifteen minutes lat
err the sheet at the door was carefully
drawn aside and one Of them peered
into the front room. The fire was low,
and my grandfather was in dark
corner The fellow could see. the bed.
and believing that both husband and
wife were there and sound asleep. he
entered the room and his companion
followed at his heels. Both had their
rifles in hand, and they started on tip
toe across the floor. handling their
weapons in such a way as to leave no
doubt of their murderOus intentions.
Without a word of warning, my grand
father leveled his rifle at the nearest
man and fired. There was scream.
shout and fall, followed by the rush
of feet The man fled on had been
killed, and his companion dashed into
the Kitchen and ont of doors as fast as
he could CO. The identity of the dead
man was never discovered. In the
packs left In the Kitchen were several
articles, evidently stolen from the, ho.ls-
es Of settlers, with two silver watches;
which had probably been taken from
travellers ON the highway. The rife oi
the dead man was a fine weapon, ana
in his pockets was a SUM Of money
amounting to over $780, My grand,
father, therefore, made n 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. t!t IN
Three years later, having exchanged
farms. Mr.. Davis removed to the coun'
49, \ Sc