The Dickinson press., 1897-01-02

rled and set up for himself. lie took Il
small farm in what is now Bar,holo-
new county, Indiana. In his time In
diana was Il territory. and was cunsid
cred in the "Far West" \ state high
way, running from indianapolis to
Jcffersonville, passed his humble log
cabin, and for many years the county
had but few settlers, and his ncares;
neighbor was three miles away. Mr..
Davis had lived Oh the place about two
years, and cleared up a gond bit of
land, when. one Nc & Years eve. as he
stood Mt his door. a man who was on
foot and without Il burden of any sort.
turned IN from the highway and said:
''GoOd evening. Mr.. Davis. l 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 n short man. being no more
than five feet high, aud though mutticd
up. as though TO conceal his face. Ills
voice sounded like that of Il very old
man. There was scarcely night In
which some stranger did not call ut the
cabin for lodgings, and, though failing
to remember him as Il guest. Mr.. Davis
decided that the little old man had at
some time enjoyed his hospitality. He
replied to his salutation. and. after
soEle general talk. asked If lie intend
ell to stop for the night.
mo. cannot stop tonight" replied
the stranger. Il turned aside to give
you warning, and yoI will do we'll to
heed my words To-morrcw 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 are
robbers, and mean you evil. II you let
them into your house do not close your
eyes in Sleep"
But who are you, and how do you
know what's to happcn:" 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 of 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 III
natic, and lie was quiet for such a
length of tflMe 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 IL 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 accommodated for the
night. Before he had said word in
reply they explained that they were
land-l0okers from Eastern Ohio. Each
carried rifle and a 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 q substitute. There was a
fireplace in each room, ard at bed
time the strangers were given a ''shake
down" in front of one in the kitchen.
As soon as husband and wife We're
alone they agreed that the strangers
well appearing Us they were, had evil
designs, and that my grandfather
must remain awake to watch them
He took his place in the corner Of tile
room, rifle in hand. while my grand
mother threw herself on the bed, and
tie time dragged slowly along until
midnight, without move on the part
Of the guests. Then they were heard
stirring about. and fifteen minutes lat
er the sheet at the door was carefully
drawn aside and one of them Deered
into the front room. The fire was low
and my grandfather was in larl
corner. The fellow could see the bed
and believing that both husband ant
wife We're there and sound asleep, lle
entered the room and his companion
followed at his heels. Both Lad theil
rifles in hand. and they started on tip
toe across the floor. handling tleil
weapons in such way as to leave III
doubt of tEeir nurtlerous intentions
Without a word of warning. my grand
father leveled his rifle Mt the ncarcs
:unn and fired. There was scream, T,
shout and a fall, followed by the rusl
OF feet. The man fled on had heel
killed, and his companion dashed int
the kitchen and out of doors as fast n
he could 60. The identity OF the dea,
man was never discovered. In tll
packs left in the kitchen We're severa
articles, evidently stO.en from the Eous
es OF settlers, with two silver watche.
which had probably been taken frOl
travellers on the highway. The rifle {
the dead man was a fine weapon, an
in his pockets was a SUN of none
amounting to over $500. My grant
father, therefore, made n pretty goo
thing out of 1t, altogether and thci
was no coroner to bother about an il
quest. With the help of his neare.
neighbor lie buried the dead man @
his own land, and there was the ell
OF 1t.
Three years later, having exchange
farms, Mr.. Davis removed to the cOu
ty Of Lawrence. The cabin on til
farm was within a hundred feet of Il
White river. During the three yea
nothing had been seen or heard OF Il
little old man. All who heard Il
0tV1 C11uc W AuC SOASAucAoA
had overheard the two robbers makil
their plan, or that he was one of
gang and had quarreled with the. ps
and betrayed them to secure revcn:
On New Years eve, after several da!
thaw and rain, and when the river W
bank.full, my grandfather was carl
: for his horses in the stable when til
same little old man, dressed exactly
hefore, suddenly appeared at the do
and said:
GOOD evening, Mr.. Davis. see y
have traded Bartholomew county
Lawrence! was glad to learn til
you needed my warning about the RI
bers. ! stopped to tell you that y
are in great danger here. Before ms
ing all this land will cave into t
river ard you'd best get away ms 80
AZ possible"
Il want to thank you for Your wa
ing about the robbers" said my graz
father as soon US he could find
voice, "and to ask YOU
Cant wait-can't wait" interrupt
the little old man. tits all righ
hurry np-see you again.