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

farm was within 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. see you
have traded Bartholomew county for
Lawrence! was glad to learn that
you needed my warning about the rob
hers. l stopped to tell YOU that you
are in great danger here. Before m(rn-
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 your 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 waltz interrupted
the little old man. cts all right
hurry up-Scc 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 find the trace of a foot
in the soft soil. Even where the
stranger had stood leaning against
the do0rp0st there wasn't Il sign to
prove that he had feet Grandfather
| 0n1 off
also was his wife. but it was decided
t. heed the warning. The horses were
hitchcd to the wagon. the wagon load
ed with their household goods, and ut
IL O'Clock ut night they arrived at
roadside inn three miles away. When
they told their story they We're laughed
at but the light of the morning told
different story. White river had cut
Il 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 Il rush that had the family re-
manned in their ca bin 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 Il second
warming and there We're some people
who believed with my grandfather that
| the stranger was not OF flesh ana
blood. After a 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 ana
Joined Il party emigl:lting to Edmon-
son county. Ky. There he purchased
|
'riycr-tle first in the county. While
tl,e 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 ut length hired II negro who had
been set free by his master. and the
two ran the mill while white man
was hired on the farm.
1t was about five years from the Sec
on,l appea rance of the little Oh man.
when nv grandfather stood Oh his
doorstep one New Years eve looking
about. His wife had started the day
lu,forr for IL visit to relatives i'll Indiana
and a negro woman was in the house
to cook for 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 lnOrrOW's work.
There suddenly appeared before my
grandfather. coming from he could not
saw where. the same little old man. and
in voice perfectly familiar he said:
pheasant evening. Mr.. Davis. SO
YOU have made another change. Ihlngs
happened up OH White river just as
told you they would, chg ....-..-
"They did. and we owe you our
lives" replied my grandfather.
.l1lt! tut! But that is nothing! You
are in danger again, and l came to
warn you.":.
Let. me tell that my grandfather had
firmly resolved that If the little OLD
man ever appeared again he would nHd
out more about him. He was some
what startled over his appearance, bat
his mind was made up that he would
prove his caller man of flesh and
blood. or a spook. Tho little old man
did NOT come nearer than six feet to
the doorstep. but as he stood there Mr..
Davis planned to spring upon him
should he turn away as abruptly as
on former occasions.
go over to the saw-mill.' continued
the old man. made your approach
very softly. You will find two men
seated on log and talking about YOU.
Go at once-good night!
NJ ygrandfather made a spring aha.a
grasp at him, but. TO his terror. the lit.
tie cid man vanished from sight. as If
dissolved. in air. Not the slightest ils h4 st
.loise betrayed his going. One instant
lie was there-the next he was gone.
10 make sure that he had not been
dreaming, MY granfather called to tue
colored woman. A.,
She declared that she had heard the
voice Of an old man, but had not lookea
ont to see who the caller was. Al
though greatly upset; by the circuin-
stance, Mr.. Davis soon started for the
mill to see what the men were about:
Sure enough, he found them sitting on
- LOG an the carriage, and, after some
careful lpe ,naneayering, he got. clese
CROUCH to cverhear their conversation:
1t appeared that the white NAH was
tired Of work. and the negro was:9ilx-
ious to run away t. the North. Ihelf
nlan was to kill and rob my: GRANDPA
thcr, and that very night. He made