The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1900-03-01
CnArrER XI.-CoNrlNrrr.

Not q morhci Of food had passed my lips
Tor more than four.andtwcnty hours. I
was tired, not from the miles Of walking or
manifold exerlion, but FROM lack Of uutri.
meut, aud. more than all, from the moral
effect Of knowing ! was hcing hunted like a
wild animal, Ny clothing had wcll.nigh
dried on my body, but ! was still damp.
had not even the comtori Of tobacco, for,
though possessed Il In plenty, could set
TO frr, my tinder box having been wctled
IN the soaking I had endured. ! had led
from the SIGHT OF man A. Satan flies before
the ngn Of the cross, bot By the time had
gotten on M iansaey thns isF ! eer=.l i:..ls
Tor Mex Stryker. Rc1, the Brilish army. or
the deyil himself My sole ycamiug was for
food, and the sun had no; suukcn fairly be
hind the Jersey hills when, aEaius; al rra.
sou, rose from ms last hiding place near the
roadside and strobe into Il, making my way
toward the tavern as fast a. could walk.
Ny arms were like lead. The gold 10 my
pockets and the bullets IN my pouch bad
City timer their weight a. ] splashcd through
the mud, but ! was protected by a divine
providence. for no soul saw ] Eoiug or rom
ing while ] was on the great ihoronghiare
When | turned into the lane leading 20 the
tavern some OF my reason returned 20 ine
and / slipped over the fence that ! might
not approach too directly the front door
There we're no horses under the shed a.
passed il. fact that gave ne assurance, and
N pecring through the bar window,
marked that the room was uuoyJupied.
The bar Of thc Dove was, like many Of
the tayerus Of the DAY, ss much o. rcicCiory
80 bar, and the general assembly room Of
the house. As have ssid, iI was deserted,
aud barren OF light as well. ihc iar corners
being 90 immersed IN gloom that could
barely make out ihe tables under the cur
tanned windows. Ny advent within brought
an answering sound Of steps, and there en-
tered g black man, hall waiter and halt
hostler, a. ! made on; by his apron, the
table knives in his hand, aud general smell
Of the stable he brought with him.
Without ado asked Tor food food Of any
sort, hot or cold. with bottle uf wine. or
failing IN that. stmulant of any DESCRIPTION
| thought the fellow was frightened 1T my
hcrreness, aid showed him ] meant 10 pay
for all demanded 10y pulling from my pOck
ct few pieces Of gold and exposing them.
He slipped behind the bar aud hruugh: ou,
a bottle o. rum. setting tt on a table IN tho
darkest corner of the room, and then hur'
risdly went out, saying | should be served
without delay.
Left 10 myself took stiff dram and
looked about me The room was decidedly
barren IN appearance, the ouly attempt q,
nrnamcniaiion being IN the houRhs Of
green stuff that had been piled into the vas,
fireplace. The faitcrs overhead, Eomber
with age, were black in the increasing dark
ness, aud the walls, unwhitened Tor months
and perhaps years, were deeply scored with
names and coarse nottocs craven by aword
points or bayoucts, and smuttcd 10y
candles held against the rough plaster, The
bar took up a space near the entrance, the
floor was clean and sandcd, and the only
furniture in the room consisted OF an i'm
mense settle in the corner by the chimney
one long table with a bench bctwIxt Il and
the wall, and four or FIVE smaller tables with
accompanying chairs. In strong contrast
with the prevailing dingincss OF the apart
ment were the two windows IN the rear OF
the room. their curtains OF plain stuff al
white and stiii as crustcd SNOW. aud the
panes as sparkling and brilliant az newly
minted coin.
With an eye to future action IN case OF
mischauee, went TO the windows aud found