The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-08-23
AN ADVENTURE
ByJ. B. DAWSON jR.

that once found myself wandering
.n , deserted street, and to cap the
.limax, an unfamiliar city in which
vas at that time a total stranger.
had lost my way in a valiant
search for the hotel at which I was
.tonDing and was wandering down in
ubat is known as the Haunted Street"
which was tuated in about the CEN
tral portion OF the city, and which
was furthermore carefully avoided by
All good citizens after dark, when the
Storm in question overlook me. Oh.
n was perfectly awful, and as I re
fleet upon it now my blood turns to
jce-water. The lightning flashed and
seemed to tear great jagged holes in
the inky blaCkneSS above me, the wind
howIed and shrieked diabolically, and
the rain fell in torrents.
IS was wandering along in a de-
fected mood starting at every little
sound and e~ndeaVOring to make the
best of the situation. L was suddenly
startled nearly out of my wits by a
cab rushing up alongside the curling
and hating directly in front Of me.
Right then and there, L had given
myself up for lot, for really l was
beginning to think that the 'so-called
goblins" of Haunted Street had me,
and | was saying as l thought my last
earthly prayer when can you imagine
my surprise when the sweetest
voice l have ever heard called out to
me and asked me if l were getting wet.
Was | getting wet? Well, that just
about struck my limit. There | had
peen wandering that street for the last
half an hour without the least sign
Of an umbrella and in the hardest rain,
it has ever been my misfortune to
see. Nevertheless. though | answered
her as cheerfully as | could under the
circumstances. that I did not like but
very little of being drowned, she then
asked me if | would join her in the
cab and go home with her, upon which
Invitation [ was only too glad to &C
capt.
~, little adventure. Who my kind
beuefactresS was and where she was
carry ing me l had not the slightest
idea and which, OF course. remain to
be seen. but that she was very beau
tiful l did not then have the slightest
doubt and in a way this seemingly
existing beauty seemed TO add spice
To- this little romance. All OF these
thoughts were rapidly Fitting
through my mind, when all of a sud
den the young lady began to shed
tears and | have no doubt but that
they were pearly tears
Now if there is anything embar-
RAISING to me it is TO be around d
IoUng and beautiful lady crying, SO I
just waited in mute silence for my
queen to speak. When she had final
II Quoted down and dried her tears
Somewhat, she spoke to me in a
siINery voice full of trouble. Kind
SLY, she said, L am deeply in trouble
and / am forced to appeal to you for
aid Madam" l replied gallantly.
in5Smuch as ! seem to be in your
debt already, let me assure you that if
be Of any service whatever to you,
you have only to speak" My words
seemed to fill her with new hope, for
by this time she was apparently her
Old self again.
IS the cab proceeded on, l knew not
where. We gradually drew each other
INTO conversation and not doubling
her evident sincerity. began to tell
htf of my troubles. First | told her
now happened to set lost and wan
OR down intO Haunted Street and
hH@Ily ended W by telling her that /
Was ~1riendless and down to bed
rock in a place absolutely unfamiliar
some money on the following day
rom the house that / was represent
'uring my recital of these events
she had been a silent listener, and
"hen | had finished she said to me:
Ally kind friend, if you have the
courage to assist me in a little diff
'"ilN, | will recompense you hand
5'iHeIN and YOU Will furthermore win
my eternal gratitude.'
-}itef about a forty-fve minutes
l1tr. We finally drew rein in front Of q
i"fGe palatiaI residence with a brown
Slnhr front. [ jumped out and help
"a nay companion to a!ight, after
"hIrA she requested me to follow her
,1I At the foot of the stairs in the
nan she flashed on some brilliant
li@lilS and then | obtained my frs
look at her. Well, now the mex
question that flashes into your mind
presume, is. was she as beautiful as
had previously taken her to be II
me dark. She certainly was that anC
Ven more. | will not attempt to de-
9'FiDe her as | am afraid my efforts
%"uld prove too feeble, but as I stooC
mere transfxed gazing at her. 7 i'm
"@Ihed myself wandering through de
-AIlLNugl | did not intend to be-