THE REFERENDUM 



463 



JIM BROWN'S HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE. 

 BY B. W. KEENE. 



We lit our pipes, circled around the camp- 

 fire, and Jim began : "One July several years 

 ago, I was on the verge of nervous prostra- 

 tion, due to overwork. My physician advised 

 me to spend a few weeks in the country. So 

 I rolled a few 'necessities' in my blanket, and, 

 with a goodly supply of fishing-tackle, started 

 on a tramp through the mountains. My sup- 

 ply of provisions was easily replenished at the 

 little country stores along the route. At 

 night I would either camp in the woods 

 or find shelter in a house, if there was one 

 near by. 



"One morning I left the road and followed 

 a beautiful little stream back into the moun 

 tains. Toward night, as I was seeking a suit- 

 able place to camp, I spied a thin column of 

 smoke above the trees, a short distance ahead 

 of me. As the sky was becoming overcast, 

 the shelter of a house would not be uncom- 

 fortable. I determined to investigate. 



"The smoke came from a log cabin in front 

 of which an old man was seated, peeling po- 

 tatoes. At my approach he arose and stood 

 with arms akimbo. I bade him good-evening, 

 and asked shelter for the night. 



"'Oh, yes — yes, certainly; this way, please,' 

 and he hopped into the cabin. The rain be- 

 gan falling, and I waited for no further in- 

 vitation. My host lighted, a lamp. 



"The interior, that is,- as much of it as I 

 could see — owing to a thick curtain stretched 

 across the room, several feet from the en- 

 trance — contained a stove, a table, two chairs 

 and some shelves on which were various odds 

 and ends. Two small openings — one on 

 either side of the room — served as windows. 

 In the corner near the door was a closet for 

 tinware and provisions. 



"When my host had provided me with the 

 necessary articles with which to remove the 

 stains of travel, he resumed preparing supper. 

 Such agility was surprising in such an old 

 man. Instead of walking, he seemed to be 

 continually hopping, as though his short, bow- 

 legs contained springs. Nor did his heavy 

 boots impede his movements. 



During the meal, which for abundance far 

 exceded by expectations, my host gave me 

 every attention, although he talked but little. 

 His little black eyes seemed to divine my 

 wishes before I had the opportunity of ex- 

 pressing them. In fact, he was so attentive 

 that he seemed to be playing a part, and I be- 

 came suspicious of him. At the completion 

 of the meal he even assisted me to remove 

 my boots and don a pair of his slippers. Then, 

 when he had done likewise, he went to the 

 curtain, drew aside one corner, bowed cere- 

 moniously, and politely requested me to enter. 

 'Won't you step into my parlor?' said the 



spider to the fly. Already suspicious, the 

 words, occurring to me at that moment, 

 seemed a terrible warning. I could not ac- 

 count for it in any other way. However, I 

 hesitated but an instant. With every sense 

 on the alert, prepared at the first sign of 

 treachery to spring upon him, I boldly en- 

 tered the room. 



"The apartment, though small, was luxu- 

 riously furnished; at least, for a cabin in the 

 wilderness. In the centre there was a small 

 table, on either side of which a large, uphol- 

 stered rocking-chair stood invitingly. In one 

 corner a lounge rested, while from the corner 

 opposite a huge, red-shaded parlor lamp threw 

 its rays on the dark-green carpet, greatly add- 

 ing to the effect. The old man bowed me 

 to a seat, and hopped from the room. 



"Left to myself, my thoughts turned me- 

 chanically to my host. Two questions "were 

 continually presenting themselves : Who was 

 he? Why was he living so secluded a life? 

 Was it not probable that, for purely personal 

 reasons, he chose to exile himself from his 

 fellow-men? Few persons would pass his 

 way, and when one did come would he not 

 be overjoyed, and show it in his hospitality? 

 And again, how did he obtain money to sup- 

 port such an establishment? From persons 

 who accepted his hospitality and were never 

 heard of afterward? Argue as I would, I 

 could not banish the thought, that this cabin 

 was nothing more than the tomb of many a 

 belated traveler. 



"Glancing about, I discovered that the par- 

 tition, opposite to where I had entered, was 

 a curtain ; it signified another apartment. The 

 cabin was at least three rooms deep. Before 

 I had the opportunity of investigating, my 

 host entered with wine and cigars. He smil- 

 ingly offered me refreshment; but on my de- 

 clining he seemed deeply offended. He placed 

 the articles on the tables, straightened his lit- 

 tle narrow shoulders, and said, with a slight 

 touch of irony: 'The mountain air is such 

 as compels one to seek rest early. Allow me 

 to show you to your room.' 



"That the purpose of his speech was to al- 

 lay any lurking suspicions in my mind, I saw 

 plainly; therefore, I chose not to notice his 

 change of manner. I muttered something 

 concerning the truth of his assertion, and fol- 

 lowed him into the third apartment, which 

 was lighted by a small lamp. A chair, a 

 couch and a miniature bureau completed the 

 furnishings. 



"When he bade me good-night every trace 

 of offense seemed to have disappeared. He 

 drew aside the curtain, and, still holding its 

 edge, stopped midway between the two rooms 

 and said : 'Pleasant dreams. I hope you'll 

 stay with me a long time.' • With that the 

 curtain dropped from his fingers and he was 

 shut from my sight, I heard him extinguish 



