The appearance of the old man caused Mr…
source date: 1891
availability: public-domain

He had about $800 worth of stock and $1,200 in money. When he entered the house he discovered that the occu- pants were a man of about sixty, a twenty-five- year-old son, and two women. The appearance of the old man caused Mr. Hardy to distrust him, and he heartily wished he had not visited the place. Of course the women wanted to see what he had for sale, and they purchased about $3 worth of goods. The old man, whose name was Moody, was particu- lar to ask whom the peddler had last seen and to learn whether or not he had any friends in the country. Afterward Mr. Hardy believed the old rascal wished to ascertain whether his in- tended victim would be missed if murdered. Just before Mr. Hardy sat down to dinner, he happened to look out of the window, and saw the son go into a barn with a shotgun in his hands. The stealthy manner put the peddler on his guard, and he took good care that his own gun was within reaching distance. He quickly swallowed a cup of coffee, took a few mouthsful of bread and slipped what he could into his pockets. Then he prepared to leave. “But you must see the blooded stock I have before you go,” said Moody, “Probably I can trade one of the animals for a silver watch.”