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THE MISSING MAN.
15

One man tells me it is to the East, another to the West; and the guide posts too, they all point the wrong way.' 'But will you not stop and rest,' said I. 'You seem wet and weary.' 'Yes,' said he, 'it has been foul weather since I left home.' 'Stop then, and refresh yourself.' 'I must not stop, I must reach home to-night if possible, though I think you must be mistaken in the distance to Boston.' He then gave the reins to his horse, which he had restrained with difficulty, and disappeared in a moment. A few days afterwards I met the man a little this side of Claremont, winding around the hills in Unity, at the rate, I believe, of twelve miles an hour."

"Is Peter Rugg his real name, or has he accidentally gained that name?" "I know not, but presume he will not deny his name, you can ask him, for see, he has turned his horse and is passing this way." In a moment, a dark colored, high spirited horse approached, and would have passed without stopping, but I had resolved to speak to Peter Rugg, or whoever the man might be. Accordingly I stepped into the street, and as the horse