HE WAS A FORERUNNER
by Edwin Brown
My father told this story to ns fellers for the truth and yon know he never told no lies nor nothing like that. He was moving baggage down the south branch of the Sevogle and he came to Ritchie's depot camp at Travis Brook. He put the team up and went into the dingle of the camp. He put on a fire and set the kettle on a wire right down into the stove. When he turned around there was a man sitting on a flour barrel right behind him. They said good-day to each other Father then asked, "Where are you going? Up the road? " The stranger answered in a low voice, "No". Father then asked, "Are you going over to Ringlet's?" Again the stranger simply answered, "No". Father said he felt as if the stranger didn't want to talk to him. He didn't seem to want to answer any questions. When Father turned around to tend the kettle he asked the man, "Do you want to have some lunch with me?"
Once more he quietly responded, "No". Turning around to get the can of tea Father was totally surprised to see that the little man was gone! He didn't hear him go and when he stepped outside there was nobody to be seen on the trail. He was a little man wearing a black coat and hat. The coat was one of those old ones that would fade to a kind of greenish color He was never seen before nor since. Different people told my father he was a forerunner and if he had talked to him the right way he would have talked back to him. After hearing this tale many teamsters who traveled the area were very reluctant to stay in that camp alone.