Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-01-06

came knock at the outer door; it was trav-
| eller on horseback, who asked leave to rest for
little. Krettel at first refused but on the
promise of the cavalier thathe would only break
fast and depart, she agreed to admit him; be-
sides the man; besides the man was well dress
ed and alone SO there seemed little to fear from
him. The stranger wished himself to take
his horse to the stable,and remained long time
examining AID admiring the noble steed which
han arrived the previous evening in manner
so unexpected. While breakfasting, he asked
many questions about the inn and its owners;
inquired whose was the horse that had attracted
his attention so much; and in, short, acted so
successfully, that the poor girl, innocent Of all
deceit, told him her late adventure, and ended
by coDfessing that she was all alone. She felt
Immediately vague sense of having committed
some imprudence, for the stranger listed to her
with singular attention, and seemed to take a
greater interest than simple curiosity in what
she was saying.
! The breakfast was prolonged to its utmost
length: at last, after a few unimportant ques-
tions, the traveller desired the servant girl to
| bring him bottle of wine. Krettel rose to obey:
but on reaching the cellar, found that the stran-
ger had followed her, and turning round, she
saw the glitter of pistol handle through his
vest. Her presence of mind failed her not at
| this critical moment. When they had reached
| the foot Of the steps, she Suddenly eXtingushod
the light, and stood up close against the wall {:
the man, mutterlng imprecatlons, advanced a
few steps, CROPPING his way. Krettel, profiting
by this movement, remounted the steps, agll
and noiseless, closed and firmly bolted the door
upon the pretendei traveller, and then barrica-
ded herself securely in an upper chamber, there
to await her masters arrival.
krettel had not been many minutes enscon-
ced in her retreat when fresh knocking re-
sounded at the inn door, and she perceived there
two Unlocking men, who asked her what had
become of traveller who had been there a short
time before. From their description of his ap-
pearance, the young girl Immediately discov-
cred that the person sought for was the stranger
whom she had locked in the cellar: nevertheless
she thought it most prudent to make no admis-
sion on the subject. On her refusing their re-
quest to open the door, the two men threatened
to scale the wall. The poor girl trembled with
fear; her courage well nigh DESERVING her: for
she knew that she could easily accomplish their
project by means OF the iron bars fixed to the
windows of the lower story. In this perplexity
Krettel looked around her, and her eye fell on
musket which hung from the wall, a relic
of her masters younger days. She seized il,
and pointing the muzzle out of the window,
cried cut that she would fire on the first man
who attempted to ascend.
The two robbers-for that they were, could
no longer be doubted-struck dumb at the sight
of firearms where, expecting no resistance, they
had brought no weapons, and COMPOUNDED by
such inteIidlty, went away uttering the
most fearful menaces, and vowing to return "a
gain in greater force. In spite of her terror,
our heroine remained firm at her post. An
hour passed away in this critical position; at
last the girl perceived her master and his friend
coming in sight accompanied by the burgomas-
ter and some officers.
The brave Krettel rushed to the door, and
her fear, amounting almost to despair, gave
place to the liyeliest JOY. To the wonder and
admirition of all she related what hadhappened;
the burgomaster especially lavshed on her the
warmest praise for her heroic conduct The
officers went in search of the robbef whom
Krettel had imprisoned with so much address
and presence of mind. After sharp resis-
tance, he was bound and secured and soon af-
ter recognized as the chief of band of robbers
who had for some time spread terror over the
country. His men, wandering about without
a captain, were quickly either taken or dsper-
sed. The burgomaster decided that the horse
and the vaise, which contained a great number
of gold pieces, should be given to the young
Krettel, whose courage had so powerfully con-
tributed to rid the country of banditti who had
infested it for so long time.