Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-06-02

enough for hermit. But what struck
me as being little singular was that the
bed was turned towards the petition sepa.
rating the two rooms, and right opposite
the pillow was wide crack, which, had
Iign.
began to feel queer land that is not
Just the word to express what I mean. -
I had large sums of money about me,
enough to tempt the cupidity Of my en-.
tertainers at any rate, ~ their actions had
already eYineed. How easy it would be
for them to shoot me through the creyice
whilst asleep. The idea got possession
Of me fully, and / could not drive 1t from
my mind. / would have fastened the
door, but there was nothing to fasten Il
with, and was impressed with the idea
that the danger would not come in that
direction. Ifit should Lion was there to
aPPrise me ofit. ! laid off my coat and
hustled about as though was undressing.
l put my pistols under my pillow and laid
down, but such an nunac6ountabls and ter.
rible sense of evil pressed upon me that
l could not sleep. Lion, too, appeared
uneasy-cams and put his fore paws up
ON the bed every few minutes, then went
back to his post by the door, and laid
down in kind of ffeyerish anxiety.
AT last feigned sleep, and snored most
musically, but did not fail to look through
the creyice and see what my host and
hostess were doing. They laid down up.
on the bed which stood in the room, and
were quiet enough until began to snore;
then heard them whisper, What were
my sensations when saw them rise soft
ly, and the man take gun from behind
the bed. ] saw him, assisted by the hag,
draw out charge of shot which was in
the gun. and reload it with handful Of
slugs. turned over heavily and preten.
ded to have awakened. My plan Of sc-
ton was arranged in moment. / had
worn wig for several years, on account
of looiing my hair by fever. determ
ined to make it Of moro use than il had
ever been before. / lifted myself from
the bed, and felt about in the dark, until
l found one of the pumpkins I had seen,
Over this l drew my wig, and It happen
ed to be an excellent fit. Having dressed
it on my pillow, in the exact spot which
my head had occupied. When It was
thus adjusted ii was in juxtaposition with
the long craVice, through which now
took another look. Heavens the fiends
were loading brace Of pistols with the
same Internal slugs
can't say but felt little dry about
the throat then. / looked towards old
Lion. ! could see his great eyes through
the darkness. He was still upon the alert,
The perspiration began to run down my
face in great drops, not that l felt Abso.
lutely afraid-for fatter myself was
no coWArd-but did not like the idea
of taking human life. was confident
that could defend myself, yet even that
confidence was not enough 10 make me
feel altogether comfortable.
Taking my pistol in my hands, bent
over the bed, and commenced snoring
again, at the same time watching the
movements of the man and his amiabls
spouse. Every explosion from my nose
seemed to give her infinite satisfaction,
They looked at each other, nodded and
smiled grimly. He took the gun, and in
his stocking feet approached the creyiee
opposite my bed, followed by the hag, with
the pistols and carving knife. Stopping. he
peered into the room, and brought his fe-
rocious looking eyes to bear upon my wig,
knew it would be dangerous 10 see more.
raised my head out Of harms way, and
emitted now and then snore. distinct.
ly heard him hx the muzEle Of his gun
against the tissure opposite the wig. aud
then with tremor ofindignation, and q
kind of creeping sensation all over me,
drew back and awaited the result. Il was
moment Of awful suspense 10 me. What
if he should discover the cheat and elevate
his piece? A thousand such thoughts
rushed through my mind in an Instant
The cold sweat ran down my face in a
stream. Thank Heaven ! was not long
kept in suspense.
A terrible explosion followed the fear.
fsl pause. A storm Of tlugs poured into
my bed, perforating my wig, and scatter.
ing the pumpkin in every direction.
"He won't never tell no story 70 I
heard the assassin say, As he dropped the
breach Of the gun heavily to the hoor.--
Now for the dog"
During these operations Lion had pla.
ced himself by my side, with his fore feet
upon the bed, while 70 keep him still,
put my hand over his mouth. He knew
what meant, for had kept him quiet
before. At the moment Of the discharge,
he gave low growl. pointed 70 the
door. He understood my meaning we'll
His eyes flashed like balls Of FIRE, while
he waited the moment 10 Wfeak his ven
geance on the assassins.
81 win open the door little, and when
the cretur sticks out his head, shoot him, .
said the she wolf.
The door was opened. but "the eretur''
didn't stick his head out Lion knew
better than that. and waited his chance
Emboldsned by not hearing anything, the