Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-08-20


door to the foor. Then with my pocket
knife i bored holes In the casing al til,
upper cnd. and drawing several nails frou
the wall drove them in with the hsndl.
ofmy large knife. Having examined.th,
wallis. aud apprehending NO treaehery
from them, secured the window, and
then turned my attention to the floor
Beneath the bed discovered trap door
and its discovery made my hair stand OF
end. found it opened dosnward. and
the possibility of securing it strongly
seemed hopeless.
Once | thou 3ht of removing the bed
and then watching as q trapper does a
hole 'in the ice for game. But that would
not do. for should successfully repulss
the first intruder-for Too longer had a
doubt of being in Robbers Roost-it
would leave a hole open which would ex
pose me to their FIRE. AT length plan
came to'ms relief. moved the bsd from
over the door, aud taking the clothes of.
| threw the chat bed upon the q ,or di
'rectly over the suspected trap. But. oh
horror what a discovery Imade. The
bed was saturated with blood. and in ma
ny places hard from the gore which had
dried on it.
Having thus fortified myself. l took a
seat on one end of the bed, with nv sad.
dIe-hags close by me. my knife in one
hand and my revolver 10 the other. and
my ammunition convenient in case need.
ed it. blowout my light. aud in dark
ness awaited the denouement of The plot
How long had waited could not tell.
but in spite OF my perilous situation my
eyes greS heavy. and was almost over
come with sleep. But an easy moving
OF the bed aroused all my perceptive fa>
culties. and in an instant WAS wide
awake. 1t moved several times qhi,e
easy. and then all became quiet. i lis.
tened few moments. but could hear no
thing. Presently faint whisper from an
adjoining room came my eyes followed
the direction. and saw small stream
OF light pouring through an opening in
the partition. l lsrole softly to the spot.
and listened a moment. then put my
eye to the opening, and bad fair view
of The operations inside.
So horrible was the sight then beheld
that it's recollvctions will never be erased
from my memory. Hanging from the
bed. aud with his head nearly severed
from his b"iy. WAS an old gray headed
man. while the purple current of life was
steadily streaming from the cash. lreeI
ed moment with dizLiness. and was
about to Withdraw from the scene. when
the door opened very sof ly. aud person
entered looked again. and three of
the men I.had seen in the bar room were
standing near The dead man.
why. Hans. said one. L thought you
had 6xrd him by this time
Well have trouble with that custom
er.' replied Hans. shaking his head he
is up TO something he has put his bed
over the trap
The devil J. they both exclaimed. and
looked at each other 10 great surprise.
we must manage hi.n someh wv
said Hans. 'for he has money. am cor
tain
Hadn't we better attend to that gal
first ? suggested one.
Yes; the old man is fixed. now for the
GAL And picking up tne light they left
the room.
What girl? (? thought I. Is /. possible
some person as unfortunate a. my sell has
been compelled to stop here ?
| listened eagerly. and presently a
crash came. followed by shrill scream
| sprang toward my door. but recollecIed
that had it we'll secured. hesitated a
when another scream mDrs ter
r. fic than the 6rst was followed bv the
sharp report of pisIol. Il vas but the
work OF a moment TO untasten my door
aud dash out. As i sprang into The pas
sage | met two men. whu fred almost
rus without effect. l
levelled my revolver. and sent the con
t"uts ot one barrel through the head of
one, who tumb;ed heavily down stairs.
dragging his companion wi him.
l rushed iutO the ruOm. and tnund the
gIrl sheltered behind he'd, keeping Haus
ut bay With revolver A. entered
Hans sprang at me- with 6 nIi-h ex
preston, and IN spite OF my ed 'rts. seized
me- in hsrcuesn clutches. My pistol now
Was OF no use; 50 hurlIng ii from me.
drew my knie. and soon put an end to
The struggle. gathered up my pistol
and hurried The girl intoymy own room.
and soon had th. door securely barrical
I'd. then explained To her our silua-
'IOo' HhH ~" =. C6ne " uIsCOSSI hhhh cue
was to be victim. Bat when told her
Of the old man. she family gasped, 1t is
my father and the next moment lay
on the fJur.
DOW was in trying position. l ex
pected every moment the attack Of the
robbers would be rrnsWed. aud that 10
all probability they would o'erpoWrr Us,
and then our dooms would be- ssniSd.
lnvoIuntarily cast my eyes toward the
window. as if it would afford some point
OF escape. But then he robbers would
have lair chance. could surround Us and
murder US Without sho~ OF dsfrnes,-