New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-12-11
The Robbers Rooat or Hans Last victim


BY john KENNEDY.
II was suitry afternoon that crossed the Hfssis-
supp river, and negligeEty Travelled on nv yp4v
| toward Greenfield The cool shades which covered
the road and the majestic woodland scenery Whiled
away the time 80 pleasantly that before was aware
o. H. the sun was down and darkness gently drop
| looked about me, and became alarmed at the
density Of The forest. The signing Of the wind the
rustlug Of a bush, the hOoting Of an owl startled
me n the thick shades Of almost every tree ina
3lhed Wild beast ready to spring upon me and from
behind the trees monstroas trunks exDected aorne
n,ueons animal to dash furiousy at me. I carried
ny FeVoiYer ready for any emergency and loosened
~ ~ heasy kalte in its scabbard. Bat little did
, tiat after having passed the dangers Of the
| awaited me. '''N' otiAi '|'SI
- me darkness had BECOME intense, and It was with
ths g5eatest olhcuItYG could pursue nv course At
length, however, All ht hove In view and naver IN
my lie dd nail its gentle luster with greater iov
! HHeH heared me spot, found a dilapidated log
mouse, Two stories high with rckety old porch III
front. couple Of gannt, ferOcious hounds came
/ rushing at me, and warned the inmates Of nv AT
| proach. | scrutinzed the premises as CLOSELY as
could in the darkness and was anything bat satisfied
| with the result Of my investigations Bot when I
! looked about me and saw the heavy gloom which
! hung upon everything, and the prospect of being
deyoured by wolves concluded to first inquire the
distance to the next stopping place, and If it too
/ Tar, TO remain where | was.
The door opened, and husky voice said &C who's
there ?'
a stranger replied, and followed up by asking
how far to the next stopping place "
could hear low murmur Of voices and then a
reply came ten miles or more
dlsmonnted, and fastened my horse to post and
as assembled the old rckety stairs Of the porch they
screaked dismal drge, and the gaunt, lean hounds
nipped sayagely at my heels.
The room which | entered, presented such repu-
siVe appearance that | started back with mingled
surprise and disgust The eyes of several rough,
couth looking individuals were turned upon me and
felt in their glance, something more of the Zero
consneSs Of the wild beast than the gentle gaze of
human beings.
Take seat, strangern said bGrly, thick set
man as he handed me a chair, which groaned pite.
ously with its nirmities. AS cast a glance uDon
the group before me- seemed to hesitate which was
instantly noticed and the officiating man. who seem.
ed to be landlord, came toward me- aud in concilia.
tory tone and style as gentle as could be expected
said:
Sorry can't accommodate You better, stranger bpt
make yourself at home, we'll do the best by you we
kin.
A significant glance passed among the men as the
host concluded his hospitable invitation, which did
not escape my notice,
At length supper was served, consisting of corn
bread and bacon, and for this meager fare abundant
apologies were offered.
After listening a short time to their disgusting
conversation, informed my host would like to re.
tire.
viii you leave your saddle bagsr said he, with
bland smile, as he extended his monstrous hand to
take them
No, sir replied, while heavy frown gathered
on my brow
4 have very safe place to keep them, he reioined
while MS blood shot eyes stabbed me to the heart.
No doubt said |, With meaning nod "but
would prefer taking them with me-
ms conclusion was received rather CoOlly, and as
prepared to leave the room, one of the men espied
the handle OF my revolver protruding from beneath
my coat,
Hello, stranger!' be exclaimed in quick tone.
lett see that ere pistol, will youE' So sudden had
been the demand, and ia such seeming innocent Gu.
riosity, that put my hand back to give it to him.
But second thought decided me, and I replied
that it was no great curiosity and would show It
to him in the morning..
By this time the men had gathered around M. and
seeing things looked rather peculiar, backed myself
through the door, followed by the host. When the
door was closed could hear loud murmuring and an
oath Or two uttered in vehement tones.
The landlord hurried me up feeble pair Of stairs
and few yards from the landing pushed open a door
and babe me enter. glanced around the apartment
and showed by my action that was dissatisfied with
its appearance.
1T is the best can do for you stranger" said he
s'and you need mt be afraid of them fellows down
stairs, they won't hurt anybody"
shall not be alarmed, replied as he closed the
door and descended the steps. was somewhat an
noyed at the appearance ofthings and determined to
place myself in the best possible position of defence
| examined my quarters closely, and found the door
had no fastening whatever, nor was anything conye
nient with which it could be secured.
Determined not to be batfled, tore strip of board
from the wall, and with my knife cut out a niece
sufficiently long to make brace from the lower cIete
Of the door to the floor Then with my pocketknif
bored holes in the casing at the upper end and
drawing several nails from the wall drove them in
with the handle of my large knife Having examined
the walls, and experimenting no treachery from them
secured the window, and then turned nv attention
to the floor. Beneath the bed | discovered tran.
door, and its discovery made my hair stand on end
do nd md 10, Il
securing it strongly seemed hopeless.
Once | thought OF removing the bed, aud then |
watching, as trapper does hole in the ice for game
But that would not do, for should | successfully re.
pulse the first ntruder-for had no longer a doubt
OF being in robbers roost-it would leave a hole |
open which would expose me to their fire. At length
a plan came to my relief | moved the bed from over
the door, and taking the clothes off threw the chat
bed upon the floor, and directly over the suspected
trap. But, oh, horror what discovery | made |
The bed was saturated with blood, and in many
places hard from the gore which had dried in it.
Having thus fortified myself took a seat on one
end Of the bed, with my saddlebags close BY me. nv
knife in one hand and my revolver in the other and
my ammunition convenient, in case should need it.
| blew out my light and in darkness awaited the de.
nOument of the plot. How long had waited | eould
not tell but in spite of my perilous situation my eyes
grew heavy, and was almost overcome with sleep |
But an easy moving Of the bed aroused all nv per. |
cept1Ve faculties, and in an instant was wide awake
1t moved several times quite EASY and then hi no.
nothing Presently faint whisper from an adjoining |
room came; my eyes followed the direction and / |
saw small stream OF light pouring through an open
ing i'll the partition. stole softly TO the spOt and
listened moment. then put my eve to the open.
lng and had fair view Of the operations inside.
So horrible was the sight then beheld that its
recollection will never be erased from my memory.
hanging from the bed, and with his head nearly
severed from his body, was old grey-headed man,
while the purple current at life was steadily stream.
ing from the cash. reeled moment with dizziness
and was about to Withdraw from the scene, when the
door opened softly, and person entered. looked
again, and three OF the men had seen in the bar
room were standing near the dead man.
Why, Hans, said one, thought you had fixed
him by this time
Wen have trouble with that customer replied
Hans, shaking his head he is up t0something be nut
his bed over the trap
The devil! they both exclaimed, and looked at
each other in surprise.
We must manage him somehow said Hans, for
he has money am certain OF that.
Hadn't We better attend to that ere gal first 2
suggested one.
Yes, the old man is fixed, now for the gal : and
picking up the light they left the room
What girl thought |. Is it possible some person
IS unfortunate as myself has been compelled to stop
here.
listened eagerly, and presently crash came, fol
owed by shri scream. sprang toward my door
but recolIected that had it well secured hestated
moment when another scream, more terrific than
The tlrst, followed by the sharp report Of pistol 1t
was but the work OF a moment to unasten the door
and dash out. As sprang into the passage, | met