The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-01-27

j
we'll do the best by you we kim"
A significant glance passed among the
men as the host concluded his hospitable
invitation, which did not escape my no.
tice.
AT length supper was served, consist
ing Of corn bread and bacon, and for this
tneasre fare abundant apologies were Of.
fered
/ After listening to their disgusting con.
versa,ion, l informed my host l would
like to retire.
"WiIl you leave your saddle -bags:"
said he, with bland smile, as he extend
ed bis monstrous hand to take them.
"No, SIR" l replied, while a heavy
frown gathered on my brow.
Il have very safe place to keep
them," be rejoined, while his blood shot
eyes stabbed me to the heart
"No doubt" SAID |, with a meaning
nod, but | would prefer taking them
with me"
This conclusion was received rather
coolly, and as | prepared to leave the
room, one of the men espied the handle
of my revolver protrudiDg from beneath
my coat.
"Iello, strnnger!" he exclaimed, in a
quick tone, "let's sec that ere pistol. will
your So sudden had been the demand,
and in such seeming curiosity that put
my hand back to give it to him. But
second thought decided me, and | replied
that it was no great curiosity, and l
would show it to him in the morning.
By this time the men had gathered a.
round me, and seeing things looked rath
er peculiar, backed myself through the
door, followed By the host. When the
door closed l could hear loud murmuring
and an oath uttered in vehement tones.
The landlord hurried me up feeble
pair of stairs, and, few yards from the
landing, pushed open the door, aud bade
NE enter. | glanced around the apart
meDt, and showed By my action, that
was dissatisfied with its appearance.
ut is the best can do for you, strau
ger" said he, "and you needn't be afraid
OF them fellows down stairs, they won
hurt anybody.
81 shall not be alarmed" l replied, as
he closed the door and descended the
steps. | was somewhat annoyed at the
appearance of things, and determined to
place myself in the best possible position
of defence. l examined my quarters
closely, and found the door had no fast
ening whatever, nor was there anything
convenient with which it could be secured.
Determined not to be baf1ied, / tore
strip of board from the wall, and with
knife cut out lower cete of the floor
Then with my pocket knife bored holes
in the casing at the upper end, aud draw
ing several nails from the wall, | drove
them in with the handle of my large knife.
Having examined the walls, and appre
hendiug no treachery from them, secur-
ed the window, and then, turned my at
tention to the floor. Beneath the bed |
discovered a trap door, md its discovery
made my hair stand on an end. | found
it opened downward, and the possibility
of securing it strongly seemed hopeless.
Once | thought of emoving my bed,
and then watching, as trapper does
hole in the ice for game. But that would
rot 90, for should [ successfully repulse
the frst ntruder-for | had DO longer a
doubt of being in a Robbers Roost-it
would leave hole open which would ex-
pose NE to their FIRE. At length plan
came to my relief. | moved the bed from
over the door, and taking the clothes of,
| threw the chaf 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
bad dried 10 it.
Having thus fortified myself. l took a
seat on one end of the bed, with my sad
die bags close BY me, my knife in one
hand, and my revolver in the other, and
my ammunition convenient, in case l
should Deed it. blew out my light, and
/ ia darkness awaited the denouement of
the plot. How long | bad awaited [
could 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 my
perceptive faculties, and in an instant
was wide awake. 1t moved several times
quite easy, and then all became quiet
I li.teped few moments, but could hear
nothing Presently faint whisper from
an adjoining room come; my eyes follow
/ ed the direction, and saw a small stream
of light pouring through an opening in
the partition. | stole softly to the
spot, and listened a moment. | then put
my eye to the opening, and had fair
view of the operations inside.
So horrible was the sight then beheld
that its recollections will never be erased
from my memory. Hanging from the
bed, and with bis head nearly severed
from bis body, was an old grey-beaded
man, while the purple current OF life was
steadily streaming from the cash. lreel'
ed a moment from dizziness. and was a.
bout to withdraw from the scene, when
the door opened softly, and person en-
tered. looked again, and three of the