The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1860-06-07

dered and lost my way. We found our
selves, finally, in cm de sac or bin,
alley, a species of street, which, though
rare with US, is frequently met with il
London and other European cities.
The street was a wretched one enough
and evidently Inhabited by the very low
est class of people. My guide led thu
way to one Of the houses at the farther
end of the alley, and knocked gently a
the door; it was cautiously opened, after
a short delay, by slatternly looking
young woman, and my conductrcss, re-
ceiviny from her small fiat candlestick
led the way up stairs, requesting me tc
follow her
For the last few minutes very serious
doubts Of the prudence of my conduct in
thus cntrusting myself to the guidance Of
a perfect stranger, in such Il locality hat
been passing through my mind, which
were by no means dissipatcd by the ap.
pearanee of the house W hich had enter
ed. However, it was now too late to re
treat, and after momontary hesitation
assembled the stairs. When we reached
the second floor, the young woman led the
way into an apartment and requested me
to be seated, while she prepared her mo-
thcr, who she said occupied the chamber
above, for the visit of a stranger. She
then left u.e.
The room in which | found myself was
in a miserabiy dilapidated condition.
The paper which had once covered Its
walls hung in strips in various places !;
the plaster of the ceiling had fallen away
here and there, and several panes Of glass
were wanting in thu windows, their pla-
ces being supplied by paper rudely plas
tered on the sash. The furniture was
in keeping with the apartment; a ragged
carpet, an Old horschair sofa, wooden
table, and three or four broken backed,
ri,kety looking chairs completed the iu-
ventory The whole dimly Illuminated
by the light Of solitary candle, lookC d
gloomy enough approached oneof the
windows, threw it open and endeavorcd,
as we'll as the darkness would permit, to
discover what aspect the ncighborhopd
presented in that direction. The room
was, as | had conjcc,ured, in the rear OF
the house, and looked out upon small
court yard shut in on every side by the
tear or side walls of the adjacent build
ings. Bat two windows were visible iu
any af them, and in neither was there any
light or other Indication Of thc rooms to
which they belonged being occupied. |
closed the window aud returned to nv
seat ~ the table, The vague sense Of
uncasiacss had experienced when first
entered the house was rapidly bacom n
a very Po.i'ivc apprehension oS <)"ls ia
pending danger.
As nearly rs can jul -e had been 4.
lone about a IN rtor Of an hour, and re.
solved | would wal; five minutes longer,
and then, should no one come, endeavoi
to find my way down stairs and into the
street. drew out my watch it want ID
twenty minutes Of eleven | waited pa
tientIy the tine | hal proposed, and then
prepared to leave the aprrtmeut. What
was my dismay when, on turuiu. the han
die of the door, discovered it TO DC loc.
ked on the outside.
In an instant the whole peril Of my sit
uation flashed upon me. Ny worst fears
babe fair to be realized How biiudly
had | fallen into the trap set for Inc. to
which the gold SO carelessly displayed at
the jewelers. window, had doubtless y
been the incentive. The story SO pathet'
ically told me, had been, of course, tale
invented most probably on the spur of tie
moment, to excite my sympathlcs. 1t
al succeeded well 1t was clear was
to be robbed, perhaps murdered. Why
not? had myself, | rccollecscd-and
| cursed my fatuty as did so-told the
woman whom had accompanied to thc
house, that | was a perfect stranger to the
city, and therefore, she would argue, not
likely, should any evil befal ne, 20 be
missed for some days at least. rccol
lccted, too vivilly, the momentary cleaul
OF satisfaction which had lichtcnea up
her features when | made the avowal.
What was to be done? Were there
no means of forcing the lock? Yes. al
the fire place stood an old fashioned brass
fender, inside of which was a set Of Ere
irons. The pUker-no; the small piece
of iron crooked at one end, most general
l. used in this country, but a straight
bar of steel, about three feet in length
would enable me to break open the doc
without difficulty. l instantly seized i
and was about to use it for that purpose
when a moments reflection made III
pause. The noise | should make in brea
king open the lock could not but war,
those who had secured it that was con
scious of my danger and endeayoring t
escape. Once in the passage, sudder
blow might dash the light from my han'
and assailed in the dark on the marrow
staircase, l should have but little chanc,
to defend myself. Escape By the win
dow was, as | had already seen, imprae
ticable. lresolved, therefore, to wait tn
event, whatever it might be, where
could at least see and confront the peri
which threatened me. was armed, TO
| carried in the breast pocket of my Goa
brace of small single bsrrelled pistols
and it was not without satisfaction | rec
objected that had but the very day be
fore, fearing that the sea air might hav,
affected them, drawn the charges ane
carefully reloaded them | had, howcv
er, found but solitary percussion cap il
the case, and had been obliged to replac,
on one pistol, the old one OF the eff
cheney, therefore, of that weapon | hac
considerable doubt; the other | believed
might be depended upon The poker, too
l thought as | glanced at t,woud enable
me, if things came to the worst, to sci
nv life not cheaply. But, suppose my