Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-06-06


"Iou had better, GONE in the house,
sir !" ne SAID servo9.ly ''ior l am sure
4hat man is ysyy cyl designing, and may
do va SOM
( ASahe IKE she .llountsd the steps
of . vsIkncient looking dwelling, and
vioI1dy rang the bell. followed her,
yTcxactly from prudential motives, but
because | was fond Of adventure Of any
kind. Almest instantly the door was
opened, when ! followed the young girl
inside. An old, hideous-Iooking negro
woman stood in the hall just hey ond the
door, holding lamp in her hand.
"Why, what's de matter, Car'line !"
demanded the bag.
"Shnt the door, quick! I've been
waylAid by ruffian p responded the
girl excitcdiy. "Tbis way, sir" she ad-
dea, addressing me, at the same time
opening the parlor door, and pointing in
to the room. l bowed and passed in
aud at the same time / heard the front
door closed and locked.
eExcuse me for moment, sir, while
| speak to my mother!" pursued the
young girl. The next moment, and be-
tore had time to reply, the door closed,
and l was left alone. l walked to So
fa--a light was burning in the room
and sat down. Then | took survey
of the apartment. The furniture had
been good in It's day, but was then much
worn and battered.
A few minutes afterwards the satan
ic-lookng negress opened the parlor
door, and pokcd her hideous face in the
room.
"Miss Caf'.ine quests the gentleman
to walk up stairs - said she.
l began to think the proceedings rath-
err strange, but still! my reckless spirit in.
duced me to follow the negress. Up
two flights Of Stairs and to the door Of
a back apartment she led me. She
knocked and the door opened.
"WaIk in, sir, il you please she said,
quite defcrcntially.
! stepped into an apartment that had
no windows in it, aud was confronted
by huge, burly negro man. At the
same moment heard the door closed
and locked, and for the first time began
to think seriously Of danger.
"Fork ober, sar.'' exclaimed the ne
gro abruptly and threateningly.
l carried quite valuable watch, and
had considerable sum of money about
me, for that night l had been paid off
at the office, and really clever sum
was standing to my account. l knew l
had been drawn into den of thieves,
but l internally resolved not to lose my
property without making an effort to
save it, let the consequences be what
they might.
''Do you mean to rob me, l demand
ed resolutcly.
aspect ] do" was the unmistakable
reply.
II warn you ~ said l, my blood boil
ing up, "that | shall not patiently sub
NIT to any such outrage"
Don't spect you will, sar ~ respond.
ed the negro, as he displayed murder
Gus looking knife "but we neber do
anything by halves. We neber lets
any one that comes here 90 away again
cause they might tell tales"
"Would you murder me, you black
thief!" cried I, passionate|y
aspect l wouid," rejoihed the cut
throat, with broad grin. "I'se used
to dat sort oh bis'ness, and don't mind
it Bit"
was now fully alive to the fact tina.
| was in a very dangerous situation:
and to tell the truth, felt dreadful ncr-
vous over it. What to do l knew not.
That the girl had encountered was
probably a quadroon, ard certainly de.
coy,-and that l had been led to the
house to be plundered and perhaps muir
dered l had every reason to believe.
"Come, sar, fork ober, an den jump
down dar ~
The rascal must have touched a spring
somewhere, for. as he spoke, trap door
flew open in the center of the floor.
l looked at the trap and then at the
negro, in doubt as to whether / had
heard Alright.
IF yer jump down, sar, yer'll sabe
me dc trouble OBJ frowin' yer down ~
he added, tiendishly.
"You bloody rascal" cried, madly,
do you think I'll deprive myself Of
life Just to crafty you %
"You won't do muffin, hey ~ cried the
negro, springing at me like wild beast;
"den take dat ~
The villain made a slashing cut at
me, but with single bound l sprapg
clear to the other side of TIE trap and
escaped the deadly blow. Boiling over
with diabolical rage, the accnrsed cut
throat again sprang at me, bounding
across the pit with the spring Of mad
ness. As his feet touched the edge up
on which | was standing, l invoiun,arl-
ly pnt out my hands towards him, and
showed him. hardly intended to throw
him down the pit, but down he went, in
a moment disappearing out of sight.
l did not stop to learn the villains
fate, for l judged should have more
such work on my hands before got ont
Of the house, if indeed ever succeeded
in making my escape from the den Of
in!amy. Instantly after the fall Of the
negro, l ram around the pit and sprang
to ards the door. Just as l reached
the door, however, and was about tax
ing hold of the knob, some one turned
it on the other side. Isprang up against
the wall, and in Il way that would keep
me out of sight Of any one who might
enter. The next moment the door