Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-10-16

ing together in the next apartment
Sill I did not feel any uneasiness. for
relied on the fact that was unknown /,
the .bscouding clerk. They soon re
turned to the apartment where sat
ave have only one room In. th,
house," said the uncle as he entered
elf you viii not mind sleeping with ,
son Of mine. you can have part Of bi
bed.
I, Of course, Immediately consented
glad enough to End any place where I
could rest my weary limbs.
After Q pause OF . few minutes
pulled oat my watch. and said ] should
like to 60 to bed I noticed at The
time significant looks pass between the
uncle snd nephew Ehen they saw my
watch. It was fne gold ona--a real
cooper--and had been presen,sd to me
by an importer Of watches for services
rendered. 80. M
"You will find my son next the wall, /"
said the uncle. "You will have the
goodness not to awaken him. for he has
been sick lately. snd has to ge. up
early" rs
/ replied that I would certainly avoid
waking him. The uncle took. up q
candle. and showed me to q room up
stairs; it was the only hsbitable sleeping
room in the house, and was situated
over that in which We bad been seated.
Cautioning me to put out the light as
soon as was in bed he left me.
l found myself in 9 room the exact
Of the one below, excepting
that this one contained a bedstead.
Snoring on the bed next the wall was q
young man some years younger than
myself. l cautiously brought the light
to bear on his face. The FIRST thing
that struck me was that the man below
had deceived me when he had told me
his son WAS sick. He was undrsssed
and wore on his head uight-csp.
A vague sensation of uneasiness
crept over me. ! regretted having en-
tered the house, and looked round for
the means Of exit. There was only
one door in my room. that by which l
had entered. Opposite the door was.
l walked up to it. and en-
1eavored to peer through the outside
darkness, but could distinguish nothing.
I tried to reason away my forebodings,
and succeeded in doing SO to some ex.
tent.
began to prepare for bed. and had
already taken of my coat and waist
coat when / fancied ] heard step on
The stairs. Immediately extioguished
The light. and waited with brsathiess
the door gently opened, and
the uncle cautiously thrust forward his
head. In the gloom Of the chamber
be could not perceive me; and finding
The light extinguisbed. ! suppose he
l was in bed. for he closed the
door very softly and descended the
stairs again.
was now worked up to the highest
pitch Of excitement. / felt certain that
was going to happen. / re-
my lonely situation--the in
1uisitive questions Of the men below.
There was no possible means for me to
escape. except by going through the
-oom in which they we're seated-and
such a course l knew would be perfect
madness. / Summoned up all ny phi
osophy, and determined to wait the
and tried to persuade my
,elf my fears were groundless. But
when I thought Of the significant looks
hat had passed between the men when
hey saw my gold watch. I must con.
ess that the effort was failure. And
hen the thought Suddenly struck me.
{. after all, the clerk had recognized
ne, it was certain that he would never
ct me leave that place alive. Five long
minutes passed away, and heard moth
ng. At that moment light flashed
,efore my window. l went directly to
t, and saw the uncle with q lantern
Iigging in the garden. / watched him
With eager eyes; he was digging hole
bout six feet long and three broad.
GOOD Godl" l exclaimed to myself.
he is digging my Srave."
I now felt certain that the young
nan had been left in the room below
o prevent my escape. But / deter
mined to satisfy myself il such we're
he fact or not. I opened the door
and stole cautiously, down
tsirs in my stocking feet. / glanced
trough the keyhole Of the door which
pened into the room, and saw that my
uspicions were well founded, for the
clerk sat beside table with
revolver all ready cooked within his
each. returned TO the bedroom again.
again took my position at the window.
i've minutes more of agoniEing sus-
'ense ensued. / had nothing with
'hich to defend myself. and was COM
'leiely at their mercy. A sudden
almness now took possession OF mel
suppose il was the calmness OF de-
pair, but withal my faculties were per-
ectly clear, and l turned over hun
red plans TO escape the doom that
waited me. All this time ! was ca
erly watching the actions OF the uncle.
The soil was very light, and he soon
IN deepening the hole at
east four feet. He then threw down
is spade and entered the house again.
expected every moment to hear them
scending the stairs, and had made up
~ mind to sell my life as dearly as
'ossible. when a purring sound attract
A NV att.n,;o, r. ira