The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-02-10
THE OLD WAYsIDE INN.

| had been slumbering uneasily for nearly au4
hour. and had just become thoroughly awaken
cd when Mr. Leslie entered my room cautiously;
and addressed me in this singular manner.
| had that day CHANGED to fail in with an el-
derby gentleman, (Mr. Leslie by name) and his
daughter Gertrude, an interesting young lady
Of nearly eighteen, and as our routes lay in the
same direciion, we were naturally agreed to ac-
company each other.
We had stopped at the roadside inn Our
accommodation was much more ample than /
had supposed possible from The external appear
ance Of the dwelling, and much TO our salts
faciion we were furnished with separate rooms,
tho1gh all IN the low chamber at the top OF the
house.
The apartment allotted to myself was a small
oae, furnished with a handsome bed, with hea-
w greea curtains, hight stand, and couple
Of chairs. Everything WAS in perfect keeping
and good order, but The bed was placed against
the door greatly to my astonshment.
''What have you discovered asked has
lily.
He gave me soiled piece Of paper on which
were rudcly inscribed these words:
'.,Im saw three travellers coming over the old
road an hour ago. Probably they will be at
your house pretty soon after dark, and you must
manage to keep them tonight. Don't try to-
settle them until come, which will be about.
midnight. Tow SEYToH."
We engaged in a short conversation as to the
course We had better pursue and then, without
arriving at any conclusions ! left the father and
daughter aluae for few moments while eau.
tiously descended the stairs. Having gainee
the hail below, stole through long marrow
passage had not before observed, and at las
came to the door of an apartment. in which
knew the family Of our host, together with or
would -be-murderers, were assembled.
''Wel!, Tom. how do you propose to settle
our gn ests above!"
1hi5 was the voice Of our host addressing
the n,-w conner.
"flage you disposed of them?"
'NVhy gave the old man and the girl hc
two roomS the left, and that young fellow
tool; the one at the right /"
s'rhe room, you made SO eonreai,nt last week.
! ''Yes"
/ -'Well, if that is the case, don't think we
I sha Il iind hard work at all. The very instant
I you hear the report of my pistol, you and JIM
must be at hand to enter he old mans room
and take care of him"
:
"hlt twelve, they will be sleeping most sound
I Iy then"
II wanted just thirty minutes of the hour
appointed, and / hastened to retrace my steps
up stairs
| visited my own room first, where | found
that The convenient fixture ! had heard spoke1
of below was merely a small square hole in tIa
wall, just opposite the pillow, sufficiently large
enough to insert the barrel of any moderate sic
ed pi-tol-a very easy way to relieve Il man d
his life.
Having made this discovery, l sought Nj.
Leslie and his daughter.
81 was abont To propose" said, 'that eaA
one of US should keep his own apartment. If
we meet them together while SeytoH has lis
pistol at hand, one of us will be sure 10 ct
killed. On the contrary, should | manufacture
a good counterfeit, as [ now propose, 10 occi-
py my place for the time being in that rathr
dangerous bed, and in this manner waste Set
5 toms shot and throw him of his guard, | an
very sure could gain the mastery in hand o
, ha.d struggle in a very few minutes, aud thh
come to your assistance. Does my propositiG
, suit your
= Perfectly, and lucky for your scheme, l wer
a wig, winch may be OF considerable benefit Q
| YOU in making the counterfeit of which you haze
! spoken Take it, it is entirely at your disp
= sal"
! It took but very few moments to fiji tie
i. wig sufficiently with bed clothes and arrangdt
:, in a favorable position on the pillow, in fr@t
: of the little opening. Having done this, |
t glanced at my watch in the moon-beams. Il
wanted five minutes Of twelve!
a The silence was growing oppressive, whenAt
h last saw the curtain move aside little. Thfe
It was loud report, and had resolution enough
K to bend forward and utter low despairbg
h moan as the report died away. In an instant
- the door was opened, and the man called Seytn
came running in, with his pistol still in his ha d.
Without the fainteot suspicion he approached
4 the bed, but meanwhile had grasped Il log,
;. heavy bar of hard wood, which [ presume, by
=. the merest chance, happened to be slandinga'
+ gainst the wall, near ny, and when he had r-
y rived within a convenient distance, sprung nt
q upon him, and with single well directed b1w
e | laid him sprawling, and | judged insenSole
i upon the floor.
n All this had occupied but moment, an. il
r was scarcely completed when heard the reprt
l. of another pistol in the direction of the aprt-
ment occupied by Mr.. Leslie. Without s,p-
;. ping to assure myself further of the resuI OF
l, the rather severe knock had given the fien
K man, / fastened forward to the assistant OF
Is my companion. He was engaged in han to
s, hand struggle with Jim while our host waIy-
2, inc upon the door, badly if not dangerously
20 wounded.
h jim was making desperate efforts TO dry a
knife from his belt while Mr.. Leslie was ing
his utmost erdcavors 20 prevent it. HeHas
lie brave and resolute, but could see his stregth
IT was falling rapidly. Gid not hesitate tPut
an immediaie SION to the contest by againAll.