The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-01-14
From the Papers of a Revenue ONO
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.
CONTINUED

asked if could have shelter there
from the storm. The woman looked In
to my face with searching glance, and
finally said yes So / placed my trunks
la one corner, and then sat down. was
considerably wet, and feeling somewhat
chilly. asked if there was any spirit in
the house AT sign from the old wo-
man. the girl brought me some, which l
found to be pure old French brandy
That is something of the right stamp, y
lsaid as wiped my lips.
Yes" returned my hostess 1t is
some that my son brought up from Lam
caster"
had strong suspicion that she was
living, but kept my thoughts to myself,
and pretty soon she commenced to get
supper.
The storm grew more furious and l
noticed that both the females were very
anxious, and that they frequently went
to the back door, and listened to the roar
of the dismal breakers. Nine o'clock
came and as it still rained hard, l re-
marked that / should have to remain
with them over night The old woman
made no objections, but took upa candle,
and led the way into little apartment
in one corner, where l found two mat
trasses spread upon the floor She told
me that was the best she could do, and II
could sleep there / was welcome. l
answered that ] was grateful for any
mort i'm a storm, and with mumbling re-
DIV. which could not understand, she
left me. Iquickly undressed, and having
found some old pieces of sailclOth which
g., Ia / IN u
self up.
soon fell asleep, but the events of the
day, and the various suspicious which
had entertained, so worked upon me,
that my slumbers were uneasy and
troubled. 1 had lain thus perhaps an
hour, when | was awakened, by lull
IN the storm, and / supposed it was
clearing of. | soon fell asleep again,
and when was next awakened, ii was
by some ones entering the cot l heard
a rough voice call out for the old woman,
and in a few moments more | heard her
reply. -. A..
Ralph"
YES" returned the new conner
Be careful" she added, for there's
ii Lopez in the bunk-room."
a 'loperl' repeated the man with an
oath. What's he dOin' here!'
Hes only poor peddler that got
caught in the storm. He'll do no damage
If yt let him be"
heard thus much, and then | heard
more men enteT-two more at least-and
tl,tn the door was closed. After this a
night was struck, the rays from which
ehnno through the cracks of my thin par
tition. and then followed some CONVEX
alton IN suppressed tones.
Fortune had thrown me upon the track
now sun That Ralph Norwood was i'll
ti.rn rNt room ! was certain, and ! was
equally certain that this was one of his
; '.snlar posts Presently heard the old
woman say that she knew / was asleep,
and then Norwood replied that no would
convince himself of it before he trusted
ne. | saw, from the motion of the light,
that lie had taken mp the candle, and as
auicklv IL: possible | sank down, and
inrtended to he i'll sound sleep. He
ame into my room, and having gazed
upon me 4 few moments, he held the
candle close to my face, and passed it to
and fro But made no movement. Then
muttcTrd-
.Tn kill him while he sleeps. and
therell he no more trouble! This knltell
find his heart before he can know he is
hurt
Fora single instant there was thought
of Scli:prcServation flashing through my
mimi. but before | had made any move
Incut with that design, remembered
that this might be only another test, and
| pretended TO sleep on. | heard him
draw his knife, and knew that he was
bending over me; but he soon went
away. and softly closed my door after
him. after which heard him in CONVEX
SatiOn with his companions.
got upon my hands and knees. and
crcpt softly to where | had seen the
widest crack, through which | easily
canned view of the occupants of the
other room There were three of them
st"ut. hand. rough-looking fellows-and
the old woman was with them. 1t would
he useless In note all the conversation |
heard: hut heard all could have de-
sired | learned that the smugglers had
a secret place. close At hand, where they
stored such of their contraband goods as
they were forced To land before they were
sold aud also they had cargo on the
coast which they must bring up as soon
"a possible, and they had come up now
To make arrangements for that purpose
We shall be ready TO commence at
twelve o'clock tomorrow night said
Ralph Norwood and you must see our
i1end- III the morning, aud be sure that
they viii I've on hand"
These friends" l learned we've peas
ants who lived Iii the neighborhood. and
no lent thrlrasS:Stance III landing goods
Wien required The old woman promised
that everything should be attended to in
season. aud furthermore remarked that
she would >ce that the coast Was kept
clear
Norwood came into my Room again 10
try me, but / stood the test, aud shortly
afterwards he and his companions left
the cot
IClN,TT sTnN- on ,rn>-D-