Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-02-15
Three Nights in a Robbers Den.
BY ARUE ANCHUN.

. we ploCeeueu aI q RAPID rate IN the dire
! tion of Rathstone, which place | expecte
r to reach at nightfall, when upon turning
: bend in the road, | came upon wear
looking and gray old man. He was plot
ding slowly along, bundle hanging on
stick slung over his shoulder, sloucheC
weather stained, felt hat covered his gre
head, and tattered garments cIinging mel
cltully around his shrunken and attenuate
body.
As | approached he turned his head anC
cast sharp and grey eye upon me, run
; quickly over my horse and person ant
then, as if fearing his scrutiny would beno
ticed he turned away his eyes and plod
ded slowl y on. In a moment | had reached
his side, and looking down as | checked
my steed to walk | saluted him with
" A good day, friend. Have you travel
led far ?"
" Near a score of miles since sunrise, q
good step for an old man like me to do
stranger" and he looked up at me frankly
with peculiar smile on his dark and with
cred face.
" You must have moved at sharper
gait than that to cover so much ground" !
answered
Neither slower nor faster, stranger
steady walking makes its mark. Why
don't you buckle your girth, stranger ?"
| | looked down as he spoke, but from my
position could not see the difficulty he men
| toned
Wait bit an Pll fix it."
| | drew up my horse, and he, laying down
his stick and bundle in the road approached
my animal, and grasping my girth procee-
npH tn L
grasped me by the ankle, and with a mad
wrench and heave, hurled me from the
saddle; then springing upon my breast,
grasped me by the throat and sought to
throttle me. now knew he was not the
character he pretended to be-
Though terribly surprised, did not for
a moment lose my presence of mind. |
gathered all my powers for a struggle
which, to me, was for life or death, for we'll
| knew that the villain with whom | was
engaged, was one Of the many assassins
that frequented the deserted back roads
with which the outskirts of Jersey then
abounded
had in my saddle bags and about my
person large amount Of bank notes and
gold placed III my hands as collector of the
house of Stenworth Il Co. | was likewise
well armed, but for the present my arms
were useless. | therefore held out plenty
of inducements to robbers, and one, at least
seemed determined to profit by it.
Our struggle for few moments was
fierce and wild. The robber seemed pos
essed with demon strength, and he used it
with reckless ferocity; but the assassin
fought for gain-I for life He was over
matched, for with herculean force hurled
him over, and forcing my neck with a mad
effort from his clenched hands, | placed my
hand upon his face, planted my knee upon
his breast, and then seizing him by the
neck-cloth, drew up his head and iammed
it down upon the hard, rocky road, stunn-
ing him instantly.
In few moments | had him securely
bound, and singing him across the saddle
| mounted behind, and rode as rapidly as
my burden would permit, in the direction
of Rathstone. | was anxious to reach that
place, for there had agreed to meet a few
friends-gay boys-with whom had prom
ised to spend portion of my time before |
should return to New York
| had proceeded, however, but few
miles when the sky grew dark and | heard
the low rumbling of distant thunder. In
few moments large drops of rain came pat
tering down, and the trees that lined the
roadside swayed heavily in the breeze. A
great storm was coming on. looked round
for place of shelter, and began to debate
within myself whether or not | should give
liberty to my prisoner, | deserted, standing
from the road a quarter of mile distant,
very struggling looking dwelling and in
that direction turned my weary beast.
The storm was now at its height, and the
rain was pouring fiercely down as my horse
splashed his way through the fast increas-
ing rivulcts In few moments | had ar
rived near the house, the appearance of
which nearly induced me to continue my
journey. The fast coming darkness, how
ever, determined me so turning to the
door | dismounted, and lifting my prisoner
to the ground-the rain had now revived
him knocked Justify for admittance
While waiting | looked about me at the
bleak and dismal prospect. The house, or
tavern as it proved to be, was old and
weather stained, some distance from the
road, half surrounded by broken and rotten
trees. On one side steep ledge of rock,
which cast deep gloomy shadow upon the
tavern, on the other dark lonesome woods
Ere could notice more the door opened,
and a most villainous looking parsonage
appeared. When he looked upon my pris-
oner he started ard turned deadly pale ;and
as | turned to the robber and looked into
his face, found him gazing at the man in
the doorway and talking with his eyes. No
tongue spoke palmer. A shudder passed
through me- ] was firmly convinced that
the robber and landlord both understood
and knew each other However, gave no
sign to indicate my suspicion, but turned
to the man in the tavern and said
II desire Accommodations here until the
storm is over, and secure quarters for this
man, who sought my life but short time
since He is a robber, and | demand your
assistance in securing him.
All right, stranger; ye can have it, and
shelter, too, if ye yay for IT."
THAT ! intend to do" said |, entering
the tavern, leading my prisoner.
The room in which | found myself was
long and narrow, with a counter at one end,
behind which were a few black bottles
which supposed contained liquor of diff.
erent kinds.
There was likewise a good fire blazing
on the open hearth, fed by shrubby and rot
ten branches, around which were seated
three men each holdinr a tin-run f,vo of