The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-02-22

S190p.
It must have been not far from mid
night when [ was awakened from a some
what uneasy slumber; l had no sense of
being aroused by anything in particular,
only felt uneasy, and wanted new po-
sirion for my body. The moon had been
up an hour or more, and was shining di-
rectly upon the doorway on the opposite |
side of the room turned my eyes rest
ing upon the doorway, and I saw a man |
standing there. He had, apparently, just
crept to the spot and the moonlight lay |
full upon him. It was Job Gilbrand |
Had / met him in the broad blaze of noon
time, | could not have distinguished his
form from any features more plainly. And
I saw, in his right hand, a long bladed
knife. Behind him, in the hall, [ saw
the outlines Of another man, whom | took,
of course, to be McCargan.
The discovery operated on me Ike the
shock of a powerful galvanic battery.
There was b orrible, deadly fear thrilling
through me, and depriving me of both
sense and reason for moment; but the
very weight of the terrible circumstance
served to nerve me up, and n q very brief
space Of time l was as calm as need be.
| mean my thoughts were all collected
and my instincts sharp and clear. My
wife slept on, for as yet there had been
no noise, save that something which must
have awakened me.
My chamber was large square room,
and the bed was in one corner. The win
dow through which the moonlight came
was close by the foot of the bed and the
door that led to the hall directly opposite.
This room was in one corner of the main
building, so there we're two more windows,
one near the head of the bed and another
piercing the same wall, only few feet off.
Between these two windows stood the bu-
| reau, there being only the space of one
window between it and the bed.
OF course, [ knew there could be but
| few moments for reflection My motion
had caused the assassin to hesitate, but he
would not hesitate long He had come
to put his threat into execution, and [
knew the man well enough to know that
he would do it without the least compunc
| tions, and that no occurrence would deter
him. IF / had only given Importance
enough TO previous circumstances to have
been thoroughly on my guard, should
have had my pistol beneath my pillow
but | was wholly unarmed, and success
| ful stratagem could alone save me. With
this grim presence before me my thoughts
of succor-nny hope CT safety-was II my
/ pistol [ must get that at some rate. l
knew enough of human nature to know
| what even an assassin would be most likely
to do under certain circumstances. Gil
brand did not know that he was discover
ed, and yet slight motion of my body
had caused him to hesitate. He evident
ly felt sure of his game, and he could do
his work with the least noise 1t was a
clear, cold night, and this circumstance
helped me to a valuable thought.
Mary" said [, speaking to my wife,
IN yawning tone, as though l were not
wholly awake, I'm cold"
My wife awoke and asked me what was
the matter.
I'm cold,'' I replied. "Isn't there
an extra quilt in one of the bureau draw
ers ?"
She SAID there was, but did not seem
inclined to be very wakeful.
As had anticipated, as soon as Ispoke,
the lurking assassin erouched away out of
sight in the hall, and L believed he would
remain so while l got up and got the quilt.
IF he did not suspect my knowledge Of
his presence he would certainly prefer to
let me arise quietly, and then get to bed
again, than to attack NE when l might
make resistance for he had reason to sup
pose that my wife an1 self would be asleep
again very soon. And then | could not
leave the room to give any alarm without
passing directly by him, so he would feel
safe on that score.
leaped out of bed and went to the
bureau. may have trembled some at the
thought of death blow while l stood
there with my back to the door, but felt
pretty we'll assured that all would be safe
until | got into bed again and soitproved.
t opened the upper drawer first and grasp
ed my pistol. [ muttered something about
not finding things where they belonged,
and then opened another drawer, from
which [ took the desired article. AS
returned to bed allowed the pistol tc
drop by my pillow, and then l proceeded
to spread the quilt in proper order, never
once allowing my eyes to turn towards the
3 door. After this crept into bed again
: I grasped my pistol and snuggled down
l remarking that should now sleep with
e some comfort. By lying upon my lef
side, my face was turned towards the hall
[ and when had so arranged the bed clothes
t that could see in that direction withou
, my eyes being seen in return, and m.
/ right hand was where it could be free IL
e an instant, was prepared for the result
6 My wife slept soundly again. AS sool
o as / judged it judlclous, l commenced t.
S snore The sound had barely lett my ma