The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-12-13
A GOOD STORY
A SINGULAR AFFAIR.

al Olu ITaNtltIJ siuCt iuoJ Will very
singular adventure in the northern part
of Mexico. bad left Chihuahua for
the Rio Grande, with long train OF
loaded mules, having some Indian dri-
vers and q Mexican guide. Near the
close of the second day, just as we had
fixed upon our camp, in a pleasant
grove, near running stream, party
of six men, armed, suddenly made their
appearance, coming from | know not
where, as did not preceive them until
they were upon us.
| They were all gayly dressed in the
fanciful costume of the country, and
Eve of them carried csPbines, which
they levelled at me, as if with the in
tention of shooting me down at once.
"Doyou surrenderp ~ demanded the
leader of the party, who was armed
with a brace of pistols and stiletto.
'Have l any choice 7" said l.
"Death."
"Then surrender"
"Throw down your arms, and be blind
folded at once"
"May ask Xhat You intend to dc
with me-" said /.
"You may ask, but shall not tell
yon."
''Of course l am in your hands and at
your mercy, but as never harmed you,
| shall venture to hope you will not
treat Inc harshly," rejoined.
He did not reply to this, but made a
sign to his men, who advanced, gather
ed up my weapons, and fixed bandage
over my eyes. Two of them took Inc
H., nn1 ta1 hat m
! them.
To the best of my judgment We walk
ed about a half a mile, not word being
spoken. Then we began to descend
steps, and by the cooler and damper air,
| believed we were entering some sub
terranean place, perhaps a cave. We
went down for comparatively long
distance, and then through what SEEM
ed to be narrow passage, with sharp
turns-now to the right, and now to the
left. Then we went up few steps, and
down twice as many, and soon after ap-
peared to enter an apartment, where
several persons were assembled, chat
ting and laughing, who suddenly be-
came silent.
Here expected my bandage to be re-
DuI IL W 10 IOt. Il W ao bliiL ASu
forward to another passage, and then in
TO some room, the door of which opened
with harsh grating sound.
My sight being now restored to me,
found myself i'm small rocky cell,
whose dimensions and contents | could
perceive by the light Of an iron lamp
which one of my two conductors held
in his hand. The apartment was per-
haps ten feet by six, aud looked as if
il had been hewed out of solid rock.
1t had an iron door, with very small
opening in it to admit air. 1t was day
light when left the fresh world above,
but there was no daylight here, ard the
air was damp and noisome. A dirty
mattrass stretched along the ground on
one side, and an earthen jug stood in one
corner. These were all the room con-
tained, which had the appearace of a
prisoners cell.
will you tell me why am here p
said to the men as they stood watch
ing the expression of my features.
because ! & is the wish of our chief"
answered one.
"Have Idone anything for which he
wishes to punish rnep
"He had better answer that question
himself"
'Shall see him sooni
"YOu may, and yon may not"
"Meantime, what will become of my
property p
at will he cared for"
"Nlay hope that twill he restored to
Re7"
"You may hope what you will"
"Will you tell ME nothing to solve
this mystery I" ,
THAT is not our business here" said
the spokesman, and then they both turn
ed to so out.
ooh, gentlemen " exclaimed l, as a
horrible suspicion suddenly flashed up
on my mind; "pray assure me of one
thing-I am not to be locked mp here
and left to starve to death ="
1T is not for us to say" the reply,
as the heavy iron door was swung to
and locked, leaving me in the darkness,
prey to fear and despair.
For hours no one came near me; and
not knowing what better 10 do, lstretch-
ed my weary self out on the mattrass,
and finally fell asleep.
Twas awakened by the creaking Of
the hinges on my front door. l looked
up, and could scarcely believe my SEN
ses, when l beheld, by the light she
held in her hand, young, tall, beauti-
fll lady, with black eyes and hair, very
payly and richly dressed; her soft white,
tapering fingers fairly glitteriDg with
rings of great value. Behind her, Ike
an evil genius, stood wrinkled and
ugly old woman, whose blearcd eyes
and booked nose Just came out of the
shadow, over her shoulder, with very
unpleasant if not startling effect.
Immediately rose from my couch,
and made my most polite bow, which
the younger female, after staring hard
at me, in n very peculiar manner, for
nearly half minute, acknowledged by
a very slight inclination of her head.
What is your name, age and coun-
try, senior I" she said, speaking in the
tone of one accustomed TO command.
"My name is Walter Ainsworth; am
twenty-nine years of age, and was born
in the United States"
"What is the value Of your mule train
and goodsp
"Ten thousand dollars
"What amount OF money anu -tnlhEs
of value have you about your person +
~ have in money not far from thou
sand dollars and n gold watch. worth
two hundred, these are all of any spe-
cial value, my pistols and bowie-knife
having already been given up"
care you married or single e
81 have n wife and two children
"Wheref
ain New Orleans"
"Do they depend on you for support"
"Eutirely."
"Have you other property besides
your mule train 7"
"Only little, worth perhaps few
hundred dollars
"Ithink you have given Inc truthful
answers" she said, looking me keenly in
the eye.
81 have, indeed, fair lady, and hope
may trust much to Your kindness and
mercy"
"Give him bread and water, Frances" J"
she said, turning to the old woman.
The latter stepped past her mistress
and placed stone jug and loaf Of bread
at nv feet. Both then turned to goout,
and exclaimed, pleadingly.
"Haye mercy, fair lady, and procure
me nv libertyr'